7 Cutest Independent Shops in Edinburgh You'll Love ...

If you’re asking for directions to this cute little boutique, make sure you pronounce the street name correctly - it’s pronounced Coh-burn Street! Inside this gorgeous boutique you’ll find womenswear and menswear from brands such as Yumi, Closet and Numph – some of the dresses are to die for! Luckily, if you’re not travelling to Edinburgh soon, the boutique has its own website, swishlife.co.uk, where you can treat yourself to some new outfits (or even pick up some Christmas gifts!). This is one of my favorite independent shops in Edinburgh.

Cockburn Street in the Old Town is the perfect place for a spot of shopping followed by a cozy pub lunch, and once you’ve checked out Swish, you might want to head for Cookie. Cookie has been around for years and stocks brands such as Sugarhill and Yamama. Expect to pay a little more for a pretty print dress here than on the High Street, but then you’re getting something more unusual for your money!

This has always been one of my all-time favorite shops – when I lived in Edinburgh I spent so much money here! Joey D’s fashion pieces are celebrity favorites, but the designer is probably best known for his range of up-cycled handbags – expect bags made from tweed, vintage sofa fabric and bullet casing straps. There’s even a bag made entirely from Edinburgh Council parking tickets! Each piece is a one off, so whilst they’re quite expensive, you’re picking up something really unique and beautiful. Check out the website at joey-d.co.uk, where you can buy clothes and bags online!

Armstrongs is THE place to be if you love vintage. This vast vintage emporium is an absolute treasure trove of pre-owned goodies, from retro shoes and bags to glamorous gloves, hats and outfits. If you’re looking for the perfect 1920s frock for your prohibition drinks party or simply want to channel some 1940s glamour with a chic pair of gloves, then Armstrongs is the place to be! It’s also a great place to shop with friends as you can have fun trying on all the cool outfits and accessories – the staff are relaxed and friendly, so you can stay all day trying on clothes to your heart’s delight!

If like me, you love hats, then you’ll love Fabhatrix! I used to always be mesmerized by the wonderful window displays of this hat shop when I lived in Edinburgh – they stock a huge range of men’s and women’s hats from chic cloches and berets to caps and knit pull-on beanies. If you’re looking for a winter hat or a fascinator for a wedding or celebration, this is the perfect place to come, as they have some really unusual offerings. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, they even offer a bespoke hat making service! Their formed felt cloche hats and tweed numbers are absolutely divine!

We’re back on Cockburn Street again (well, it is awesome for shopping, and just off The Royal Mile!) at the Cutie House, which as the name suggests, is filled with super-cute offerings. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli or cute anime figures then you’ll love Cutie House, where you can indulge in some cozy Totoro slippers or pick up some new Hello Kitty stationery. Just a word of warning – it’s hard to leave here without spending your cash!

A bit of a wildcard this one, but if you’re shopping with your man, where better to head than a kilt shop? 21st Century Kilts are revolutionizing the kilt and their bespoke and ready to wear kilts have been seen on celebs from Vin Diesel to Alan Cummings. With modern kilts that include camouflage, pinstripe and leather options, these aren’t your average kilts, and you’re more likely to encourage your man to wear one (whether he chooses to wear it as a traditional Scotsman would is another matter!). Howie Nicholsby’s cutting edge designs were featured at London Fashion Week in 1999 and since then have become popular with men of all ages!

Edinburgh has some amazing independent shops tucked away off Princes Street, and many of them can be found in the Old Town. If you’re looking for unusual gifts or just an outfit that’s something a little bit different, you’re sure to find it here. There are probably some independent shops I haven’t discovered yet – do you know of any hidden gems in Edinburgh?