This month’s event was a visual treat. The show was themed on the iconic television show Twin Peaks by David Lynch, and here they certainly took advantage of one of Lynch’s most celebrated (and wonderfully kitsch) works.

The space was cleverly utilised, turning the well-used Sub Club into an intoxicating and immersive atmosphere. The space was divided into three sections: the back space of the venue contained work by visual artists Claudia Nova and Rachael Sharpe, both students at GSA. The installation Dream Space offered a reaction to the setting with visceral paintings by Sharpe which depicted surrealist imagery partnered with a dark, Gothic aesthetic. The piece by Nova was a sculpture which directly referenced the Twin Peaks theme, depicting a hand emerging from a mountain constructed of colour and glitter. The work gave an interesting new dimension to the space, and was a clever addition to the event which enforced the idea of escapist decadence.

The event presented work from a vast selection of designers. As the lights went up and the show began, the first designer being Lilly Wiggler’s beautiful hand made corsets. This was followed by Sally Ann Provan, Jennie Loof, Jane Gowans, Catherine Aiken, Ten 30 and Anna Whyte. After a short intermission in which attendees could socialize with the designers, models walked for Chou Chou couture, dazed Dorothy, Hilary Lang, Oui designs, Betty Spoke, Mee Mee Couture and Mark Conlin. The styling was fantastic, the models’ hair and make-up (by Rainbow Rooms and LCR make-up) evoked a new-age sense of romance; exotic and yet unfailingly ethereal. The stand out collections included Jane Gowans’ 2010 ‘Matchstick’ which included beautifully made and innovative jewellery. I was also impressed by Ten 30′s heavily embroidered and well structured garments and Mark Conlin’s innovative use of material and pattern. The work was of an exceptional quality and the collections were both intruiging and innovative.

Having attended the previous ‘In the Company of Wolves’ in the spring, I had high expectations. However, I was surprised again by the extensive attention to detail, aesthetic consideration and overall success of the event.

If you’re one of those people who never escapes beyond the cosy west end bubble, this weekend is the time to venture to the far and distant land of East Lothian.

I’m talking specifically about the three harbour towns of Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton. If you know the area you’ll be aware that these towns have struggled hard against the tide of de-industrialisation and are gradually beginning to regenerate through community initiatives such at the Three Harbours Seafood Festival.

Organised by people of East Lothian, the festival is a great example of a community getting together to show the rest of us what they’ve got going. It’s been going for five years now and is perfect for foodies and art buffs.

The festival kicks off on Friday 28 May with an outdoor Ceilidh and birthday party led by the Islander Ceilidh Band. If you’re more interested in the food, why not visit the festival during the day on Saturday or Sunday. Entry to the festival is only £2 and the organisers promise cooking demonstrations, a great real ale tent and lots of fresh produce to buy. There’s free refrigeration all day so you don’t have to worry about your purchases getting ruined while you laze about in the sun by the sea.

Three Harbours Seafood Festival runs from Friday 28-Sunday 30 May at The Greenbelt, Edinburgh Road, Prestonpans. More information can be found at http://www.3harbours.co.uk.

If you can cast your caffeine-addled minds back to last year, you may recall Movember, when  the boys — sorry, men — of Glasgow were encouraged to grow a moustache during November to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Charity and to promote awareness of the disease. Verily, our cup of testosterone runneth over, because this manifestation of masculinity was apparently not enough for the Glasgow boys. It was this tidal wave of testosterone that precipitated the creation of “Manuary”, a Facebook group whose main objectives (if we may so call them) are “fighting, meat, beer and chivalry”. This good-humoured pastiche of masculine stereotypes started life as a joke between creator Mark Stewart and some friends in December, but has now expanded to include over 30,000 members.

The backlash group, “Femruary”, has attracted only 146 members so far, perhaps because girls are none so keen to identify themselves with the unprepossessing by-line image of an overweight woman in a swimsuit. Creator Annie Beauchamp assures me that the origin of this picture was a Google image search for feminism, which is in itself troubling. The tongue-in-cheek gender stereotypes suggested by Femruary include giggling, drinking cocktails, shopping and, of course, pillow-fights in your underwear (as if boys don’t do that).

