OK are we all set for the party?…read more Kiddy food... check Soft drinks... check presents... check booze for the frazzled parents... check balloons... balloons... balloons?...feck Now rather than telling the story normally, let's go for something that best fits the 'eeeeeeeeek' manner in which the balloon less state left us. Ruuuuuuuuun.... buuuuuuuus.....waaaaaaaalk.....hiiiiiiiiiiii....... baaaaaallooooons please.......niiiiiiiiice daaaaaaay.......yeeeesssssss.....paaaaaaayyyyy.....waaaaaaalllllllk.....buuuuuuuus......hiiiiiiiiii hooooooney.....and relax Phew says i. Two kick ass balloons (one a giant silver foil number 2...as in the number, not the bodily function... not that you'd be expecting that, but just in case....oooh, i'm in a big hole) filled with floaty gas for aout 15 notes... pricey but cool. Oh and an update on the staff.... this time i was the grumpy frazzled one and she the nice friendly one... sometimes we can be too quick to judge!

This is the ultimate in tacky, novelty shopping, with everything from big bright balloons plastered…read moreall over the walls, to hen party costumes for the unashamedly tacky. From the moment you walk in the door, your eyes will be assaulted by the garish surroundings, you can't help but laugh. Since it specialises in party decorations and dressing up gear, it can be forgiven for being a little bit over the top and this just adds to its weird and wacky wonderfulness.

Dazzle has recently opened up for the Hallowe'en market and no doubt will be closed again in a…read morecouple of weeks. It has a wide range of costumes for everyone, and some I've never seen before such as Dino from the Flintstones and Mr. Potato Head. Prices vary, but they are quite steep in general. The advantage of a shop though, is that you can try before you buy. Last year I bought a hallowe'en costume online that was obviously designed for a 6 foot model, because the skirt was almost knee-length!! Yeas I know, we can't be having that.

I went in here purely because it's a play on my name. I jest. I noticed this new shop had opened so…read moreI popped inside for a nosey... and wow! This place is just bursting with costumes - as Liz said, it'll probably close down after Halloween (when else do people normally need an abundance of costumes?! Ok, christmas, sortof, but generally, Christmas isn't associated with pumpkin dress, no?), but it's fun while it lasts. It's quite pricey, but all the costumes look semi-professional (you know, not authentic disney, but a pretty darn good copycat), and they look like they'd last at least 1 night out on the tiles. My favourite costume bit - the couples section. "A Space Aged Couple Costume" was my favourite - rip off of the Jetson's anyone?! Fantastic.

One of the longest lasting shops trading in the city centre, Tam Shepherd's is a well known, well…read morerespected name in these parts. It's a traditional joke/magic/dress up store, so expect to see anything on display, from kid's tricks to massive, elaborate looking wigs and masks. It is a treasure trove packed with a vast array of weird, wacky and wonderful props. The staff are very experienced and are really helpful. It's a small shop where most items are behind the counter which I always thinks looks very Victorian. Or like something out of Harry Potter! It is quite magical (boom boom tsssh!) so that figures. It was queued out the door for Halloween, but on normal business days it usually does steady business. Perfect for performers, magicians and people who just love dressing up in their everyday life. A must if you're doing a Glasgow heritage shopping trail!

Tam Shephard's Trick Shop is a family-run business for over 100 years. This is quite famous in…read moreGlasgow for its Hallowe'en costumes, magic tricks and practical jokes. For me, it is famous as the shop that is fairly empty for 11 months a year, then has a queue snaking violently down the road in the weeks approaching Hallowe'en. The window display showcases a range of masks and wigs, creepily lifelike. Inside, the space is small, and crammed to the rafters with goodies. If you want to see something out of the display case, or try a hat on, the staff are only too happy to accommodate you. In the past I have bought: a pirate hat, a "lit" cigarette, a multi-pack of fake moustaches and a big bling medallion thing. It sells full costumes, wigs and full-head masks too. Everything is priced appropriately, and all of the little things I have bought have been cheap. If you're planning to shop here, I would advise going before October begins, to avoid the mad rush.

I'm not really one for spending a lot of money on fancy dress costumes, last year for Halloween I…read morewent as a bunch of grapes. I just cellotaped a load of purple balloons onto a black bin bag and put a green hair bobble on the top of my head. Simple. I couldn't sit down the whole night and I had a few punctures along the way - thankfully I had some spare. Anyway, I looked ridiculous but it made people laugh and I guess that's what fancy dress is all about, well, better that than people who use it an excuse to go out with their bits on show. If you're looking for a fancy dress costume then Fun World is definitely the place for you, they have over 5000! From emus, santas, Disney characters, tellytubbies and Betty Boop to um... Hitler and Sadam Hussein. Maybe steer clear of the last two. All hire costumes are individually priced but they don't come cheap, so make sure you don't go too wild with you're costume on. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be lumped with a couple hundred pound fine for an ostrich costume missing a beak.

