A Vintage Christmas Reimagined — and Why It Still Feels Like Magic

There’s just something about a vintage Christmas that hits differently. Even when I was a little kid in the ’70s — surrounded by tinsel trees, harvest-gold kitchens, and more wood paneling than any room truly needed — I was obsessed with the older decorations. The ones from the ’50s and early ’60s. The ones my grandparents had. The ones with charm and warmth and a slightly goofy hand-painted smile.

A vintage 1970s photo of a young boy sitting on Santa’s lap, smiling. Santa wears classic red velvet robes and wire-rimmed glasses. Behind them is a painted winter scene and gold drapes.

I didn’t have the language for it back then, but I knew those decorations felt alive.The colors were softer. The art was sweeter. The faces had character. And maybe, deep down, I just loved the idea that Christmas itself could feel like stepping into a memory.

How a Folder of Old Santas Became My Favorite Holiday Drop Ever

A few years ago, I found a downloadable collection of vintage Santa illustrations — just the heads, nothing more — and I posted them on products, as is, thinking, “One day I'll really do something with these…”

Well, “one day” finally arrived the minute I saw that Zazzle had introduced window clings. And I could make BIG window clings, retro-style. The same kinds of art you’d see painted on a 1962 five-and-dime store window.

That was all the spark I needed.

But let me be clear: this wasn’t just a “slap a Santa on a product” moment like before. That was just the beginning.  The finished designs?  Those are mine — top to bottom.

I rebuilt everything:

• Added custom typography inspired by mid-century greeting cards

• Drew retro starbursts and sparkles

• Designed background textures

• Color-matched everything to authentic 50s/60s shades

• Re-illustrated and cleaned up details for print quality

In short: Santa got a glow-up. A very vintage one.

The Window Clings That Started It All

This whole collection exists because of these:

A storefront glass door decorated with a large retro Santa window cling showing Santa pointing upward with “Have a very Merry Christmas” written in curved red lettering.

These giant retro clings feel exactly like the art I loved as a kid — eye-catching as you walked by, catching the glow of Christmas lights.

The First Mockups — and When I Knew the Collection Was Working

When the first hoodie mockups came together, everything snapped into place.

Three adults wearing vintage-style Santa hoodies stand in front of a Christmas wreath, smiling and holding gifts. Each hoodie features a different retro Santa design and festive lettering.

Seeing those designs on actual people — smiling, laughing, looking like they were about to start a holiday variety show — confirmed it:This collection had the exact energy I’d been chasing since childhood.

Then came the mugs. And honestly? They’re ridiculously cute.

Two men in holiday outfits clink Christmas mugs printed with retro Santa designs. They sit by a decorated Christmas tree surrounded by wrapped gifts and tinsel.

Whipped cream, twinkle lights, retro Santa grinning back at you… it’s impossible not to feel festive.

Bringing Vintage Cheer Into Modern Spaces

One of my favorite parts of designing this collection was placing it in modern homes and seeing how the charm holds up.

Spoiler: vintage always holds up.

A pink midcentury-inspired living room with a framed retro Santa art print above the couch. The artwork shows Santa with the word “Believe!” in bright vintage lettering.

That blend of mid-century holiday magic with contemporary décor?Chef’s kiss.Perfect for people who want a little nostalgia without going full “Rudolph special on VHS.”

And then there’s the coziness. The exact same style working in a more traditional setting:

A woman sits in front of a Christmas tree, smiling and hugging a pink pillow featuring the retro “Believe!” Santa design and teal starbursts.

Exactly the vibe I hoped for: soft, nostalgic, warm, and just a little kitschy — the good kind of kitschy.

Cheers to That Vintage Glow

I wanted this collection to feel like that moment when everything is warm and twinkly and the wine is poured and the music is just a little too cheerful.

A set of four stemless wine glasses on a holiday table, each printed with a different vintage Santa design and festive lettering. A Christmas tree and candles glow softly in the background.

If these don’t say “holiday mood,” nothing will.

The Nostalgia Is Personal, Too

I can’t make vintage-inspired Christmas art without admitting:It’s personal.

A faded 1970s photo of three children posing with Santa Claus. Two older children sit on Santa’s lap while a toddler sits on his knee. A bowl of peppermint candies sits beside them.

Even if Santa looks like he just did a double shift at the mall (a true 70s tradition), these photos are pure gold.

They remind me why I love making this stuff. Why it matters to add a little glow, a little charm, a little smile to holiday décor.

A Few More Fun Pieces From the Collection

A round metal Christmas ornament hanging on a frosted tree branch, printed with the vintage Santa face and the word “Believe!” in red retro script.

Two gift boxes wrapped in gold-toned vintage-style Christmas paper printed with repeating “Happy Holidays” text and retro Santa faces with holly leaves. The presents sit under a frosted Christmas tree with warm white lights.

A small wooden block printed with a retro Santa illustration and the phrase “Have a very Merry Christmas.” The design has a light blue distressed background.

A pink apron hanging in a kitchen, printed with the vintage “Believe!” Santa design and teal starburst accents. Cutting boards and pantry jars are displayed on the shelf above.

A black drawstring backpack with a teal panel printed with a winking retro Santa and the phrase “Have a very Merry Christmas.”

A clear acrylic block displayed on a wooden shelf, featuring the vintage “Happy Holidays” Santa design with holly leaves.

Just a tiny sample of the full 2025 holiday release now available on:

• Zazzle (gifts, ornaments, clings, decor, wrapping paper)

• Redbubble (apparel, personal & home accessories, stickers, prints)

• Teepublic (value-priced adult & kids apparel, accessories, home goods) 

• Threadless (adult & kids apparel, adult jackets, home accessories)

  
  

Thanks for Taking This Vintage Journey With Me

If you love retro Christmas as much as I do — or if you just want something a little warmer, a little happier, and a lot more nostalgic — I hope this collection brings you the same joy it brought me creating it.