Antwerp Shopping Guide
If, in 2008, you still think of Antwerp as a provincial city that has nothing to offer a stylish cosmopolitan, then you are missing out on an incredible shopping experience. So, get out from under your rock and buy a ticket to the coolest Flemish city in Belgium. Ever since the Antwerp Six became a sensation in the eighties, the city has turned heads of the fashion cognoscenti time and time again. Its Royal Academy of Arts cranks out fashion talent at the speed of light, and a lot of the graduates tend to settle in Antwerp. With that come unique shopping choices and plentiful stock of cutting edge fashion design. The stores are often housed in stunning historic buildings that would not be affordable in Paris or New York. Because Antwerp is small, these stores are all within walking distance of each other. Ask yourself – what other European or American city has an Ann Demeulemeester boutique? A dedicated Veronique Branquinho shop? How about the biggest Yohji Yamamoto store in the world? Convinced?
Ann Demeulemeester | Leopold de Waelplats 2000
The shop occupies a beautiful 19th Century building across from the Antwerp’s Museum of Fine Arts. Its two huge lofty stories contain both mens and womens collection, accessories, footwear, and the recently launched fine jewelry collection. The walls are wrapped in white canvas, and all the furniture is white, creating an airy and liberating feeling. Needless to say, this is the biggest stocklist of Ann’s clothes in the world. Oh, and one can live in those huge, comfortable changing rooms – other stores, take note.
Yohji Yamamoto | Nationalestraat 32
One block away from the Dries van Noten boutique stands the biggest Yohji Yamamoto shop in the world. Undoubtedly, opening such a store is a sign of respect for Antwerp as a fashion city on Yamamoto’s part. The 10,300 square feet shop occupies the entire first floor of MOMU, Antwerp’s fashion museum. The way the merchandise is respectfully displayed in the huge white space – each garment gets a good yard of room – makes it seem museum worthy too. The boutique carries a full range of Yamamoto’s products for both sexes – the main line, Y’s, the Red Label, and his collaborations with Mandarina Duck (luggage) and Mikimoto (fine pearl jewelry). Oh, and it’s the only Yamamoto store that carries his daughter’s brand, Limi Feu. Don’t want to drop a ton of cash but get something special? Buy the Yohji Yamamoto book, Talking to Myself – you can’t get it anywhere else.
Sien | Nationalestraat 91
This store is the most recent addition to the Antwerp shopping scene. The exposed brick walls frame racks of clothes by Hussein Chalayan, Givency, Boudicca, and the rapidly rising Danish designer, Ann Hagen. Of course, local talent is represented as well – Bruno Pieters and Christian Wijnants get prime real estate space. The clothes are arranged by color rather than by designer in hope that you will forego looking at designer name tags first. Womens only.
Louis | Lombardenvest 2
An Antwerp institution, Louis was the first store in Belgium that started carrying the work of local talent. Today, the boutique carries a sizable collection of Martin Margiela, and a few things by A.F. Vandevorst and Ann Demeulemeester. In addition to traditional Antwerp fare, the shop also stocks Rick Owens, Balenciaga, and Lanvin for both sexes.
Walter | St.Antoniussttraat 12
This store is named after its owner and one of the Antwerp Six, Walter van Beirendonck. The just like Walter’s designs, the store screams Camp. A garage door leads into a huge open space with corners dedicated Walter’s own line and to work by other Belgian designers like Bruno Pieters, Dirk van Saene, and Christian Wijnants. Garments by international talent like the German design duo Bless, and an Italian duo Jan & Carlos can be found as well.
Dries van Noten | Nationalestraat 16
Het Modepaleis, as the store is called, is Dries van Noten’s first baby. It is housed in a stunning 19th Century red brick building (I told you!). The contents of the store would make any dandy (and his girlfriend) proud. The first floor is occupied by womenswear, but the second floor is turned into a residence of a modern Oscar Wilde. It is broken down in several split level rooms full of suits, shirts, and separates. An entire room dedicated to products by Geo Trumper, the venerable English groomer, adds that special homey touch.
Stephan Schneider | Reynderstraat 53
This is the only Stephan Schneider boutique in the world, and therefore has the biggest selection of the quirky basics that this second generation Belgian designer puts out. If you are looking for a more youthful Martin Margiela, this may be it.
Houben | Maria Theresialei 17-19
This boutique is situated at the edge of Stadspark. It has two rooms – one with collections by Raf Simons, Yohji Yamamoto, Undercover, and Azeddine Alaia, among others. The second room is dedicated to the Comme des Garcons family. The service is very friendly and Henry Houben is passionate about what he does. After all, he was the first to introduce the Japanese designers to Antwerp in the 80’s.
Elsa | Nationalestraat 147
The owner of Elsa cut her teeth in fashion designing shoes for Dries van Noten and Margiela. A few years ago she decided to go on her own and opened her little shoe and accessory boutique. In addition to her own collection, the store carries Fiorentini + Baker, Christian Peau, and Hussein Chalayan.
Labels Inc. | Aalmoezenierstraat 4
What shopping guide is complete without a good consignment store? Labels Inc. is the best Antwerp has to offer, and it’s right off Nationalestraat, so you don’t have to wander far. There is an excellent selection of vintage pieces from Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, and others. Go in the beginning of the season for best selection.
By Eugene Rabkin