Why are people suddenly flocking towards gender stereotypes as society at large strives to become ever more gender-neutral? Beauchamp suggests, “Gender stereotypes make it easy to categorise people, and that’s where their attraction lies — simplicity. Obviously, not all stereotypes hold true for everybody, but they are always founded on a commonly perceived truth.” These Facebook groups are a deliberately ironic pastiche of gender stereotypes — we are now supposed to be sufficiently distanced from a time when these stereotypes really did hold sway to be able to find them laughable and trite.

However, as journalist India Knight suggested recently in the Sunday Times, women today are still clamouring to emulate the ideal 1950s household — on top of having children and full-time jobs: “We’ve had the whole Nigella-Cath Kidston thing, where what started off as a camp, tongue-in-cheek joke — the ‘domestic goddess’ — mutated into a strange sort of reality which ended up with women feeling they weren’t worth their salt if they couldn’t rustle up a batch of cupcakes in their 1950s-retro kitchen, complete with pastel accessories and baby-blue Smeg fridge.”

Knight focuses on the extra responsibilities heaped on women, but men too are feeling the strain. As we push towards the ideal of a gender-equal society, everyone is expected to be “a good all-rounder”, with both men and women expected to be just as adept at baking and childcare as they are at DIY and managing a business. These are certainly positive aspirations, but one can see how the monumental pressures they incur (who has the time? the energy?) could drive people back towards traditional gender stereotypes whereby the roles of men and women were clearly defined and everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do, and how they were supposed to relate to each other.

For Beauchamp, it’s not as clear-cut as that: “I don’t think people actually want to return to gender stereotypes as such. A lot of girls I know are proud of the fact that they don’t conform to traditional feminine stereotypes. I can see, however, why people would want to celebrate particular aspects of their gender — it forms a sister/brotherhood, and creates a sense of camaraderie. It can help to bring people together.”

This is perhaps the most attractive aspect of gender tribalism  — it unites people under a common denominator, allowing them to celebrate what they consider themselves to have in common. Homosocial bonding between men has become much more relaxed of late, with the preponderance of “bromances” spouting forth from Hollywood and the mock-unhealthy relationships between JD and Turk in Scrubs, or Mark and Jeremy in Peep Show.

Where confusion exists now, though, is in how we should relate to each when we’re supposed to have moved beyond fixed gender identities, yet so many of our relationships — especially the romantic ones — are still predicated upon older, more traditional concepts and structures. There remains a fissure between  chivalry and feminism — no-one has rewritten the rule-book to correlate the two, meaning that we’re just as confused as ever when it comes to relating to the opposite sex. Many boys are confused about what exactly girls expect of them on dates these days — will it offend her feminist sensibilities if you offer to pay? Will you look cheap if you offer to go halves? What about same-sex couples? Surely the solution is obvious, though — if everyone could just have better manners, it would solve many a potential dating conundrum. Luckily for all of us, Debrett’s, “the modern authority on all matters of etiquette”, has stepped up to the mark, creating modern etiquette guidelines on subjects from text-messaging to chivalry and beyond.

Generally perceived as archaic and elitist, Debrett’s daily business is ancestry, peerage and the social calendar of the aristocracy. When it comes to dictating manners, however, their website proves to be rather insightful and surprisingly modern. Their line on chivalry is that it should be “manners with a sexy edge”, and that it is entirely possible to manifest good manners towards your lady friend without patronising her. According to their wisdom, “Chivalrous gestures should not feel creepy — there is a fine line between flattering attentiveness and smothering sleaziness.” A lot of their suggestions could easily be described as common sense, and whilst their approach is a little prescriptive at times, this is by no means a bad thing — for example, when it comes to “making a pass”, their suggestion is that one should “never attempt it if you have overindulged”, and I think the majority of us could agree that sounder advice was never given.

Men are advised that boasting about their sexual prowess is not likely to gain them any admiration: “You may want to impress her with your man-about-town credentials, confident that she will be seduced by your savoir-faire and worldly finesse. But be warned: if you get it even slightly wrong, you will look like a sad roué — lecherous, needy, debauched — and she will be making a rapid exit.” This may be something that the boys who wrote about their sexual conquests on Manuary’s wall should bear in mind — all I can say is woe betide you if the ladies in question find out.

