Mr Ben

With a range spanning one-off fashion wonders, extravagant party garments and fancy-dress items, Mr Ben is one of the most renowned vintage emporiums in Glasgow.

Based in a converted railway arch unit in the Merchant City at Kings Court, it’s optimally located and near impossible to miss, with its groovy 1960s font signs and yellow frontage hung theatrically with select eye-catching pieces, from British army redcoats to colourful scarves and ties.

Owner Mary Ann King has dedicated much of her career to the pursuit of classic twentieth century retro attire, and her collection – while as unpredictable as that of any second-hand store – spans the decades, from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Whether it’s dandy flower-print shirts, foppish braces and cravats, colourful frocks, elegant ball gowns, a big eccentric woolly jumper or simply a good heavy navy pea coat to keep the cold Glasgow winter out, you’re in with a good chance of finding something you’ll love here on any given visit.

As well as weird and wonderful one-off pieces, there are also loads of more generic items waiting to be reinvented, by big brands including Levi’s, Barbour, Converse, Duffel, Harris Tweed and Fred Perry. Shoes and bags pack the window displays, and there’s belts, badges, buttons and jewellery galore too.