Vintage gift baskets offer a unique and often humorous way to recognize an era that helped shape lives today.
The 1970s was an era of hoopla. It saw the oil crisis, the end of the Vietnam War, Watergate and the forced resignation of President Richard Nixon, the Cold War, the 1972 baseball players' strike and the Munich Olympics. Pop culture during this time focused on disco music, feminism and environmentalism. The 1970s saw the beginning of bar codes, home computers and the MRI scanner. Turn back the clock with a 1970s gift basket.
Multicolored Multimedia
The 1970s was an era filled with music and media.
Give a gift basket that takes the recipient on a multimedia tour of the 1970s. Start with a bright basket, and fill it with some Simon and Garfunkel, Paul McCartney and Carole King. For the rockers on your list, try some Santana, Springsteen and Skynyrd. Add a movie set in the 1970s: "American Gangster" or "Starsky and Hutch" are good choices. Or put in a movie actually made in the 1970s such as "The Godfather" or "2001: A Space Odyssey." Top off with some Doritos or Pringles, and wrap it in bright colors.
Disco Duck
Creating a gift basket from a humour theme gives the recipient a chuckle along with a gift.
When Memphis disc jockey Rick Dees performed this satirical song, it blasted to the top of the charts, sitting at number one for a week in 1976. Create a novelty basket for a 1970s fan using this theme. A yellow basket works well. Add some Village People, Gloria Gaynor, BeeGees and Donna Summer to boost the disco theme. A strobe light or lava lamp is a nice touch; you can find them in most novelty stores. Add the ingredients for a typical 1970s drink, the Harvey Wallbanger: vodka, orange juice and Galiano. Or put in a couple cans of Tab diet cola or Kool Aid and some Fritos instead. Be sure to add a yellow rubber duck.
Drinks Galore
Drinks of the 1970s included fancy garnishes and colorful presentation.
Make a basket featuring the makings of popular 1970s drinks. Examples are the Harvey Wallbanger, made with vodka, orange juice and Galiano; the Tequila Sunrise, made with tequila, orange juice and grenadine; the Tequila Sunset, made with tequila, orange juice and blackberry brandy; the Golden Cadillac, made with white creme de cocoa, grenadine and cream; and the B-5, made with Kahlua, Bailey's Irish Cream and Grand Marnier. You can also add ingredients for black and white Russians, margaritas or pina coladas.
Bite Into It
The 1970s saw an escalation in the production and use of convenience foods.
Fill a food basket with 1970s classics. If you can refrigerate the basket, add some Swanson Hungry Man dinners, Shake n' Bake and Hamburger Helper. Add Jello, Miracle Whip, cup-a-soup, and a novelty mug or bowl with a historical brand picture on it such as Kellogg or Campbell's. Other possible additions include chocolate marshmallow cookies, Tang, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Kellogg Pop-Tarts, Bugles, or Ritz crackers. Top this basket off with some 1970s recipes such as Watergate Salad, Swedish Meatballs and Carrot Cake.
Groovy Garb
Crazy designs and bright mismatched colors were a hallmark of 1970s fashion.
This basket requires a trip to the second-hand store for crazy garb from the 1970s: platform shoes, groovy bell-bottom pants, a miniskirt or a crazy-colored tie. Then add white eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, a puka shell or peace sign necklace, dangling earrings and a mood ring. Typical color choices for clothes included olive, burnt orange, brown, cream and yellow. Add an old fashion magazine from an antique store or online novelty shop.
Other Ideas
Games and food make great vintage gift basket themes.
Themed baskets are a great way to celebrate a special day. An "Everything's Coming Up Chocolate" basket might include chocolate fondue, chocolate novelty items, specialty chocolates, Hershey's chocolate Kisses and a cookbook featuring chocolate recipes. For a "Snack Time" basket, choose Ritz crackers, Bugles, Pringles, Frito Lay Chips, Lays potato chips, sunflower seeds, 7 Up, Tab, green and black olives, Pop Rocks, a season of Fawlty Towers, some vintage baseball cards or some 1970s comic books. For "Game Night," include Twister, Operation, Kerplunk, Tip It, Hands Down, Ants in the Pants, Connect Four, Rubick's Cube and card games such as Funny Bones.
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