41 Vintage-inspired Gifts for Design Fans

From sherbet dreams to concrete calm and sun-drenched nostalgia, our festive gift guide celebrates design through three distinct lenses. Inspired by vintage holiday imagery, this edit provides endless design-driven gifting inspiration.


COMPILED BY Jo Buitendach PHOTOS Getty Images


Retro Resort

A riot of sunny hues, sculptural curves, breeze-block charm, patterned textiles and retro furniture make this the perfect selection for fans of playful design and sun-drenched ’70s style.


Acqua di Parma Mirto di Panarea EDT

R2 000 for 75ml | skins.co.za

Barfly vase in Berry

POA | kare-design.com

F300 lounge chair by GUBI

POA | cremadesign.co.za

Smeg x Dolce & Gabbana Sicily 2-slice toaster

R13 999 | bash.com

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Clicquot Arrow in Cape Town and Durban tin, part of the “Emotions of the Sun” exhibition

R1 100 each | @youngblood_ct

Mazzo Sei pendant light

POA | kare-design.com

Lips wall art

POA | kare-design.com

LV x Takashi Murakami Capucines Mini

R139 000 | louisvuitton.com

Diva pet bed in Orange

POA | kare-design.com

Circle Power rug

POA | kare-design.com

Schickeria table in Pink

POA | kare-design.com

Topan VP13 table lamp by &Tradition

R7 496 | cremadesign.co.za

Staple bench in Lilac

R4 950 | arrangestudio.co.za

Playa coaster set by Jonathan Adler

R2 070 | skins.co.za


Brutalist Blueprint

A greyscale glimpse of the iconic French seaside town La Grande-Motte, where concrete meets raw modernism, inspires gift s for ultra-cool devotees of perfect proportion and functional simplicity.

Quaaludes vice canister by Jonathan Adler

R3 620 | skins.co.za

Swan Stealth espresso machine in Black

R3 499 | bash.com

Copacabana lounge chair by GUBI

R41 470 | cremadesign.co.za

Full Circle vest by Romaria Knitwear

R3 650 | somethinggoodstudio.com

Nohrd Sprintbok V2 manual treadmill in Vintage

POA | corefurniture.co.za

Clash candleholders in Bronze

from R24 840 each | okha.com

LV Keepall 50 Toile Monogram

POA | louisvuitton.com

Casablanca outdoor lounger in Rolling Thunder

R6 900 | hertexhaus.co.za

Weekend Special tablecloth

from R1 699 | carasavendecor.com

Yasuke table lamp by DCWéditions

R30 593 | cremadesign.co.za

Cast-iron teapot in Maroon Gold

R460 | lizemoutoncollection.com

@home Elikai Lines scatter cushion in Black

R899 | bash.com


Deco Daydream

Straight from South Beach, Miami, where the cocktails are colourful and the Art Deco architecture curves, these gift s are for the pastel romantic who knows that vintage glamour never goes out of style.

Peach & Cream Stripe cushion

R1 100 | carasavendecor.com

Faye stool

R28 870 | okha.com

Flying Pig figurine in Rose

POA | kare-design.com

Amarlungo spiky mirror

R2 900 | nosso.co.za

The Slab tray by Alkaline in Blueberry

from R299 | alkaline-shop.com

Penhaligon’s Al Ula EDP

R5 990 for 100ml | skins.co.za

Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye: Mexico by Deborah Turbeville

R710 | louisvuitton.com

Sunrise Paradise table lamp

R6 800 | arrangestudio.co.za

LV Extrait de Parfum Fantasmagory

R11 600 for 100ml | louisvuitton.com

50 Shoes That Changed the World by The Design Museum

R475 | takealot.com

LV Bandoulière 50 Keepall

R63 500 | louisvuitton.com

Sunset Paradise wall sconce

R5 400 | arrangestudio.co.za

Faye stool

R28 870 | okha.com

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 39mm

POA | picotandmoss.co.za

Veuve Clicquot men’s swimsuit by Vilebrequin, part of the “Emotions of the Sun” exhibition

R4 199 | @youngblood_ct


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