I first came across this boutique after the recent Yelp event (which was extremely fun and…read morefabulous!) and, after having a wee trial of their 'Hot Wax' waxing system, I decide to pay them another visit for a spot of pampering and de-fuzzing! I was extremely well looked after from the minute I arrived, and the salon room was clean, well decorated and very relaxing! Now, I will not go into details about the actual treatment (there are some aspects of girly grooming that really need to remain a secret!) but the hot wax felt strangely nice, and while it wasn't entirely pain-less, it was certainly nicer than my past waxing experiences! After my treatment I was given after-care advice, and they followed up with an e-mail to make sure I knew what I was doing. I liked it so much I booked my return visit on the spot! In addition to the pampering side, the Boutique also has a wonderful lingerie/swimwear shop, and carries a range of very beautifully designed 'toys' which would look more at home on a stylish coffee table, than in the bottom drawer of you bedside table! The lingerie, products and salon treatments are more expensive than I would normally pay, however, the warmth, friendliness and professionalism of the staff and general gorgeousness of the Boutique will keep me coming back again and again!

I love Odyssey Boutique. I do like a wander in the West End Village and I always pop in to see…read morewhat's new. This is seriously gorgeous lingerie and they are high end labels: Pleasure State, Stella McCartney, Fauve, Mimi Holiday as well as Fantasie and more. It's the lingerie that lures me in and they cater for all sizes which is fab and not always found on the high street. You do pay more for these brands but the quality and service is excellent. If you are larger in the bust department, then this is the place to come for some seriously sexy undies. Sarah, the owner can provide fittings if required and if you don't see your size then just ask as it may be in the stock room. A good range of bra size swimwear, as well as beauty treatments is also available. The sale is great - a proper sale with fab discounts and after the weekend, my bank account is pretty depleted. What's not to love!?

Bravado is such a fabulous lingerie and underwear store…read more It is situated on the busy and bustling Morningside Road in Edinburgh and so it is very easy to reach it as it is close to the city centre. They specialise in ladies underwear and they offer a huge selection of different sizes, styles and shapes of lingerie. Bravado also sells swimwear, nightwear and dressing gowns. The staff in the store are incredibly warm, inviting and highly knowledgeable about their stock. Bravado do bra fittings which are very accurate and the staff are happy to recommend which styles of shapes of underwear they think would suit your shape best. Bravado also sell maternity swimwear and underwear, as well as specially made mastectomy bras which can be very hard to come by. The range of underwear which Bravado stocks is quite amazing and it is all very reasonably priced considering how specially made all the items. Bravado is definitely the place I go to for fantastic fitting underwear and nightwear - I cannot recommend it more highly. GO!

This is a lovely shop, the range in terms of prices and styles is really fantastic. Most of all,…read morethe owner was just so nice. I was feeling very self conscious when I went in for various health reasons and she just made it all easy peasy.

Well this is a first - I don't think i've ever written a review on a change room before…read more.. I popped into White Stuff this evening for a blogger event. Besides the fact that their name is ridiculous, and cannot be used in every day conversation without it sounding completely dirty (I have the brain of a five year old, so sue me), it's a really exquisitely presented shop that carries less exquisite, but decent basics. Honestly, this little place isn't my jam for clothing. There's a whole "fancy t-shirt and jeans" element of current fashion that just alludes me. I don't get fancy t-shirts. It's a t-shirt....??? But that being said, I WOULD go back and try on a fancy t-shirt, just so I could hang out in the very funky change rooms (that is less creepy then it sounds). These are the funkiest change rooms that ever there were. Each little room is behind a wardrobe door and each has it's own theme. The Alice in Wonderland obsessed lady that I am, I was hooked from the first surprise. From a stuffed animal clad room, to a forest and a 1950's kitchen (?), each are impeccably down and well worth the snoop. I feel sorry for the folks who have to go in during open hours, as I'm sure they are less encouraged to just start opening doors. But the one that really got me was a little under sea themed room that was a contest winner designed by a 12 year old girl. HOW CUTE IS THAT?! They took her drawing and played it out perfectly, down to the live fish that they feed every morning. It's as cute as a bug's ear and a lovely little sound bite from our tour. So i'm a fan. Of their change rooms. Change rooms that are worthy of a four star review just on their own. As to the rest of the store? Though the clothing didn't strike my fancy, there's some great accessories that might have me stopping back. They seem to be a bit less expensive then some of the other finds (except for the shoes that caught my eye, but isn't that always the case?). It's a good spot for a nice scarf or accent jewelry.

