When I was in college, I found a leather bomber jacket at a local thrift store for $20. The lining was a little worn, but otherwise it was in great shape. I gave it to my boyfriend (now my husband) for Christmas. He *loved* it. Whenever anyone complimented him on it (and a lot of people did and do), he says, “Yeah, my girlfriend/wife got this for me for $20! Awesome, right?”

A few years ago I went to a tailor and had it re-lined for $60 (1/2 off regular price b/c the tailor was a friend of the family). I saw a similar jacket on a mannequine in a department store a few weeks ago, it was going for more than $300.

If you find nice quality, long-lasting items like leather jackets, handbags, etc., I think they can and should be given as gifts. Why not give someone a nice gift if you know that they will love it. It shouldn’t matter where it came from.

its amazing what you can find– especially vintage designer dresses

you could end up influencing your nieces in a positive way to shop at thrift stores and appreciate reusing/ recycling/ upcyling/etc.

90% of what i wear comes from thrift stores… many times i find awful styles with beautiful fabric and then reconstruct the item into something more “me”

there’s so much stuff out there already…. http://www.storyofstuff.com

I’d venture to say most kids don’t get the concept of vintage and would be appalled at a thrift store purse.

I echo what has been said about asking their parents for guidance, but if that is something you’d rather not do or if the answers have not been clear, you might consider where your nieces go to school, and how they, and their peers, are paying for their education.

I say this because, in my experience, college students who work during school to pay for tuition or expenses have a very different view on spending than students who have all of their expenses paid by their parents. If your nieces have received grants/scholarships, but most of their friends work, then secondhand bags would likely be more accepted.

Finally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE JC’s idea of using the bags as “gift bags”, and putting a few purse staples in the bags. I think a few luxe (but inexpensive) purse items will really show your nieces that this gift is something that you took time to think about and personalize for them, rather than simply trying to save money on their gifts.

Off the top of my head, I recommend Victoria’s Secret breath mints, which are about $3 and come in a pretty tin, a $5-10 gift card to Starbucks, and my favorite, Rimmel Vinyl Lip gloss, which is about $4 at Target. Target also has some cute travel sized nail files.

But this is a PF blog and one where many people are really frugal and have that mindset. I thought everyone in my family did, until one day my sister made a comment about giving used things for Christmas presents…”What’s the difference between shopping at a thrift store or just going into your closet and pulling out something and giving it to them?” It took me back, but I realized that there isn’t much difference.

Since then, I’ve pretty much tried to find new things. But alas, if I can’t find something good (and affordable), I don’t buy much at all. We don’t exchange with anyone bu immediate family, however.

I don’t care about designer purses, though.. I wouldn’t recognize a Coach purse (or the other one) though I do like purses. I don’t watch tv, so the advertisements are kind of lost on me. But I do like purses.

For someone older, I’d probably just buy something new.

The person who mentioned fruitcake…there were people who actually liked it!

No it is not.

Many others have indicated that condition is important – and I don’t think that you would have purchased these as gifts if the condition were anything other than Excellent!

Do not feel guilty. It is the thought that counts.

/r

someone is going to get almost new/gently used designer purses, which I certainly hope will be given as gifts to someone who can appreciated them, for about twenty cents on the dollar (perhaps less). And my niece will be thrilled with the sweaters found in her color.

Holiday present discussions contain all kinds of pat truisms: it’s the thought that counts, give something you would like, etc. IMO, these things aren’t true. Gifts should be something tailored to the recipient, not lessons on how to live or a reflection of your values.

In Utopia none of us would be buying presents for others if we weren’t specifically inspired or close enough to know exactly what they would love. Here in the real world we all face this problem during the holidays. After years of looking for meaningful, interesting, unique, add-your-own-adjective gifts for family members when I have no idea what to buy, I’ve learned to let it go. If I have a brilliant thought I go with it. If not, I buy returnable or generic gifts or gift cards.

Why stress yourself?

On a side note, over the years I have asked to stop exchanging gifts with many people. It was a decision that I don’t regret. I was often getting items I did not want or need and spending money that I would have preferred to go to other places. With the money you save you can buy yourself what you really want instead of getting a closet full of stuff that you don’t want or need. Instead I would rather spend time at a dinner or with friends and focus on that instead of the gift.

I love thrift shopping, however I always gift new items. At the end of the day I am trying to find a gift the person will love.

Awww. You’re an awesome aunt. I hope your nieces appreciate you!

One other thing to think (and ask) about is that often the whole point of designer items is that they are a status symbol rather than a quality symbol– so if you have the bag it mean you have enough money to have the bag. It’s different from quirky vintage clothing that way.

I’d give another gift, perhaps with the bag “on the side”.