The 2019 Mirror80 Gift Guide

Welcome to the 2019 Mirror80 Gift Guide! Let me start by saying that I truly believe the Holiday Season is about much, much more than shopping. This post is not an attempt to get you to jump into a pool of consumerism. For me, the annual gift guide is a chance to take a look at some of the amazing ways that 1980s style is alive and well in both authentically retro and entirely new items. The brands, makers and shops that follow are worth checking out, for holiday shopping or anytime shopping!!

Organized by aesthetic, the finds below reflect a range of price points. If you can’t spend $300 on a vase, rest assured there’s something in your budget if you keep scrolling. I wish you and yours a meaningful holiday and a glorious New Year. Thanks for reading!

Bold, Bright and Geo

Bold geometry has made a HUGE comeback in recent years. New Memphis design is an homage to the Memphis-Milano movement of the 1980s, and the return of bright color combos and interesting forms has gone mainstream. Plus, a whole new range of makers and discerning designers have put their stamp on this timeless look, so this section of today’s post is by far the longest. Let’s get started!!

Amy Rosalyn’s handmade resin earrings are wonderfully light, yet they’re striking and substantial. They will transform any outfit into a work of art, especially if you’re into color blocking. Above we see a pair in red and white. Check out the entire selection here. Featured below: a radiant pair of Red on Red Earrings. I’ve got my eye on a few more pair…

Gold-plated stainless steel and enamel beautifully blend in Matter Matters’ Phase Necklace. Choose from 2 sizes. The minis are shown below, including the Mini Eclipse Necklace in black:

While the photo at the top of this section already gave you a peek at the Half Moon Clutch in Black (also from Matter Matters), below we see the Half Moon Clutch in Purple Blue, as well as the mini size. Guaranteed to be the focal point of any outfit:

I’m a big fan of Etsy shop Sophistique Studio, as they take the time to beautifully curate authentic ’80s items. If you’re shopping for a collector, pieces like this Memphis-style fixture/sconce are hard to pass up:

Cool Machine’s Two Parts Plant Pot can be used as a planter or a totem. Color and form are celebrated in this unique, functional item that makes the perfect gift for design lovers. Catalan sandstone is the material of choice:

Areaware’s Eraser Pencil Stands make great stocking stuffers. Use them to display pencils, or use them to build a totem!

Poketo’s Monthly Planners bring the grid to your workspace, along with a hefty dose of color. For as low as $8, you can get the version in red, but I’m pretty smitten with the blue.

Speaking of blue, anyone need a water bottle? For the record, I don’t need one. But I really want this water bottle, a collaboration between Corkcicle and Poketo:

’80s Style

If you enjoy hunting down a good retro find, this section is for you!! Between actual vintage items and reissues (like the Caboodle from Urban Outfitters pictured above–now find it here), there is a LOT you can uncover. Let’s start with a good pair of ’80s ankle boots. I snagged the pair above from Etsy shop Digger O’dell Vintage. They’d never been worn, there was one pair left (and in my size), and they looked super flattering and comfortable. And that they are! It was meant to be.

A lot of ankle boots from the 1980s are not the high-heeled variety, making them easy to wear. So if you know someone who loves ’80s fashion and you know their shoe size, it may be worth surprising them with a pair! Below we see NOS (new old stock) white leather ’80s ankle boots from Etsy shop Of Corsets. Love the geometric cutouts:

This Bang & Olufsen phone from Etsy shop Sophistique Studio is nothing short of fabulous. It’s the Beocom 2000, designed in 1986 by Danish designers Lone and Gideon Lindinger-Loewy. I’m totally smitten with this teal-ish, turquoise blue phone, but if you’re interested in other colors, browse the shop’s entire collection of Bang & Olufsen phones here. And stay tuned for a collaborative post from Sophistique Studio and Mirror80 early in the new year. Because Bang & Olufsen phones deserve the spotlight, don’t you think?

Lit Home Collection‘s Neon “Girl” Light is a throwback to Pop Art greatness. We all need a bright spot in our lives this winter!! And at $35, this beauty is affordable too:

Neon cactus, anyone? Patrick Dempsey had something similar in his Can’t Buy Me Love bedroom. This one‘s only $24. Thank you, Urban Outfitters.

If you collected plastic ’80s charms, this next find will mean something to you. These Vintage Sporty Spice Earrings from Lazer Kitten are made by Marisa Ravel from an ’80s authentic vintage dead-stock charm necklace:

Something Sparkly

Let’s wrap up the gift guide with a little sparkle, shall we?! The only thing that gives me consolation once Christmas has come and gone (and I’m faced with the depressing task of taking down holiday decorations) is the shimmering promise of the new year! The dreariness of winter is no match for the sparkle that can live well beyond the holiday season. The iridescent and metallic fringe garland in the photo above is from Meri Meri. It makes me so happy! And I’ll be sipping champagne out of  CB2’s Eve Coupe Glasses (shown above and below) well beyond January.

Did someone say “sparkle”? Nothing sparkles like an ’80s rhinestone necklace. This one comes from Etsy shop Oh Cheree Cheree.

If you’re looking for a mirrored cube, your search is over. While Urban Outfitters’ Mirrored Cube Side Table may be a large purchase for someone who’s not your nearest and dearest, it never hurts to treat yourself to a big dash of ’80s style this holiday:

These Mini Disco Canape Plates from Bash Party Goods make the perfect stocking stuffer for those who love a little bit of sparkle…and who love to entertain!

Scrunchies are back…haven’t you heard?! Cotton:On offers a huge variety of colors. I’m partial to the silver sparkle variety!

That’s a wrap, folks! Happy Holidays to you and yours. I have one more fun post planned for 2019, and then we’re off to a new decade. Not sure how I feel about that yet, but there’s plenty of time to talk about it in 2020! Cheers and thanks for reading!!