Welcome to my 2025 Vintage Holiday Gift Guide! Find a hassle free, but unique idea when you are stuck on what to buy… but want to surprise the heck out of someone with something cute.
This is starting to become a bit of a tradition here at the Bobby Pin Blog. I give myself the challenge of finding an interesting gift idea with vintage inspiration that will make a fun surprise for your loved one.
Of course, don’t forget to check out all the great items available in the VintageHairstyling*com online shop for gifts…
My gift ideas last year were theme inspired, beauty gift groupings based on vintage lifestyle archetypes like flamingos or leopard print.
I’m bringing back themed groups… BUT… my inspiration in 2025 comes from vintage makeup advertisements! So without further ado…
Vintage Beauty Ads… Modern Gifts:
As a little extra, to make these gift ideas even more fun, you’ll find a link in each section to the advertisements to go download a higher res version to print out and include, so your recipient instantly “gets” the theme. Whether you frame it, tape it to the top of a wrapped box, or simply slip it inside the packaging, it adds a wink of nostalgia that ties everything together.
Table of Contents: (Click to Jump)
Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I may earn a commission.
Cherries in the Snow – 1953 Revlon Ad
My first gift idea draws inspiration from the famous 1953 Cherries in the Snow make up advertisement from Revlon. Although the color Cherries in the Snow was released by Revlon as a lipstick color in 1940 and a matching nail polish soon after, it is the 1950s ad that will live on as an icon of midcentury feminine beauty.
Significant Historical Note: When other advertisements were telling women that they were never going to get a man if they weren’t using beauty product = X, Revlon creative director Kay Daly turned that narrative on its head with the tagline, “Does any man really understand you?” in the Cherries in the Snow ad campaign.
Of course this gift starts with the still-in-production
- Cherries in the Snow Revlon Lipstick and
- Cherries in the Snow Revlon Nail Polish
The rest of the gift is completed with cherry inspired beauty items like:
- Cherry Print Satin Head Scarf
- Cherry Mini Lip Balm
- Cherry Fragrance Batiste Dry Shampoo
- Cherry Design Essential Wet Hair Brush
- Cherry & Chia Milk Dove Body Wash
- Wrapped up in a Cherry Print Cosmetics Bag
Download the Cherries in the Snow advertisement here.
Pink from Paris Gift – 1959 Cutex Ad
My theme for this gift idea is a vintage vanity… a French vintage vanity… which is very appropriate since the modern concept of the vanity as a dedicated beauty-and-grooming piece of furniture originated from France.
Some very pretty little things you could include in this gift are
- Kitsch French Twist Hair Pin
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Floral Dry Oil for Face, Body & Hair
- Feret Le Baume Balm for Dry Skin, Lips & Cuticles
- Vogue on Christian Dior Book
- Pink Vintage Makeup Brush Holder and Powder Puff Container
- Guilded Vintage Vanity Mirror
- French Vibe Decorative Suitcase
I included the book Vogue on Christian Dior in the gift idea, partly because he was such a famous French fashion designer, but also for his part in creating the 1950s fashion look we all love so much.
As the creator of the “New Look” released in 1947, his stamp on fashion would live for more than a decade after. I have been including a little bit about the new look hair that went along with Christian Dior’s new look in the VintageHairstyling*com newsletter. Go sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss out!
Download Pink from Paris Cutex advertisement here.
You might also like: The Best Drugstore Longwear Red Lipsticks
Queen of Diamonds Gift – Revlon 1954
If this Queen of Diamonds ad from Revlon feels like a déjà vu, it’s because you can stack it right next to Revlon’s Fire and Ice advertisement from 1952 and see very quickly how similar it is.
After the major success of the Fire and Ice campaign, Revlon brought back photographer Richard Avedon for this ad.
As a gift inspiration, the Queen of Diamonds took me a little while to figure out where I wanted to go with it. The obvious is the diamond part like beauty items encrusted with rhinestones, which turns out are quite common.
But how can you even think the word “diamond” without conjuring Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”? So the unique stamp you can put on this Queen of Diamonds gift group is the book When Marilyn Met the Queen: Marilyn Monroe’s Life in England. How perfect is that!?
And to round out this gift theme, here are some small, but significant additions.
- e.l.f. Fine As Fleck Glitter Eyeshadow in Certified Platinum
- Diamond Dust Glow Mineral Powder by Physicians Formula
- Rhinestone Crystal Hair Comb
- Glass Faceted Spray Bottle
Download Queen of Diamonds Revlon advertisement here.
You could also include a copy of the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” to watch Marilyn perform the number “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” It is actually a really great song. Lots of fun to dance around the living room too and super fun to sing along too.
I hope you enjoyed my 2025 gift guide! And don’t forget to check out my other gift ideas on the Bobby Pin Blog.
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