Their final, refreshingly gender-neutral word on paying for dinner is that going halves is a sure way to kill the romance of the occasion: “There is one abiding rule — the person who requests the pleasure, pays for the pleasure. So, as a simple point of etiquette, you should pick up the tab for a lunch, dinner of raft of cocktails — if you have invited the other person. The other non-paying party should, however, assume one or more of the minor expenses of the date — after-dinner drinks, a taxi home…”  There is definitely scope for a relaxation of this rule for students, and personally I don’t know many girls who are likely to mind splitting the cost of a meal. The other issue here is that you may find that you’re always the one doing the inviting. Well, perhaps that’s a good indicator that it’s time to find worthier recipients for your invitations.

Equality is a two-way street, and we ought to be able to expect the same treatment from people of every gender, whether it’s paying for a meal, cancelling an engagement or replying to a text message. Good manners cost nothing, and yet we are coming to be surprised when we are treated with the respect we deserve. If we aim to replace stereotypical conceptions of how we ought to relate to each other — conceptions based upon outdated views of gender — with the simple aim of treating everyone with equal respect, then gender relations needn’t be so fraught with tension. We just need to treat each other a little more kindly and put a bit more thought into our conduct. In the meantime, enjoy what’s left of Femruary, look forward to “Gaypril” and “July-curious” — and brush up on your manners!

Glasgow, famous for its shopping, fashion and experimental style, has had one thing missing til now – something that every other self-respecting city from Tokyo to Tel Aviv, from Berlin to Barcelona has. Can you guess what?

A street style blog.

Les Garçons de Glasgow, founded by two friends that share a fondness for the well dressed, has emerged in the last three months to fill a void in Glasgow’s blogosphere. Les Garcons, inspired by The Sartorialist and LookBook, is focused solely on Glasgow’s style in order to reflect the sartorial spirit of the city.

The ingredients are simple, too – a camera, a good eye and an Internet connection. Thrown into the mix are Glaswegians, divided between those with a passion for timeless style and those with an eye for constantly changing fashion trends.

Les Garçons intend to expand their love for Glaswegian style with the ‘A Glaswegian in…’ section that has featured Glaswegians based in New York, Montreal, Berlin and Paris. As well as this, the blog will be running style profiles of some of the brightest stars of Glasgow’s artistic community over the coming months, showcasing the talent the city has to offer.

Les Garçons have recently been invited to photograph the Subcity Halloween Party, Death Disco at the Arches and the institution that is Art School’s Record Playerz on a Thursday night.

For Les Garçons, style is something that is classic, will still look good in ten years time and more often that not is black and vintage. The blog aims to document the looks that hit Glasgow’s sodden streets and reflect the city’s flair for fashion.

You can see more of Les Garçons de Glasgow online here.

Jonny Casey

When I was asked to write an article debating whether men should wear make-up I have to admit I raised a distinctly un-plucked eyebrow. Like most guys, I’d never given a second thought to the hours (and money) spent preening, reading beauty tips and purchasing make-up that most girls engage in, let alone considered joining in myself. The pressure to be a flawless, entrancing goddess is a well-established part of women’s lives, obvious after the briefest glance through a magazine or a few minutes’ viewing of a makeover show. Could it be only a matter of time before we men are subject to the same pressures and expectations as women?

Strolling through the hallowed halls of cosmetic beauty in Frasers with this question still fresh in my mind, I began to appreciate the strength of the pressure placed upon women to look immaculate. As the frozen images of glamorous supermodels pierced me with their smoky eyes and pouted at me with perfectly painted lips, I suddenly felt that turning up in this world with razor rash and tired eyes was totally unacceptable. Time to do something about it…

Approaching the YSL counter, I braced myself and managed to stammer out my question: “Do you sell make-up for men?”  A glamorous sales assistant about the same age as my mum looked at me over her half moon glasses, clearly unsure how to react. My face flushed. My palms grew sweaty. I felt like I had just asked for some under-the-counter bootlegged substance. So, I was to be disappointed: no make-up for me here.