Ahhhh White Stuff... Far too expensive at full price but bargains to be found if you're willing to…read moresift through the racks when they have sales on. Sometimes I find their stuff to be a bit 'same-same'.. I can tell a piece from White Stuff, a mile away.. But sometimes that's what you need for wardrobe basics. No one's reinventing the t shirt! But this is one of the few places you might find one in mustard yellow.. If you're into that kinda stuff.. (A girl can only own so many grey t-shirts..) What I do like about White Stuff is their 30 day return policy, even on sale items. Not all stores are created equal in this area. The pièce de resistance in this store has to be the change rooms. A hallway of wardrobes that open into different themed rooms, from a bathroom to a gift store to an underwater reef! Yes it's a chain, yes it's a bit generic, but their stuff is well made and if you wait till they have a sale on, it can be pretty reasonable.

I don't shop here very often, but today's visit was such a great experience that I felt compelled…read moreto leave a review. While the self-checkout was a bit of a hassle, one of the staff members--Annan, I believe--was absolutely fantastic. He helped me out with genuine patience and a smile, never making it feel like I was inconveniencing him. Honestly, if he ever has a vacancy, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. What a gem of a person--he really made my day!

Old Navy for hipsters…read more This place was a wreck. I understand it is located in a high traffic area and they get a lot of visitors but it's just a mess. I saw this place one night after they closed and made a point to come back during the next day. Most of the clothing looks like it would fall apart within a few weeks...looks good but poorly and cheaply made. I checked it out and walked out.

It's 5 stars all the way! It's just a great spot that connects you to many different parts of Old…read moreTown. The views of the castle from here are also incredible. Especially if you want to see the volcanic plug under the castle. The best views of it are from here. It's also where you can make your way up the Vennel Steps to see the old defensive walls of the city. There are even two or three different ways that you can get to the castle from here. The Granny Green Steps are located on the west side of the square. It will take you up to Johnston Terrace where you can take another set of stairs called Castle Wynd North up to the castle. The second option is to take the Castle Wynd South path in the middle of the square which will lead into the Patrick Geddes Steps and directly to the North Steps. Another way is to walk up West Bow from the square to Victoria Street (also in Grassmarket). Take the stairway up to Victoria Terrace and then make your way up to the steps at Castle Wynd North or to the Royal Mile. You'll get a different perspective of the Grassmarket area and the castle from all angles. We visited it daily. We even passed through it on our way to Greyfriars Kirkyard via Candlemaker Row. The National Museum of Scotland is also easily accessible from here. The square in Grassmarket is the perfect meet up location. There's a lot of dark history here as well. It was one of the public execution sites that included the unsuccessful one of "Half-Hangit Maggie Dickson" in 1724. There's a bar at the square named after her. You'll also see a memorial written on the stones of the square for the last person (James Andrews) to be hanged at the gallows there on 4 February 1784. All creepiness aside, it's a very lively and active place that you'll pass through at some point. I mean, how could you not? It's an area full of beauty and history. *Updated on 5/5/2026 to correct a name.

Grassmarket is located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, just behind Edinburgh Castle. It's one…read moreof the oldest parts of the city, dating back to the 14th century. it is a popular area of the city today, just as it has been for many years. The Grassmarket is one of the most vibrant and charming neighbourhoods in Edinburgh and it's not a place you want to miss. However, one of the best parts about visiting this area are the views you'll get of the castle! Lined with buzzing bars, restaurants with worldwide flavours, delicious coffee shops and eclectic shops, the area's winding streets are a delight to explore at your leisure. Take a historic walking tour. Free historic walking tour maps are available from the local pubs and shops in the area. You can read or listen to the audio history of the area here. OR Visit the Greyfriars Bobby monument and grave site of a devoted little dog.

Awwwwww! That is exactly what I thought when I popped into Bohemia the other day. This children's…read moreboutiques just screams cuteness and many of the toys are too nice to let your terrible tots play with, they'd be better used as ornaments. They had a huge section with wooden and fabric food and I was tempted to buy a cuddly banana but seeing as I'm not under 3 I thought it was best not to as I'd probably end up wondering why I'd bought it in the first place. They also had a wooden cake stand with a wooden cake display on it, it was gorgeous! There was also a good selection of Eric Carle toys and books and as I love the Hungriest Caterpillar this was a huge plus for me. In addition the children's clothing and toys there's also a small ladies fashion section with a rail of pretty tops and dresses. In addition to this there's a little vanity table that has Paul and Joe make-up displayed on it beautifully. I also have to mention the staff who were lovely and really friendly, when I popped in it was two girls working and they couldn't have been nicer, chatting away to all the customers and making everyone feel really welcome indeed, very knowledgeable about the products and seemed to really like working here too. Definitely deserving of five stars.

