Hello! When did this wee gem spring up?…read more It's not really wee, and it looks new - I'm guessing it's only been on Cockburn Street under a month. Old Town Context is a refreshing, traditional store on Cockburn Street, steering away from the style of the tourist traps on the Royal Mile to offer alternative gift ideas. They have some old English, French and American advert poster art, cards, stationery, gifts, mugs with pin ups on them, clocks made out of recycled glass drinks bottles - a very eclectic and classy selection. Its inspiration is clearly from bygone era's, and I was very impressed with their postcard range. They also have some cracking cards and original prints with cats on them. These cats are wearing kilts and rugby shifrts, quoting Burns and other Scottish poets within the print. It's a very odd idea but entirely up my alley. Overall a very enjoyable shop for the family. It's difficult to walk out of here without buying anything.

I am glad that my 200th review is on this hidden gem... actually it isn't that hidden, but I have a…read morefeeling that lots of people just walk right on by. In a very different and almost vintage way, it is a souvenir shop. I say that because there were lots of prints, cards, coffee mugs of the city and various British 'things', but they are not the types of souvenirs that you would find in the every single store on the Royal Mile... yeah, you know what I mean. I loved the different prints of the city, my favourite was a very art deco-ish print highlighting the castle in a yellowy-orangish hue against a dark background. They had it as a large print, a card, and a coffee mug. I am now kicking myself that I did not buy it. If you love globes or tin signs, they have loads of them! If you are looking for a different kind of souvenir for someone... or just something for yourself, stop in here because they have some really wonderful items.

Normally when I'm out with my mum and she tries to enter any kind of interior design shop or…read moreestablishment selling items for the home, I shoo her along, because once she's in, and buying a few "wee things" to put "somewhere", there's absolutely no way of getting her out. On this occasion, passing Jeffreys Interiors on a walk through Stockbridge, I relented and let her get started on examining every item in the shop, while I prepared to wander about for all of two minutes, before getting bored and reading my newspaper. I soon discarded any reading material when I saw how ace everything in this place is. A nice, friendly lady told me the look the shop had going on at the moment was a kind of distressed, shabby chic, although she said she wasn't too keen on the term shabby chic, but that that was the closest to describing it. The showroom had a few different room sets, all with amazing interiors, which made me want to get a move on and get a flat to start creating a design masterpiece of my own. Lots of contemporary, unique pieces, but not furniture that looks uncomfortable or a bit too crazy, it was all arranged in a way that made you want to snuggle into whatever bed or sofa was on display. Nothing looked too expensive to touch or sit down on, (I hate that, what's the point of furniture if you can't chill out or go anywhere near it?), it all looked good, and the way the interiors were put together made the rooms look really welcoming. Definitely something for everyone's abode here, and considering the quality of the goods, really reasonable prices. I particularly noted the amazing wardrobes, brilliant if, like myself, you have a few "issues" with clothes hoarding.

Tiger's new store is finally here! They have moved out of the derelict St James Centre and into…read more.. the dark and gloomy Waverley Mall. While their new location isn't in my favourite shopping centre, I'm just glad that they listened to my pleads so that I wouldn't have to be without my Tiger while they demolished the St James Centre. The new store is a bit smaller than the old one at St James but the aisles are less cramped and since not many people know about it yet, it is nice and peaceful. The store itself is clean, bright and the staff from the previous store have been kept on which is good because they were always cheerful when I visited the old store. The selection of stock that this store offers is great. The gift aisle was booming, as was the craft aisle. I managed to find my beloved chunky felt tips and quirky novelty gifts and pay for them with no bother at all. The cash desks are conveniently located at the front of the shop, which is so much better than the old store, where they were in the middle of everything causing a huge blockage. I will be continuing to shop at Tiger. They also have a fancy new name and instead of being called Tiger, they are now Flying Tiger Copenhagen! Talk about being fancy!