Suddenly, there came a glimmer of hope — the world of Jean Paul Gaultier was calling to me and there it was, the Holy Grail: a cabinet full of make-up for men. I was approached by a friendly sales assistant who explained that the range was very successful with a variety of male customers, from teenage boys wanting to cover up pimples, to businessmen using a touch of concealer on the under-eye bags that are the result of too much overtime at the office, to metrosexual men loading up on “guyliner” and “manscara” before dancing the night  away with some femme fatale — just like Russell Brand and Robbie Williams, then! I could understand why they had so many customers as, despite my initial reservations, the sales assistant made me feel instantly comfortable and at ease.

A lot of thought has been put into the marketing of these products to make them acceptable to a male audience. The packaging design is simple and monochromatic with an emphasis on the branding “Monsieur” rather than the name of each product. These are described as “subtle”, “natural” and “masculine”, and as allowing men to highlight their best features and banish any blemishes without the risk of turning into Lily Savage. It was a cabinet full of promises of masculine beauty, from energising eye creams and mattifiers, to concealers and brow groomers.

However, you don’t have to look to a flamboyant French fashion house to see evidence of changing attitudes. You’ll find make-up for men even in high street retailers such as Superdrug. The company has seen an explosion in the male grooming market over the last five years and in summer 2008 launched “TAXI”, a make-up range aimed specifically at men. Peter Kelly, the creator of the range, explained: “We’ve developed essentials that a guy would perhaps otherwise borrow from his other half. It’s about subtle make-up rather than wanting to create the drag queen look.”  The range is priced accessibly at around £5: perfect for the uncertain first-time buyer.

We have already seen an overhaul in attitudes towards male beauty and what it means to be a man. Most men wear moisturiser, aren’t ashamed to admit to putting time and thought into clothes shopping, and some even — gasp! — wear fake tan. It may come as a surprise to learn that the male grooming sector is already worth an incredible £700m in the UK alone and is forecasted to grow to be worth £820m by the end of the year.

So what is stopping the majority of men from wearing make-up? The idea is still surrounded by prejudices and preconceptions: the immediate concern that comes to mind is that men might be worried about being seen to be gay, or crossdressing, or in some way deviating from society’s masculine norm. The beautician at Jean Paul Gaultier told me that in fact, most men are simply scared of being found out and thought of as vain. Apparently, attitudes towards high-maintenance male grooming are much more open-minded in the world’s fashion capitals such as London, Paris and New York. Is Glasgow ready for these products — and can they really create a subtle, masculine look? There was only one way to find out: I had to get my slap on.

I decided the moment to go glam was before a night of debauchery at the ABC. I’m not talking extreme here: just a spot of under-eye concealer, a flash of clear manscara and a touch of shading with the guyliner. Stepping back and admiring my false face in the mirror I’ll admit to having second thoughts. Was I was about to commit social suicide and be outed as a vain make-up wearer? Sneaking guiltily out of the bathroom, I bumped into my flatmate’s girlfriend. After a few minutes of small talk she complimented me on my healthy glow.  Convinced it must be due to my eating more fruit and vegetables, she said she’d be hinting to her boyfriend to follow suit. Result!

In the bar, a few drinks later, I did feel more confident knowing that my spots (or “blemishes”, as the cosmetic companies would have it) were covered up for an evening, and I even darted my newly intensified eyes at some passing ladies, although I’ll let you into a litle secret — it didn’t work.

Next morning, a little worse for wear, I examined the photographic evidence of the previous night’s mayhem. I was relieved to see that there were no signs of panda eyes, smudges — or blemishes. I have to be honest, though, I couldn’t see any real evidence of an epic transformation, and being hidden away in an ABC toilet cubicle for half the night re-applying make-up and running the risk of poking my eye out with an eyeliner pencil all seemed a bit like too much hard work. The concealer, however, is definitely great when it comes to covering up pimples and under-eye shadows. I think I’ll be stashing it in a drawer — just for emergencies!