Bohemia is another one of those shops I try averting my eyes from when I walk by. Because things in…read morethere tend to be just a bit too pretty. And I'm not the only one who thinks this. My friends and I always try very hard not to ogle the shop on our walk from Scotmid to my house and vice-versa. We avert our eyes because things in there are pretty and not cheap at all. Sometimes, though, there are those rare occasions when there's something at a reasonable price. My flatmate and another friend bought me a gorgeous dress for only 15 pounds, while most dresses there are in the 40 pound price range, if not more. They also sell children's clothes. I'm not sure if this is specific to the Marchmont area (there are lots of middle-class parents in this area as well as students). The women who work there have always been really kind to me. The dress my friends bought me had a tiny fault and they sent it off to get repaired at the tailor's for me. I don't know if this was standard, but I'm just glad I didn't have to argue about it at all. I'm not a fan of confrontation, you see. So if you do have some money to spend, this is a great place to get something, as the shop advertises, bohemian and dressy.

"Let's find out your running style" "Well, I tend to flail…read moreand not carry on for over a week" "ok, so would you say that you're a beginner" "Yes, to be honest all I want is to buy all the kit and never do it" "oooohhhhhh kkkaaayyy... well, we have all these things in the sale" "thank you very much" *sound of the cash register*

As running shops go this is one of the very best and offers great value for money. If you can…read moreyou'll want to try and buy as much as you can from here at sale times because then the prices plummet and you can pick up some really sensational deals. The shop covers everything you'll need so you will be able to avoid having to visit multiple shops just to buy all you want including a variety of gadgets that whilst not cheap will help you monitor your progress accurately helping you reach and set your targets.

Harvey Nichols or Harvey Nicks as it is often referred to, is a large department store, just…read moreoutside St James Quarter in Edinburgh city centre, a large department store in a grand building, this is a nice place to shop if you're looking for something a little more premium with a selection from food to fragrance. The store feels high-end so is fancy and well laid out, and the staff are friendly, with many creams and products on hand to test out before purchase. The store closes at 6 pm between Sunday and Wednesday, opening an hour later between Thursday and Saturday, regardless I feel this is far too early for a large department store in a big city, the shopping hours are not well catered to workers, and those who prefer to head out in the afternoons. There are places to sit and take a break while shopping in the store, which I appreciate, and the vibes inside the store are very nice, overall, with some nice products, so it is well worth a look in if you have time while shopping in Edinburgh. The store has five floors, including a Brasserie and Bar on the Fourth Floor, with impressive views of the city, including the Old Town. 4*

At the very top of this mall there is a terrace overlooking St-Andrews monument. It's really cool!…read moreMy friend and I got some drinks and some chips and had a great time. I got a margarita frozen and they were very generous with the alcohol! The chips came with this really delicious dipping sauce (and only cost 4 pounds). Would really recommend grabbing a drink here.

Take an individual piece of clothing out of Aladin's cave it's probably the worst thing you've ever…read morebought. According to everyone who's older than me this is one of the oldest established vintage clothing boutiques in Edinburgh. Lots of animal prints, lots of sequins and polyester, like any second hand shop really. but for some reason Herman Brown seems to be slightly uglier (which as we all know, is a great thing) having never found an excuse to wear a 150kg dress I'm sad to say I've bought NOTHING in the 800 times I've been in but it's still great fun trying stuff on.. Shop owners everywhere are shaking their heads, right?

I got so excited the first time I stumbled upon Herman Brown…read more It's a vintage store with originality, and packed full with well sourced stock. There was granny jumpers aplenty, batwing sweaters, suede jackets and a decent selection for the boys. It's not overwhelmingly busy with stock, leaving you free to browse without your brain being bombarded with a ton of information. There is definitely enough to satisfy your vintage cravings however, and loads of accessories for you to dig into your wallets for. There is a good supply of boots, buckles and bangles, not to mention half a ton of gorgeous brooches in a glass cabinet underneath the cash desk. You can always tell vintage suppliers who hire experienced staff, and Herman Brown has that. They are a very approachable bunch who are informative if you want to find out more about an item. Herman Brown is full of goodies, and being established for over twenty years it's safe to say they didn't jump on a bandwagon - they built it!

They refuse to give me a refund. I sent two orders in one bag. They don't know how to track down…read morethe bag. The return department sucks, how could they just dismiss the other items? I received partial refund for the return label of one order with 3 items but in still missing refund for 5 items. They refuse to give me the money. I sent emails, I called them, I emailed the CEO and nothing. Five year olds are running this company!!!!! Horrible customer service!. I have never had any problems with ASOS or any other company. Avoid head aches, you have been warned!

Overpriced and not very good customer service. The lady took forever to ring me up, pretending I…read moredidn't exist the whole time, and still managed to forget to take a security device off the shorts. Guess I won't be wearing this outfit to dinner Going further down the street I saw there's many more stores that are more affordable, avoid this place.