The Edinburgh outpost of popular UK brand known for its chunky knits, charmingly old-fashioned…read moregowns, and painfully cosy housewares is right on point for Scotland's coorie lifestyle philosophy. The shop is small, but marvellously curated; the racks hold just one size of each style, and the friendly and warm associates are happy to fetch your size from the storeroom. Clothing is upstairs with a small housewares section downstairs. There is a nice sale section, and they participate in a swap program where past TOAST styles can be traded in for a new lease on life.

Gift shops are my Achilles' heel, and Edinburgh has a wonderful selection of them…read more Curiouser and Curiouser is full of lovely artwork and prints, gifts and other things you never knew you needed until you walked in here. They also offer a fantastic bespoke framing service. A few years ago I was looking for a very specific size and design of mirror. I asked for help on Twitter and Curiouser and Curiouser saw this and replied offering their services. I went into the shop, they made a framed mirror exactly as I wanted and of fantastic quality. If you are ever around Broughton Street area then I definitely recommend you popping in here. And maybe go to Treacle for some food after :)

Why am I only just discovering this little gem today?!…read more A stop off in Edinburgh is always great fun, and a wander along Broughton St is always great. Today the highlight of the wander was coming across this place. Filled with lots of cute and wonderful things - from books on how to knit zoo animals, greetings cards, ceramics and prints and artwork with price tags that won't break the bank. It appears to be a small family business and the staff are pretty relaxed and more than happy to chat; but the dog didn't seem all that interested in what was going on. I bought some prints for my living room, a book on print-making and a ceramic bowl for my coffee table. I could easily have purchased most of this shop. So if you're in search of a special card or gift, I can't recumbent this place any higher!

It's downstairs you go into the rabbit hole…read more And this isn't just being cute. It is a place to find weird but awesome pieces and gifts. Like a pillow that has a photo of a cat, in the shape of a cat, so that it really seems like a cat is sitting there when you first look at it. Or a small white desk lamp made from a cast dog's head. Or animal teeth jewelry-probably casts as well, but I didn't want to know. They have redone some furniture into unique and totally enviable center pieces. Lounge chairs, side tables, bookcases, coffee tables...probably more and I'm forgetting. Some looks like decoupage, but they find really creative ways to do it. Oh! My favorite was a set of small mirrors that were all scratched up and had been written on in erasable marker "you look great." Seriously, you don't need to look in the mirror, you're beautiful. The art is bizarre, sometimes cartoony though strangely fitting, but you know that when you leave this shop you will remember back and think wtf? It's good. I like when people who visit me see something and have to stop and wonder 1. where I got it 2. why I got it 3.what it tells them about me if I am just strange or just like to mess with people. I change my mind on this one a lot. When it's just me at home, I am the strange one with questionable art. When people are around I am messing with them. See-two for the price of one :)

From the owner: Shop featuring artwork, jewellery, cards, gifts, paintings, household items and furniture…read more Everything is made or upcycled by local artists, mainly by Dodo, who you will usually find working in the shop making the items. She will also do commissions if you have an old piece of furniture you would like brought back to life.

I love the entrance to this place. Tucked between two buildings and down a wee alley way, you half…read moreexpect to find orange marmalade and maps tucked in cupboards on your way to the door. (If you followed this reference, high five yourself. Sure it will just look like an enthusiastic clap, but you'll know better). I quite like Galerie Mirages, it's an interesting little shop to pop into every now and again to see what new finds they've uncovered. Most of the wares are lost on me, not being a gal who wears a lot of jewellery or understands what a singing bowl is, but there are always some interesting sculptures, and as Jenny noted, some stunning furniture for those who have pockets deep enough to purchase them. But it's an interesting place to browse through if you're looking for a gift and though most of the stuff is rather pricey, there's a good section of lower priced items that make great trinkets or house warming pressies. The service is... quiet? I've never had a staff member approach me or ask if I need help, but when I've approached them, they've been quiet pleasant. Overall, it's well worth poking your head in the door but the price point keeps it from being a regular staple on my Stockbridge list.

