So many visitors leave Edinburgh having only made it to the shops of Princes Street. And what a shame this is.
Princes Street may have one of the best views of any high-street in Britain, (Edinburgh’s lovely castle) but the big high-street stores and garish tartan tat shops show nothing of the one-off boutiques, local designers, vintage stores and dusty bookstores that lurk off the beaten track.

Here are three of my favourite shopping stops:

1. Totty Rocks – 40 Victoria Street, Old Town
Little boutique designer shop run by two friends, and packed full with retro chic creations. They love to put their own twist on a classic look, so stand out from the crowd in one of their own unique designs.

2. W M Armstrong’s – 81-83 Grassmarket, Old Town
This world famous vintage store is packed to the rafters with plenty of wonders from the past few decades. Anyone with even the slightest interest in clothes should pay a visit.

3. Armchair books - 72-74 West Port, Old Town
This old-school second hand bookstore has been delighting for more than 15 years. The shop itself looks as if it is entirely built of books and has that wonderfully musty old-book smell that Waterstones somewhat lacks. Lose yourself in the shelves.

Totty Rocks:
www.tottyrocks.co.uk/
40 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2JW
+44 (0) 131 226 3232
Google map: bit.ly/onN1oZ
WM Armstrong's:
www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk/
83 The Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2HJ
+44(0)131 220 5557
Google map: bit.ly/pNGBoF
Armchair Books:
www.armchairbooks.co.uk/
72-74 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LE
+44(0)0131 229 5927
Google map: bit.ly/pHQDUs

* Rachel is our Been there local for Edinburgh. You can view her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/edinburgh-local-rachel-brown.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/RachelBrown

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After travelling to both Milan and Rome, two of the most influential cities of Europe fashion-wise and finding nothing but street after street of generic designer boutiques, I was ecstatic to find Edinburgh riddled with vintage clothes boutiques. Not only does South Bridge and Nicolson Street play host to several charity shops, often home to the most wonderfully unique pieces, but W. Armstrong & Son (founded in 1840) is the true heart of Edinburgh vintage. Found on The Grassmarket, room after room is filled with genuine World War II jackets and 1940's fancy dress; complete with trunk full’s of top hats, wigs and Venetian masks. Although W. Armstrong & Son is the crème de la crème of retro fashion, other vintage gems can also be found along Teviot Place and on Frederick Street.

81-83 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2HJ
www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk/
Google map: bit.ly/chE2vT

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