Absolutely Fabulous Gifts & Décor has been a fixture of Huntington Beach since 2006. It has lots of fans. Last week I visited this delightful shop for the first time, and I became one of them.
It all started at the windows. On the right, a beach scene teamed shells, plus colored glass orbs and jars with saucy mermaids and mermen. The windows to the left were filled with soft plush toys for little ones. In the center windows stood two shelves. Each one was filled with hand-painted wine glasses featuring whimsical sentiments. They flanked an upright, high-heeled poodle in a frilly velvet dress walking a smaller dog on a leash.
I got the message then and there: this retailer offers amazing variety.
There are lots of printed and embroidered kitchen towels (as big fan of Notting Hill, I had to laugh when I saw a towel that parodied one of this 1999 film’s famous lines: “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a fridge, hoping dinner will make itself”). The shop has greeting cards aplenty and many choices for drinkware with clever messages—all of which you might expect.
At the same time, items as small as a keychain are merchandised across from giant stainless-steel serving bowls (my top pick: an oversized bowl shaped like an octopus, perfect for an ocean-side town display). Mugs with I ♥️ My Dog get equal play with glassware that says Cat Mom. A wall of crucifixes and angel wings sits adjacent to a shelf with Judaica, and a few feet away from pieces with astrological designs and a meditating gnome. The breadth of their assortment conveys that this is NOT a one-size-fits-all store. And there’s more.
Many gift store assortments are so tightly focused on women that they miss the opportunity offered in men’s’ gifts. Not Absolutely Fabulous. Here, products with a masculine sensibility are not just there for Father’s Day. Displays are sizable, and in more than one location in the store. Just as importantly, the assortment is not one-dimensional. Yes, they have flasks aplenty and many grooming products. But they also carry car bins and pens, desktop games and multi-tools. Candle scents include Bourbon & Spice. And don’t forget the mermen, kept company in a Huntington Beach-themed display by male angels dressed for a day at the beach.
A generous display of wedding and anniversary gifts is the most inclusive I have seen. Beyond typical toasting flutes, candleholders and picture frames, cake toppers and bottle stoppers depict a range of happy couples. Shot glass sets say Mr. & Mr. A cake server is shaped like a high heel. Whatever union you are celebrating, Absolutely Fabulous will help you find a gift that’s right for it.
It’s not just about adults at this store. Gifts for babies and kids enjoy a sizable footprint. The toy and game display has the vibe of a kids’ specialty shop, rather than a big-box merchant (think paper airplanes, solar race car). Other items range from painted-wood pull toys to animal-themed slippers. Favorite concept: a great selection of books for kids, each one displayed with related plush pieces.
Look below for the store’s 4th of July displays, plus a few more gems from Absolutely Fabulous Gifts & Décor:
