If you’ve not yet drawn up your Christmas shopping list (let alone finished it and got it all wrapped, yes, we’ve all got those organised friends!) then you’ll be wondering where to start. Here are my top suggestions of where to head, in person and on those rainy days when you are sofa bound, for the very best festive shopping inspiration.
Christmas Hut at The Storehouse
If you’ve not already been woo-ed by their amazing Farm Shop and Restaurant, The Storehouse Christmas Hut will seal the deal. You’ll find this treasure trove on the shore of the Cromarty Firth just north of Inverness, basking in glorious views over to the Black Isle. An overspill from the main shop, the Christmas Hut is packed full of gifts for everyone, and everything. Candles, festive nick-nacks, tree decorations, jewellery, scarves bags, quirky ties, cufflinks, cards, children’s toys… you name, they’ve got it. I particularly love the new range of Katie Loxton clutch bags and purses. Oh, and did I mention they stock over 80 different different types of gin? Just a by-the-by.
Handpicked by Kate
Handpicked by Kate is a wonderful, online boutique shop. The owner, Kate, has worked in the interior design and events space, and this online store is a collection of fabulous, high quality brands that have ‘caught her eye’ along the way. She’s got everything from sumptuous home interiors, to jewellery and clothing. I love that you can search by ‘gifts for her/him/home’ – tick off a few people from your list in one go.
Catalog Ltd
Catalog is a furniture, lighting and home accessories store with its headquarters in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Pay them a visit between 15th November – 24th December and instead of a furniture shop, you’ll find a winter wonderland of festive shopping opportunities. This year, ‘it’s all about the little things’. Shop gift ideas from Kartell, Normann Copenhagen, LSA… the list goes on. You can guarantee whatever you pick up, for him, her, or the home, will have been chosen for this pop-up shop with great attention to detail and care, just the way a gift should be selected.
Covet
The girls at Covet have a well-established reputation across Edinburgh for beautiful scarves, jewellery and leather goods. Just in time for Christmas wish lists, they launched their very own range of leather purses and bags. Complete with a subtle, yet beautiful logo, these bags and purses are made from the silkiest, soft leather, and come in a stunning range of colours – with plenty of on trend, festive metallics in the mix. The ‘Essential Clutch‘ is just that, essential. Find them online, or on Thistle Street in Edinburgh.
The Bobble Hat Shop
I was introduced to The Bobble Hat Shop by my sister-in-law last Christmas. I was the lucky recipient of a cream, cashmere bobble hat (similar one here) which I loved so much I went on to buy it in a darker colour. As well as a gorgeous selection of hats, they also do cute bobble bag tags or keyrings – at £7.50 a pop, are perfect stocking fillers.
