When I hear the phrase ‘gift shop,’ I immediately imagine airport stop-offs filled with plastic snow-globes or New York tourist traps selling gimmicky t-shirts hardly the place to buy trinkets for loved ones. So when I need presents, I head for retail shops and department stores to scour for original gift selections.
But every year it’s the same old story: a tie for dad from Bloomingdales, pajamas for mom at Neiman Marcus, makeup for my sister from Sephora and anything on sale for my friends (hey, department stores aren’t cheap!). But this year’s going to be different. This year, there’s Posh.
Rarely is a name so befitting of its store. Posh is just what its name says: sophisticated and stylish. Walking into this Tremont Street hidden gem is like stepping into a virtual wish list for the holiday season, with creative ideas to guide you through your shopping itinerary. The charming store was welcoming and warm, and that’s not only because outside temperatures dipped below freezing. Greeted by a sales woman, I slowly ogled the delicate offerings on my first visit.
The first display to catch my eye was ‘Our Name is Mud’s’ a distinctively quirky line of dishware. The chalices read, ‘Cheap wine, expensive goblet,’ and only cost $19; the equally adorable soup bowls will set you back a buck less. Posh carries a large assortment of this gift-worthy brand and many similar designers, each with their own trademark style. The best buy for a tea drinker is a simple ceramic mug and strainer set, making unwinding potentially less complicated and certainly more adorable.
Posh’s merchandise, which perfectly melds style and sophistication, never veers toward stuffy. The vintage plates are incredibly trendy and reasonably priced at $20 for a set of four, while humorous alternatives showcase the store’s sense of humor (check out the gift wrap that reads ‘I love it (what were you thinking?)’).
Posh really has something for everyone, and its novelty isn’t limited to the holiday time. For the birthday girl: a spa kit which includes everything necessary to unwind and relax in true elegance. And come any wedding anniversary, ‘Queen and King’ embroidered pillowcases and washcloths are sure to please. And you never need an occasion to buy your friend a pack of ‘Pimps and hoes’ chewing gum.
Posh will make you yearn for a home to decorate (somehow, I don’t think paper cups call for coasters, nor community bathrooms for hand towels). While I can imagine my future home attentively furnished with feminine touches, my dorm room is currently adorned with steadily accumulating piles of clothes. So while Posh isn’t the destination for dorm decorations, but it will be the first place I head the next time I’m in search of a present.
With the holiday countdown underway, I’m saving my loose change and revising my gift list: now it’s a coffee mug for dad, dishware for mom, bubble bath for my sister. And my friends will be happy to know that, at Posh, I won’t have to wait for a sale.
Posh 557 Tremont St. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.