Fun World is the best fancy dress shop in Glasgow and it the name also reminds me of Fun House with…read morePat Sharp and the twins! "Fun House, it's a whole lot fun, prizes to be one. It's a real crazy show where anything goes!" Sing along everyone! Anyway, back to Fun World. This store has all your usual skimpy numbers for you shameless hussy's out there including a selection of Legs Avenue costumes which are ridiculously expensive considering they are so tiny and don't cover your bum or your nipples. Fun World also has much more modest versions of the classics such as police officers, pirates, cowboys/girls etc. but what Fun World does best is costumes that are a little bit more original and humorous. You'll find things little characters from Little Britain, sperm (yes, sperm) and Popeye. They also have a great selection of accessories to really complete your look such as hats, footwear, face paints and wigs. You can buy most of the costumes although they are very expense or hire them which is obviously cheaper. The staff are so helpful and a good laugh and there is a party feel about the place. Ok I got the words "bum", "nipples" and "sperm" into that review and I wasn't even reviewing a sex shop. That has to be a Yelp first surely?

great service if your needing a costume for a fancy dress party or something. The staff are very…read morehelpful and let you take your time picking stuff. The prices are great as well. The shop is very old which adds to its charm.

A trip to Helen's Haberdashery is like rummaging around in the dressing up box when you were a kid,…read moreand provides endless entertainment. A longstanding addition to the In-Shops in The Forge Shopping Centre, this has always been the place to head for Halloween, Fancy Dress Parties, Friday nights...Any excuse! They have reels and reels of gorgeous fabrics, for the keen clothing maker, as well as lots of tubes of lovely buttons, thread, needles, wool, knitting needles - the lot! This place has saved me many a time for last minute costumes, selling ready made entire outfits, at a snip of the price of their city centre competitors. I particularly enjoy paying a visit to have a giggle over trying on their silly wigs and transforming my 'do to all manner of ridiculous new looks. A marvellous little dressing up box of a shop and one that I visit time and time again. Highly recommended for fans of dressmaking and dressing up.

This is a little Aladdins cave if you are looking for ideas for an outfit for a fancy dress party…read more they have an array of ready made proffesional looking outfits and masks if you are not that creative. Prices are really reasonable and much cheaper than you would pay elsewhere. If you are handy with a needle and thread then you can buy all the items to make your own items as they have a huge amount of different fabrics, trims and buttons etc. Staff are really good and if you need a bit of advise about what you need they are more than happy to help. Loads of goodies packed into quite a small space. Best thing is value money.

Up a wee close just next to Frasers, Remnant Kings is on the first floor. It's very much bigger…read morethan expected, especially in such a great location on the corner of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. I was in here yesterday to get some threaded sequins for my Hallowe'en costume. (supposed to be ringmaster: looking more like pornographic clown) The sequin reels were only 40p a metre, which is totally affordable. Their range of fabrics is huge, and a few definitely caught my eye - especially the red and black fur. They have buttons and wool; patches and ribbons; and a seasonal Hallowe'en section. The Hallowe'en section has small accessories such as wigs, hats and masks. It's made me want to start making my own clothes, but this will probably go the same way as my jewellery-making, hat-knitting and my "eBay business empire".

Unless you know about this place, you'll probably never notice it, or in fact, go in. Well, that's…read moreabout to change! Upstairs behind Fraser's, Remnant Kings is a haberdashery-heaven. Everything you could possibly want fabric or sewing related can be found here - and if it can't the lovely helpful staff will order it in for you. They have a fantastic selection of fabrics, sewing accessories and buttons (I had to once try and find 100 of the same buttons and this was the only place in the city that seemed to be able to meet my demands!). It's huge and light and airy. The staff are keen, and you won't leave empty handed. Promise.

1. "Last minute" up-charge of 25%, not advertised, if hiring within 4 days of your event, even if…read morethe clothing is off the rack and available immediately in the store. 2. Altering of sleeve length was a joke - temporary tack stitches that came undone immediately. This place is a racket with poor service.

I've been following Slanj on Facebook for a little while now, and once I saw the Clyde Built shirt,…read moreI knew I had to get it for my Glaswegian husband. I messaged Slanj through FB and they responded right away that they ship to the US, so I placed my order online. Super easy! The communication was absolutely top notch! After ordering, I was kept up to date as it was processed and provided a tracking number. This is the first time I've actually been able to track a package from the UK to the US successfully. Lo and behold, everything arrived today in perfect condition and I couldn't be happier!! If you're in need of a special gift from Scotland, definitely check them out!