Make-up for men certainly has the potential to be a great selling product; one that may soon no longer be a niche product if current trends continue. It offers men a subtle cover-up that can, I discovered, still look masculine and natural. But its increasing popularity raises questions about the media ideals of beauty which are already very familiar to women. These days, for better or for worse, men feel the pressure to be well-groomed and good-looking nearly as much as women do. We are all bombarded by digitally-enhanced images of flashy smiles, flawless skin, pouty lips and general physical perfection that’s surely impossible for all but a lucky few to ever achieve, even with make-up. Meanwhile, society’s views on cosmetics and masculinity are in a period of flux, and perhaps it’s simply up to every man to decide whether he’s confident and comfortable enough to join this new trend — or whether it’s just another pressure created by major corporations to make more money out of more people’s insecurities, and one trend you’ll certainly be avoiding.

Maria Gravelle

The pressure of exams and seemingly endless coursework can take its toll on students’ health. But though we use the word almost daily, what exactly is stress? Stress is actually a medical condition, defined as “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilise.”

It’s important to know your own body and recognise any symptoms of stress, such as fatigue, lack of appetite or dizziness (a full list of symptoms can be found on the NHS website: ww.nhs.co.uk/conditions/stress). And, while everyone has their own personal way to relax, if you are looking for proven stress-busting techniques, then look to more holistic solutions involving healthy eating, aromatherapy and massage.

Focusing on massage, this is one of the least common stress-busting techniques used by students. Many believe it’s too expensive, or doubt its benefits. But in fact, massage can do more than simply help you feel more relaxed. According to Anne Rafferty from Pamper You Parties, who specialise in relaxation and beauty therapy, the benefits of massage include:

The relief of muscle tension
Greater flexibility and range of motion
Deeper and easier breathing
The relief of tension-related headaches and the effects of eye strain
Improved posture
Strengthened immune system

Before starting her own business, Anne worked with the Royston Stress Centre (www.roystonstress.org.uk) on a stress management project aimed to help those with serious cases.
You can be referred by your GP to these centres, or you can refer yourself, so it’s a service of which everyone can take advantage. Anne suggests, “It’s always worth finding out if there is something in your area as these centres are free of charge and will often be able to offer support.”

There are many local therapists who offer great treatments at a student-friendly price. Woodland Herbs, on Woodlands Road, offers preferential rates to members of the University gym. Alternatively, there are services that can come to you, such as Tranquillity by Ruth, an independent company offering massage treatments from £20, with an additional £5 cost to come to your home. Their website (tranquilitybyruth.weebly.com) features notes on how to give your own massages, so a stay-at-home option could be for you and your roommates to learn the tricks of the trade. It’s worth taking the time to chill out — it might bring more benefits than you expect!

Great as Glasgow is, sometimes you can tire of grey buildings, grey skies and grey faces. Instead of stepping over last night’s kebabs, you find yourself yearning for green grass and fresh northern winds. Away from the ABC crowd you can see birds and stallions of a different variety, and while it might still be raining elsewhere, your day will feel so much brighter if you take a trip to Loch Lomond rather than Byres Road. Here are some suggestions to inspire you to get out of Glasgow for the day, de-stress and make the most of Scotland.

Loch Lomond
Just north of Glasgow lies Britain’s largest freshwater lake — the mighty Loch Lomond. Take the bus (204 or 215) from Osborne Street in the city centre for £3.20 return, and within an hour you’ll arrive at Loch Lomond’s dramatic shores. There’s plenty to do: why not visit the aquarium, where students pay £10 (or £7 if you buy in advance online). Or, to sample a taste of Scotland, visit the farmers’ market, which sells local produce and delicacies from 10am-4pm every second Sunday, starting from October 4.
Come Halloween, send shivers down your spine with an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s spookiest play, Macbeth, by the Walking Theatre Company, taking place in the woods around the loch. Ticket prices start at £10 per car group (contact Glenbranter Information Centre for more details).
Largs and The Isle of Cumbrae
It’s hard to beat a day at the seaside, and out-of-season resort towns have a particular charm, so head to Largs for a walk along the shorefront with a bag of chips and enjoy the fresh air — just keep an eye out for the greedy seagulls! To get to Largs, take the train from Glasgow Central (a return costs £7.95). Once there, visit the Isle of Cumbrae: head to the harbour and hop on the ferry (£3.10). Cumbrae is a picturesque little island with great views of the wild seas and surrounding mountains. If you take the minibus to Milport Town, you can hire bikes from Mapes & Sons and explore this tiny island on two wheels. A day’s bike hire costs £4.60, while tandems are £12. After all that exercise and sea air you’ll probably be starving, so head back to Largs and enjoy some delicious Scottish-Italian cuisine and an indulgently retro knickerbocker glory in the famous Nardini’s Café.

