Dutch Fashion – Forget wooden shoes and get to know real Dutch fashion

While

walking down the streets of Amsterdam the other day, I realized how diverse and

edgy Dutch fashion is and how, weirdly enough, it is quite unknown to

fashionistas around the world. Yes,

everyone has heard about Viktor & Rolf and the well-known supermodels

Doutzen Kroes, Mark van der Loo, Lara Stone and Karen Mulder, but what about

hard-core fashion? What about designers?

Paris, Milan, London… what about Amsterdam!?

Renowned people in the fashion world such as Angelique Westerhof

, the Director of the Dutch Fashion

Foundation www.dutchfashionfoundation.com 

have

helped young designers to get into the fashion scene, not only nationally but

also internationally. Names like

Hyun

Yeu (Ado les Scents),

Conny Groenewegen 

(Winner of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch

Fashion Award and a specialist in knitwear) and

Mattijs van Bergen (colourful and bold designs that remind us of

Milan Fashion Week, see www.mattijsvanbergen.com 

) are slowly but surely leaving their

footprint on the runway.

Jupe by Jackie

is another rising designer who has brought

back into the fashion scene the most delicate and admirable needle art work

into exclusive pieces that are sold in high stores such as

Colette, Barney’s

and

Comme des Garcons but

luckily now, for all those of you who are planning to visit Amsterdam, a

flagship store has been opened in our beautiful city. The

Jupe by Jackie flagship store can be found on the majestic

Herenstraat 32, within walking distance to some of our lovely apartments. Men

and women’s fashion. A smaller men’s collection can also be seen at

De9heren.

When in search

for sexy and definitely

not-your-usual-set-of-lingerie,

visit the

Marlies Dekkers’ shop

on the Cornelis Schuytstraat in the

charming Old South of Amsterdam.

Marlies

Dekkers’ motto when it comes to underwear is

‘innerwear as outerwear’, this is, underwear that is so beautiful

and eye-catching that you will want to show it at all times and that makes

women feel beautiful and confident of their curves. But no, we do not mean you

freeze in the cold winter walking down the gorgeous streets of Amsterdam

showing your beautiful Marlies Dekker’ brassiere… Have a look at her designs

at shop.marliesdekkers.com/homepage.html

and you will understand what we (and Marlies) mean.

Frans

Molenaar

is to Dutch fashion what Gouda cheese is

to agriculture. A classic,

haute-couture

designer for those looking for a unique

piece of clothing. Molenaar worked as an intern for the renowned Charles

Montaigne in Paris and Nina Ricci in the 60’s and is one of the best known

fashion designers in The Netherlands. If you are looking for a timeless suit or

a dress for a special occasion, Molenaar is your designer. Visit his shop on

Jan Luykenstraat 104 and treat yourself to a special something by this icon of

Dutch fashion. (By the way, Frans Molenaar is now designing super stylish

curtains, so if your home needs a new look as well, do not miss out the

opportunity to have the most precious and modern curtains in town.)

Amsterdam’s character can be transmitted by

its fashion designers. Conceptualism in fashion is quite common in Dutch design

and it can not only be seen in fashion, but also in the exquisite and modern

interior design in which

Amsterdamers

take pride. Designers like

Viktor&Rolf

have made

fashionistas universalis

aware of the capital of The Netherlands, but other designers like

Warmenhoven & Venderbos are good

examples of what Dutch design is often about: pure lines, great tailoring,

minimalism, asymmetries… www.warmenhoven-venderbos.com/

However, not all Dutch design is

conceptual, minimalist and couture. Mega-famous brands like

G-Star RAW also come from the lovely

Low Lands and it has achieved international success in just a few years. If

Denim is your religion, G-Star is your prophet.

Great fitting jeans, jackets, dresses, shirts… it can all be found in

the two main stores downtown Amsterdam, one on Leidsestraat 11 and the other on

the

posh P.C Hooftstraat 24-28.

TIP: G-star opened a big outlet store

in the outskirts which is worth a visit. Located in the New-West part of the

city, in Osdorp, the shop can be reached by bus 63 which leaves from train

station Amsterdam Lelylaan. A mandatory visit for those who live and breathe

denim.

Zuidermolenweg 60

Visit

the other fashion capital , Amsterdam, and enjoy a pleasant stay at

one of our charming apartments, in which you will feel at home after an hectic

day of

winkelen (shopping).