I arrived in London from the Caribbean with nothing much. The winter shocked me, but the lights dazzled. Oxford Street buzzed with neon, Regent Street sparkled with shop displays, and Carnaby Street buzzed. That first winter, I learned the value of vintage gifts. When I first arrived, there was no online map to show the best gift shops in London. You had to wander, take your chances, retro style gift and uncover retro gifts. The small boutiques were always the best.

Even now, I tell people the retro gifts are the unusual ones. A neon sign for Www.Fmrqr.Com the living room will outshine ordinary gifts. Independent gift shops in Soho still keep the retro gifts that make memories. And when you want high-end, high-end boutiques in London will add glamour. Every September, I feel the city turn festive. That’s when I start hunting for vintage gifts. Explore luxury gift shops London and you’ll find plenty.

But the true charm still belong to the independents. That’s why, I always remind friends that vintage gifts are the most powerful. They last, just like the magic of the season.