Linlithgow
Birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots (and First Minister Alex Salmond…), Linlithgow exudes history and romance. Buy a return ticket from Glasgow Queen Street for £9.90 and spend a day exploring its cobbled streets and marvelling at Linlithgow Palace, where Queen Mary was born. Bring a bag of stale bread, stroll around the Peel (a small loch) and feed the swans and geese among the weeping willows. Tour the palace (£5.20) and take a step back in time through banqueting halls, dungeons and towers. Linlithgow Palace will also be hosting ghost walks over the Halloween weekend, giving you a glimpse into the more gruesome and ghostly side of the palace’s history. After all that you may well need a drink, so head to the Black Bitch Tavern for a tipple (and perhaps a few photos outside this interestingly named pub).

Sibyl Adam

So you shop at the usual high street stores. You like some of the stuff, but have never felt overly inspired by rose patterned tights or oversized blazers. There is often little room for originality in the changing rooms of Buchanan Street, and we’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when we see someone wearing the same coat that we bought last week — even worse when they’re wearing it better. If you feel like high street shops are dictating what you wear, then Glasgow Craft Mafia could be the answer.
Centred around a love of all things crafty, Glasgow Craft Mafia are a collective of different businesses, each specialising in different areas of homemade design including clothing, accessories, stationary and homeware. They have thrived on the recently renewed interest in crafts and homemade clothes — often amongst students. Whether this is due to the credit crunch or just what’s fashionable, the buzz around craft can’t be ignored — and if you’ve always wanted to discover it for yourself, Glasgow Craft Mafia offers unique products direct from independent designers at prices that won’t run the rivers of your loan dry (that’s if the SLC have sorted it out yet). While there’s really no need to fret about expense — the prices barely exceed Primark’s — the old cliché of quality over quantity still reigns true here. It may not even be that you’re overly worried about what you wear — and perhaps rightly so — but that you just want that brooch or purse that is uniquely made for you.
Glasgow Craft Mafia has gone from strength to strength since its inception here in the West End where, taking inspiration from similar Craft Mafia organisations in the USA, they decided to bring together their businesses. Since then, Miso Funky has been featured in the Sunday Times, Showpony’s wares have been seen in Vogue and Pumpkinsputnik is even featured as part of the upcoming ‘Gifted’ exhibition at The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. But this doesn’t take away from the homegrown appeal, and with so much to choose from you’re still guaranteed to find something personal. Each company has its own individual inspiration and style — it is hard not to be charmed, for example, by the Japanese-inspired accessories and stationary of Asking for Trouble. Similarly, the recycled fashion of Pistol Whip Vintage would make even your mum proud.
Most of the Craft Mafia businesses sell their items on the Internet (see glasgowcraftmafia.co.uk), but come together at special markets and events to sell to the craft enthusiasts of Glasgow. If that includes you, the next ‘Handmade Haven’ events are due to take place at Mono, Kings Court, Kings Street on October 25 and 29 from 1-6pm (so even if you went out the night before, you can still make it along). Keep your eye out for events coming up this Christmas too, which include another market.
Whether you’re the king or queen of craft, or a vintage virgin, you really won’t want to miss this.

