Shopping by Chris Hunt

by Chris Hunt, Fashion PR & Stylist

The Lighthouse Gallery in Mitchell Lane and ‘form’, its superb applied arts store, was my initial destination on my first visit to Glasgow. Stocking everything from intriguingly engineered gadgets to teapots designed by local artists I was inspired to move up from London right then and there.

Emerging onto Buchanan Street this central artery for Glasgow City Centre has Frasers at the southern end with halls of Amanda Wakeley gowns and shoes by YSL, and Urban Outfitters, Nine West, SoleTrader, Dune, Karen Millen, Top Shop and Office making this a pedestrianised boulevard perfect for any retail junky. The vibe is stylish.

Gordon Street on the left sees Carol Currie’s accessories by Christian Louboutin or Gina and also Greaves Sports Store. Nearby Aspecto holds footwear from Birkenstocks to Timberland.

The luxurious Princes Square Arcade halfway up contains boutiques Raspberry Ripple and Brownns alongside Jo Malone, Penhaligon’s, Space NK, Bo Concept and Whistles. There’s also Terence Conran’s Zinc Bar & Grill should you need a breather!

Pass underneath graceful arches beside Borders bookstore into Royal Exchange Square. Centred around the prestigious Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) this continental square is full of coffee shops for the chattering classes with LK Bennett and Reiss offering eye candy. Directly across from GoMA is the phenomenal Ingram Street: the heart of Merchant City.

Cruise Jeans on the corner of Ingram and Miller Streets is a deeply fashionable complex of galleries selling Thomas Burberry, Tatty Devine, Y3, Michiko Koshino, oki-ni and Paper Denim Cloth. Across the road is designer ribbon shop VV Rouleaux and further along Ingram Street flagship store Cruise 180 is a paradise stocking the very latest for those with cash to splash.

For men there’s a huge selection from Dries van Noten and Neil Barrett, to D&G and Cavalli with suiting by Oswald Boateng and casual wear by Armani Jeans among others. For the ladies there’s an extensive choice with an entire floor of accessories and jewellery from cult NY-LON designer Luella Bartley to Miu Miu and Mawi and upstairs two floors stock Alice Temperley, Boyd and Plein Sud among Marni and others.

Alongside is Ralph Lauren and Emporio Armani.

On Candleriggs Dr Jives stock Eley Kishimoto and A.P.C. and Niche Optical Tailor next door, whose clients include Kevin Spacey, Elle McPherson and Ewan McGregor, provides another edge to this urban regeneration area. Albion Street has contemporary furniture and accessories store PR, cosy Café Gandolfi and actor John Comerford’s hairdressing salon.

Trongate has galleries like DGP on St. Andrews Street and The Modern Institute near King Street’s cutting-edge hairdressers, skateboarding stores and the Mr. Ben vintage clothing store.

Millers Art Store (established in Glasgow in 1834 to meet the needs of the Art School) on Stockwell Street takes you to Argyle Street where Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Ravel and other High Street stores lead to the mammoth St. Enoch’s Shopping Centre where there’s also a Cruise sale shop.

Go-see the gargantuan Buchanan Galleries at the northern end of Buchanan Street with John Lewis, Mikey, Cecil Gee and Open on the ground floor stocking Ted Baker and Red Tape where they often hold skate-boarding displays and host live DJs.

TISO Glasgow Outdoor Experience on Couper Street is a retail centre for outdoor types with free parking and the Cairn Café serving home-made food. With a 40ft climbing wall, a 20ft ice wall, an ice cave, a -20º wind tunnel and bike shop this is a highly enjoyable learn, trial, hire and sale concept.

Out west the best facial in Glasgow is at Medéspa on Newton Place and then nearby Great Western Road, with its Asian sari shops, is also THE place for interior design with ‘And so to bed’, ‘Galletly & Tubbs’, Fancy Dan’s and ‘Timorous Beasties’ creating an eclectic vibe. It’s also where you’ll find Achilles and those Asics Onitsuka Tigers.

Byres Road however is seen as the high street of the West-End. With its renowned grocers, fruit and veg stalls, butchers and fish shops alongside boutiques like Pink Poodle, record stores like Fopp, and the best of delicatessens Heart Buchanan and Kember & Jones it’s a des res area. On the right is Moon in Ruthven Lane where owner Annie Good sells hats by Glasgow’s own Holly O’Hara, and clothing by Betty Jackson, Missoni and Gharani Strok to her discerning clientele. Behind is a hidden range of cool retro shops, selling clothing and records. Across the road is Cresswell Lane and De Courcy’s Arcade. Here you will find Twisted Generation and Felix & Oscar selling Hello Kitty and Miffy.

Glasgow has atmosphere and style radiating from its magnificent architecture. That’s the reason this river City is the largest UK shopping centre outside London, and there’s so much happening constantly that you know what – it’s getting bigger and better all the time.