The top 10 ultimate retro gifts

What do you get for the person who has everything? Retro gifts aren’t just gifts, they give the receiver a warm, fuzzy reminiscent feeling and brings them back to life as a child. There are loads of retro gifts out there now, but which ones are the best? Read on to find out about our top 10 retro gifts. They’re not in any particular order because we couldn’t bear to place one above the other. Which are your favourites?

Sweets

Kids love sweets, and nothing brings an adult back to the level of a child faster than their favourite old sweeties. Whether they have memories of running down to the sweet shop for a pound of toffee or going to the newsagents for penny sweets (back when they used to cost a penny), there are loads of different retro sweet jars, cases, hampers and tubes on the market right now so you’re spoilt for choice.

Telephone

Lady Gaga may have been wearing one on her head recently but the old-school telephone is back and better than ever. You know the type – it’s the one that used to sit on the table in your grandparent’s hallway next to the notebook. It might have been the charm of noel Edmonds that helped to bring this one back but we’re grateful nonetheless. The phone has been updated somewhat in that the old dialing wheel has been replaced with buttons but it still radiates that retro cool we all want back in our lives. In a world where mobile technology speeds on, it’s nice to stop and take a moment to admire the retro gizmos of the past.

Retro Slush Maker

Let’s go right back to the 50’s with this one. There is only really one word to describe the retro slush maker – cool. It’s cool on so many levels. Firstly, the delicious, cold, refreshing slush it makes is an absolute treat for any occasion (have you ever turned down slushy goodness before? – didn’t think so). Secondly, the luxurious deep red and chrome exterior make it the coolest appliance in your kitchen! It takes all kinds of flavours and crushes the ice up for you so all you need to do is play it cool until your slush is ready.

Slinky

It’s true what they say, ‘Everyone loves a slinky’. Admit it, as soon as you saw the word ‘slinky’ you smiled a bit didn’t you.

These simple metal springs were playmates for generations of children (and more than one adult!). Despite their simplicity, there are loads of things you can do with one – send it down the stairs, put it on your arm and pretend you’re a robot, use it as an elephant’s trunk – it’s really amazing just how many uses you can find for one slinky.

Stylophone

Millions of households regretted giving their children the Stylophone for Christmas. It may have been good at teaching kids about music (from Mr Rolf Harris no less) but it had the most irritating, grinding beeeeeeeeeeep tones.

It still does.

But as adults, it now carries a fresh enthusiasm and you’ll find yourself playing with it for hours, never mind the noise that makes the inside of your skull itch.

Magic 8 Ball

It’s back to the 50s again for the Magic 8 Ball. The magical black orb of divination never failed to predict the future or answer the many questions of a small child. Nowadays you could place your trust in the 8 ball for much bigger questions like “Should I stay in bed today or go to work?”. Of course, it’s not advisable to leave your complete fate in the hands of this ball but it might make your life a bit livelier.

Lava Lamp

Think retro and you’ll be thinking of the gooey, hypnotic lava lamp. They may have had a couple of problems back when they first came out – exploding lava lamps are never fun – but they’re back and better than ever! They make a great addition to any room and they’re more than a little hypnotic. Gloop floats up, gloop sinks down… gloop floats up, gloop sinks down…..

Rubik’s cube salt and pepper

One of the most iconic toys of the 80s was the Rubik’s cube. Similar to the Stylophone, it’s a gift that at first gave joy. The joy quickly gave way to intense frustration. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love that annoying cube. Now, the Rubik’s cube is back to invade the homes of the world in various different forms. We particularly liked these super salt and pepper grinders.

Henry Desk Vacuum

The Henry Hoover was a friendly face who helped brighten up the boring chore of vacuuming. Unfortunately we don’t see him around much anymore, but this fun desk-vacuum is a welcome addition to our lives and makes a very well received gift. It’s impossible to look into his face and not smile.

Camper Van Tent

VW campervans are truly iconic, fans of the vans gather for festivals all the time! This tent is a great way to pay homage to the campervan even if you don’t have one. Definitely the coolest retro tent at any festival you go to!

 

So that’s our top ten. Any one of these gifts will give a warm, sentimental feeling to the lucky receiver. Which is your favourite?

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