THE shortlist

60s CLOTHES SHOPS

IN LONDON...

Crazy Clothes Connection, 134 Lancaster Rd, W11 (0171-221 3989). Mon- Sat 11am-7pm. All original clothes from the 1920s to the 1970s, with a collection of men's 1960s suits to knock the straight line out of any city gent. Stylists for the V&A Museum's "Street Style" exhibition.

Blackout II, 51 Endell St, Covent Garden, WC2 (0171-240 5006). Mon- Fri 11am-7pm and Sat 11am-6pm. Clothes from the 1930s onwards (and also bags and shoes) but specialising in the 1960s. Check out the gorgeous leopard-skin changing rooms and pillars. Ostentatious and kitsch.

The Cavern, 154 Commercial St, E1 (0171-247 1889). Tue-Fri 12pm-6pm and Sat 12pm-5pm. 99 per cent "uncirculated" 60s originals. Trekkies well catered for in the T-shirt department.

Observatory, 20 Greenwich Church St, Greenwich, SE10 (0181-305 1998). 10am-6pm. Specialists in recycling, turning up, and buttoning up old clothes, with a carefully presented stock to avoid too much rummaging.

Merchant of Europe, 232 Portobello Rd, W11 (0171-221 4203). Mon-Sat 11am-6pm and Sun 12pm-4.30pm. All 1960s originals, mostly from Europe. International clientele of pop groups and waves of Japanese models.

Afflecks Palace, 52 Church St, off Piccadilly, Manchester (0161-834 2039). Mon-Fri 10am-5.15pm, Sat 9.30am-5.30pm. Four floors with 60 "alternative" shops. Among the 1960s repositories are Chainsaw, Decade, 20th Century, Vintage to Fetish and Vintage Clothing Company. Sunday opening during December.

69a, 75 Renshaw St, Liverpool, L1 2SJ (0151-708 8873, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm) and Quiggins, 12 School Lane, L1 3BT (0151-708 0459). For the complete image these places stock the clothes as well as furniture and collectable ornaments.

Mr Ben, Virginia Galleries, Virginia St, Glasgow, G1 ITU (0141-553 1936). Mon-Sat 10.30am-5.30pm. Be sure to check the Underpant Pillar here with its "Have you been out with any of these men?" questionnaire, and the decor of 1960s and 1970s tragedies. Original garments, including George Best label jackets. "As if by magic..." says the shop window.

Scrooge, 139 Kettering Rd, Northampton (01604-24758). Stock here for men and women with Fred Perry and Twiggy in mind, including the necessary PVC accessories.

Snooper's Paradise, 7-8 Kensington Gardens, Brighton (01273-602558). Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm. Simon Smith's 24ft window display is well in the pink, with a hand-picked selection of originals. Previous customer credentials are high, featuring Honor Blackman, Kylie and Paula Hamilton.

Compiled by Pascal Wyse