Stephanie Gilmartin

Everybody loves bicycles. Well, everybody except motorists, for whom bicycles are yet another hazard to avoid on city-centre streets already congested with traffic lights and illegally-parked delivery vans. For the vast majority of people, though, the bicycle represents an Arcadian dream of civilization, unsullied by carbon emissions and pessimism.
As anyone who has ever cycled around Glasgow knows, however, the reality can turn out to be somewhat  different. You may have noticed the distinct paucity of cycle lanes in Glasgow — having followed one so far, it spits you out into a busy intersection with nowhere specific to go (hello, Charing Cross). According to Glasgow City Council’s website, they’re still being developed — 375km of cycle routes are planned for 2012, with 110km already in place. Since knowing your route before you set off is half the battle in safe cycling, you should contact Glasgow City Council for a map detailing cycle routes for commuters, or pick up a leaflet depicting the Colleges Cycle Route (from Strathclyde University all the way to Jordanhill) from the University gym.
Still, as Iris Murdoch wrote, “The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.”  Those of you accustomed to driving or taking the Glasgow Subway will know that this is indisputable — in fact, with a Discovery ticket now costing a princely £3.50, and parking expensive and difficult to find, the humble bicycle suddenly looks even more like good value. If you’re feeling flush, Chanel make a black town bike, complete with quilted leather bicycle bag, for £6,200. Before reaching for the credit card, you might want to try making use of your relatives — most parents (or aunts/uncles/grandparents) will have some form of bike rusting away in their garage just waiting for you to give it a home.
However, if all you can find is an unworkable penny-farthing, second-hand bikes can be had for bargain prices on eBay or Gumtree. Electra and Pashley make beautiful vintage-style bikes, and Raleigh, Dawes and Peugeot frames are reliably solid. Well worth checking out, too, is Common Wheel (commonwheel.org.uk), a Glasgow charity which rehabilitates people with mental health problems by teaching them to build and repair bikes. They’ll make up a bike tailored to suit your needs and budget from a selection of recycled and reclamed frames, wheels and accessories. With prices starting at £100, a visit to one of their two workshops  (in Maryhill and Bridgeton)  to see what’s available would be a very good way to start your cycling career.
Repairs are generally inexpensive and you can carry out most of these yourself (there are some great how-to videos on YouTube), but if you don’t trust yourself with a tool kit, try Gear on Gibson Street, a veritable hub of knowledge with very reasonable prices for repairs. It’s also worth taking any second-hand bike you buy along to them for an MOT to ensure that it’s roadworthy before you set off. Then you can get on with customising to your heart’s content — paint the frame, attach a bell, fit a comfortable new saddle…
Fitting a luggage rack should take precedence in any student’s bike-improvement project — anyone who has experienced the difficulty of cycling with a carrier bag precariously balanced on their handlebars knows the importance of a decent luggage rack. What’s more, you’ll actually waste less energy if you carry your load strapped to your bicycle frame (with a pannier or basket, for example) than if you wear a rucksack or satchel while you ride.
By far the most important accessories, however, are the ones that keep you safe — nobody ever said that helmets were cool, but they’re certainly cooler than a fractured skull. Bern make some stylish ones with built-in headphones (which admittedly makes their safety credentials rather debatable, but boy, do they look good).
Likewise, visibility is of crucial importance, but reflective Day-Glo yellow isn’t ever going to be a flattering colour. In small doses it’s much more palatable — if you don’t want to go for the full-on reflective jacket, try a sash or some arm-bands to deflect a bit of the ignominy. And, just as you wouldn’t consider driving a car at night without working headlights, don’t head out without bright, reliable lights on the front and back of your bike.  Gloves will also come in handy (ahem) should you take a fall, since your hands will be the first thing you stick out to stop yourself from getting hurt.
Finally, take care of your bike by investing in the most secure lock you can afford. There’s generally a trade-off to be made between weight and security, as the very strongest locks can be too heavy to carry around. Broadly speaking, D-locks are more secure than locks made of flexible cables, and can still be attached to your bike’s frame while you’re riding around.
The opening of a new Decathlon store in Glasgow in November should prove a great one-stop shop for cycling gear, but for those who prefer a quirkier look, there’s a gorgeous range of accessories available online via websites such as cyclechic.co.uk and bobbinbicycles.co.uk.
Government advisers on transport are currently considering a proposal to adopt a controversial law already in place in Germany and Holland, whereby the most powerful vehicle in any collision is automatically liable for all insurance and compensation costs. Though this proposal has understandably met with some opposition from drivers, reports suggest it has been instrumental in changing attitudes towards cyclists. Last year in the UK, 115 cyclists were killed and a further 2,450 were injured in road accidents. If the introduction of this law would reduce those numbers by making motorists take a more responsible attitude towards cyclists, what harm would there be in that? There will no doubt be a few cases of misplaced blame, but in balance, cyclists will need to be equally vigilant, since they will automatically be found at fault if they knock down a pedestrian.
The best thing that you as an individual cyclist can do to ensure your safety is to make sure that you’re up to date with the Highway Code. It’s available to download free of charge on the Internet, and a thorough knowledge of it will bolster your confidence on the road. Unfortunately, Glasgow University no longer offers a cycling proficiency course, but they do still cater for cyclists by offering services such as showers for active travellers, an emergency bike repair kit and security marking packs — search ’cycling’ on the University’s homepage for more details.
Cycling still has a long way to go in Britain compared to some of our European neighbours: at present, only 1-2% of journeys here are made by bike, compared with 27% in the Netherlands and 13% in Denmark. By 2010, Scotland’s Transport Minister, Stuart Stevenson, would like to see 10% of all Scottish journeys being made by bike.  I can’t think of many legitimate excuses not to at least try cycling — yes, it rains a lot here, but it’s definitely preferable to spend five minutes cycling in the rain than twenty minutes walking in it. So what are you waiting for? As Mark Twain said, “Get a bicycle. You won’t regret it — if you live”.

