The Currency gift guide does … modern retro

We’ve rolled out the Currency gift guide again. Trust us, it’s the only one you’ll need. First up, some modern retro goods.
November 14, 2025
1 min read

You know the person. Their house is peppered with mid-century pieces, they’d save their Roxy Music vinyl collection first in a fire and they have never ever seen a dirty martini that they didn’t love.

But – and this is a big “but” – they are not in any way stuck in another decade or living in the past. These fellas and lasses love a nod to fine design and goodies from another time, but they are thoroughly of the now too.

Think all the best bits of a jazzier age, but with mod-cons. Like Ray-Ban Wayfarers, only the updated “Puffer” style that the brand has just created in collaboration with rapper A$AP Rocky … way too cool to ever be described as old-school.

So, for these retro-fabulous darlings, we present a mix that includes a fondue set and frozen lobster thermidor that needs just 20 or so minutes in the oven. Anyone for a 1970s-style dinner?

A selection of retro modern items for the currency gift guide

  1. Voyager turntable sage, R3,299, HiFiCorp.
  2. Classic French Recipes by Ginette Mathiot (Phaidon), R1,199, Bash.
  3. Mushroom-shaped bowl set, R419.99, Typo.
  4. Vinyl record mug, R369, Nifty Gifts.
  5. Our Best Ever Christmas frozen lobster thermidor, R1,999.99, Woolworths.
  6. MasterClass cast iron enamelled fondue set, R1,999.99, Yuppiechef.
  7. Lobster-red drinks box, R2,699, Fieldbar.
  8. Persimmon Oddjects cushion cover, R715, and petrol Oddjects cushion cover, R625, both Skinny laMinx.
  9. Bibbi Vanilla Factory EDP 100ml, R5,990, Skins.
  10. Red Ray-Ban Wayfarer Puffer, R3,010, Sunglass Hut.
  11. Samba LT Shoes, R2,199, adidas

Love what you see above? For more of the goodies in the Currency gift guide go here and here.

Top image: Currency collage

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Sarah Buitendach

With a sharp eye for design, Sarah has an unparalleled sense of shifting cultural, artistic and lifestyle sensibilities. As the former editor of Wanted magazine, founding editor of the Sunday Times Home Weekly, and many years in magazines, she is the heartbeat of Currency’s pleasure arm.

Robyn Alexander

Robyn Alexander is an editor and writer whose lifelong passions include architecture, interior design, clothes (not necessarily fashionable ones) and food. She also loves Rome, Persephone Books and Formula One, cooks dhal at least once a week, and is of the considered opinion that a glass of grappa after dinner is a very good idea.

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