Finder’s Fi
Spruce up your outdoor space and stock your picnic basket with stylish secondhand wares for a wave of summer nostalgia
Retro beach brollies, vintage picnic baskets and more
Kiwi summers conjure up nostalgic memories of beach, bach and camping holidays. Embrace this vintage vibe and hunt out an old-school sun umbrella, retro outdoor furniture and a classic picnic basket to get your backyard and beach set-up looking and feeling like a ’70s dream.
UMBRELLAS
Retro sun umbrellas have been making a comeback for a while, which is great news for lovers of nostalgic prints and romantic fringing. While it’s easy to buy a new, retrolook sunshade, buying an authentic vintage one takes a little more time. Umbrellas are harder to come by than other secondhand items – years of exposure to sun and rain means that most are damaged, faded or rusty. For this reason you may struggle to find one at an op-shop, but you can keep an eye out on Etsy, Trade Me, Instagram and in vintage shops. If you find one in good condition, it is worth snapping it up. You can expect to pay higher than usual secondhand prices, but it is still likely to be cheaper than a new model.
FURNITURE
Vintage floral deckchairs, striped fold-up beach chairs, steel sun loungers and cane or wrought-iron table-and-chair sets will give your outdoor area or picnic set-up a seriously retro vibe. There’s plenty of secondhand outdoor furniture available at op-shops and online. There are also a number of iconic mid-century designs. Lightweight pieces made with cotton or vinyl ‘string’ stretched over a copper pipe or tubular steel frame were popular during the ’50s. If you want to invest in authentic pieces from this era, Christchurch mid-century specialists Mr Mod (mrmod.co.nz) stock outdoor furniture by designers including Vladimir Kagan and Clement Meadmore.
PICNIC HAMPERS
If I had $1 for every picnic basket I’ve seen at a secondhand shop, I’d be a wealthy lady. Instead, I’m skint from all the baskets I’ve bought. There’s no shortage of wicker baskets available, but finding your perfect model may take some hunting. Alternatively, vintage markets and fairs are great spots to find picnic sets complete with plates, a Thermos, cups, cutlery and napkins. Another cute idea is to make a custom picnic basket for yourself or as a gift. Just find a basket, and stock it with items sourced from op-shops.
ACCESSORIES
Secondhand picnic rugs and tablecloths are easy to find. Op-shops, Trade Me and markets are the best places to look for New Zealand-made woollen rugs, floral tablecloths and printed throws. Surprisingly, secondhand chilly bins often still function well, and look cool too. The same goes for ice buckets; Mr Bigglesworthy (mrbigglesworthy.co.nz) has some good options. Salad servers, glasses, Tupperware, cushions and more will complete the vintage vibe.