Maria Gravelle

With the recession at a height and the world desperate to become more eco-friendly, vintage fashion is undoubtedly all the rage. This is hardly news for students, however, who have long been attracted not only to the unique pieces on offer, but also the purse-pleasing prices.

Stag — a boutique specialising in re-fashioned vintage pieces — opened last year in the West End. Its owner, Mary Campbell, is refreshingly Glaswegian, being Glasgow born, bred and read – at our own Glasgow University, where she studied French and Italian. For years, she says, her primary interest was design: “I have always been passionate about embroidery and textiles.” After years of working in education, she returned to study as a mature student, gaining a Masters degree from the Glasgow School of Art.

Mary explains how her shop aims “to breathe new life into old things” — remodelling and restoring vintage clothing and creating brand new clothes from her own collection of vintage fabrics, as well as tailoring pieces brought to her by customers to suit their needs. As soon as I stepped into the boutique, I was struck by the distinctive use of stags’ antlers as the store’s logo. Mary describes the three factors behind that choice: “it’s edgy, Scottish and lends itself to a motif.” Indeed, the antler motif is one of the key ways in which Stag’s collection is personalized and made truly original, with the emblem appearing on many of its clothes and accessories.

But what makes Stag such a breath of fresh air? Over recent years, mixing and matching exclusive vintage pieces with designer and high street brands has become the height of fashion. However, while you might strive for individuality, it’s easy to feel intimidated by retro stores, or unsure as how to work vintage into your wardrobe. Stag’s clothes combine vintage style with a modern design sensibility. Mary Campbell suggests “choosing one stand-out vintage piece to wear alongside everyday brands,” and recommends starting small by combining high street clothing with vintage accessories. Stag’s own range of accessories (some specially commissioned, some re-modelled) is particularly stunning and bang on trend right now. I asked if the collection was specifically designed to follow the trends of a particular season: for example, Mary is currently working with Harris Tweed, a fabric that’s been singled out as a staple this autumn/winter. Mary, however, says that she doesn’t deliberately set out to follow trends, simply adding, “As a designer, you just get a sense of what’s going to be popular in the future…”

If you are serious about fashion or looking for a truly one-off piece, Stag is most definitely worth a visit. Mary specialises in embroidery, with one of her idols in the fashion world being the colourful and eccentric Belgian designer Dries Van Noten, and she prefers to keep the shape of her pieces simple, experimenting instead with prints and embellishment. The result? An eclectic collection that is highly wearable — and thoroughly Glaswegian.

Stag Boutique, 269 Maryhill Road, Glasgow or online at stagstyle.com