I happened by this shop a month ago - sadly on my last day of my holiday and just before they…read moreclosed for the day. I could have spent a couple hours oohing and ahhing over all the beautiful pieces contained in this shop. It's probably fortunate for my wallet that I had limited time. I do love the scarf and earrings that I bought. There is a wide variety of items at a large range of prices. Jewelry, home decor, knick knacks. Much of it feels like they are one of a kind sort of items. I believe the lady that helped us was the owner. She showed us where to find the bargain items and was very upfront about why they were on sale. She also took some time - even though we were keeping her past closing time - to answer our questions and to tell us about her travels - you can really tell that she is living her dream. Quite inspiring! Makes me want to follow in the footsteps of her travels and perhaps follow in her footsteps and find a way to make the passion for travel also my job.

Beautiful department store on Princes St, with a super unique layout due to the historical building…read moreit's in. If you are from Canada, this store is just like Hudson's Bay. If you are from the USA, it's just like Macy's. Ran out of Clarins cream and stopped here to stock back up. Had AMAZING service by the rep!

I had purchased a cashmere overcoat back in the mid 1980's. Most likely when the store was owned…read more& operated by the original owning family. I'm in the USA. This coat is as good as new almost 40 years later. It was well made. If there was a way to contact the original owning family I would like to thank them for such a well made garment.

One of the most beautiful stores you'll ever see. It is just…read morelike the Anthro.s in the States: colorful, original, and tempting! Unfortunately I thought it was to expensive there, so to come here where the prices are the same, just in pounds (as in, an 80 USD skirt is 80 GBP) it's crushingly expensive. I will save my pennies and scour sale racks. Still, I walk through Anthropologie just to feel inspired.

She and I, we have a strange friendship. She invites me into her home on occasion - she never comes…read moreto mine. Each time, I am quietened. For example, I will pick up a cushion, and she will casually mention its value. I'll quickly replace it, blushing. "Sorry," I say. "I'm just... it's really pretty." She smiles - laughs actually - not a tinkling, vanishing laugh, but a proper laugh full of sparkle and fun. "It's fine," she says, with a wink. But I've put the cushion back too straight. This is not a house of straightness. As she bends to re-skew it, back to the perfect angle, just so, I notice the way her dress falls. It's elegant. It's quirky. It's colourful. Oh, for a dress like that. The coffee table is laden with enormous books: Berlin. Photography. Seasonal Pies. Spaces... Spaces? They're beautiful, and they don't look like they've ever been opened. They are there to be on the table. The table, likewise, is there to bear their unread weight. A candle in a tin, too, wide, with three wicks, which have never been lit; a fresh, fruity aroma hovers around it all the same. I turn to comment on the beautiful smell but she's pulling on a patchwork apron over her beautiful dress. It messes up her hair a little bit, improves it somehow. "Let's make a cake!" she laughs - that laugh again - and pulls me out into the hall by my arm, starting to make for the kitchen. I wonder vaguely if she ought not to perhaps try making one of the Seasonal Pies instead. I nearly trip over a padded fabric doorstop on my way out, a paisley and polka-dot letter "A". Ah. Her name stops doors from closing. Of course. "I'm - I'm sorry," I stammer, un-straightening the A, checking it for a mark where I've kicked it. No. Thank goodness. "Actually, I - I have to be heading off again pretty soon." I seem in danger of knocking everything, and yet there's so much room here. Spaces. "But you never stay!" she cries, with a playful pout. "I've got these pecans to use up, you know..." "No, really, sorry, I know, ha. Um." I shrug. I'm trying now not to be standing on the rug. Has anyone ever stood on this rug? She probably stands slightly above it. "Oh, spoilsport," she grins. "Ok, off you go then. See you next time, Cressida!" "Thanks. Bye. Thanks. Bye, Anthropologie." She waves to me from the door, an embroidered oven glove on her hand, as I walk out into the street, holding nothing in mine. Already I regret leaving - already I want to go back in - already I will visit her again. I turn to wave back, but the door has closed.