Does Glasgow really need another H&M? some were heard to cry when a third city centre addition to the popular Swedish clothes chain was revealed as one of the new stores in the St Enoch's Centre's makeover. Even I, an admitted worshipper to the hallowed altar of all that is cheaper than Topshop and better quality than Primark, was doubtful. However, the beauty of H&M Argyle Street is that... whisper it... people haven't yet seemed to realise it's there. You know the sinking feeling you used to get when you walked into the Buchanan Galleries and were forced to dig your way through a pile of jeans, woolly jumpers and winter jacks to find a little sign entitled "sleeveless tops?" When you took a few items of clothing to the fitting rooms and on seeing the queue really wished you were the type of person who would just brassneck it and strip to your pants in front of the floor length mirror in the middle of the shop? Well the Argyle Street store just isn't like that.
Example; while shopping the other day I discovered a gorgeous cardigan of which there seemed to be every size but mine. I popped up to the Buchanan Street store and made my way through the crowds to find a shop assistant of whom I told my query. "No, we only have one in a size six," she replied. "This particular cardigan has been selling quickly." I then decided to give the Buchanan Galleries store a try, even though it is much smaller. Needless to say there was only one left, not in my size. Compare this to the row of the cardigans the Argyle Street store had and you will understand why it will now be my first H&M choice (although it would be typical that out of all the cardigans they had left they wouldn't have one on my size. But I digress... it was a really nice cardigan.)
The store is also massive with one and a half floors dedicated to womanswear, including a large accessories department. They even have a decent selection of shoes and I don't remember seeing shoes in any other H&M store.
The only problem with my new discovery is that sharing it with all of you could mean its popularity will rise and it too will succumb to the curse of the piled up clothes and fitting room queues.
Actually, forget everything I just said. read more