Naomi Campbell’s mega-book with the 3-D cover designed by Allen Jones; the David Hockney bible which can only be opened while wearing white gloves; Kishin Shinoyama’s original photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono hanging on the wall – and all that under one roof. Taschen‘s boutique in Amsterdam is like a treasure chest, where the exclusive publishing brand sells the most desired books and albums on Earth. And some really do cost like gold. A must-visit destination for anyone whose soft spot relates to the beauty of print…
On a busy Monday evening like this, there’s a certain place I wish I could go to for dinner. It’s Spindler, Kreuzberg’s beloved brasserie. Located in a historic building beside a river shore, the restaurant’s rooms (which actually are over 100 years old) were reconstructed by Karolina Preis and revamped with handcrafted furniture, modern art and selected antiques. Spindler’s ever-changing menu offers seasonal treats as well as classics: Haveländer pork belly, king oyster mushrooms, cod with couscous or the Sirloin steak. Whether you’re here for a meal with friends or a weekend brunch in the sun-drenched garden, I tell you: this place won’t disapoint.
That’s not your average market. This one specific market, located along the Spree river, takes place every Tuesday and Friday and booms with the unbelievable diversity of Berlin‘s Kreuzberg district. Cultures and ethnicities clash on the stalls in form of vegetables, jewellery and even oriental bread types. The people here are so unbelievably beautiful. Sellers talk, laugh and are absolutely open for any kind of bargaining. The market-goers buy and pack everything neatly into their stylish baskets. It’s chaotic, but in a very organic way.
Entering Ann Demeulemeester‘s spacious store is like approaching the church alter. The Belgian fashion designer’s dark romance oozes from the lace vests, fragile headpieces and Victorian frocks with absorbing power, while the multi-storey boutique has a sacred charm about it. The white-wall backdrop makes you look at the details of the clothes with great scrutiny, breathless. Ann’s fashion used to be pure poetry with a Flemish twist, and fortunately, Sebastian Meunièr, the current creative director, successfully conveys the Demeulemeester codes in his collections. And with the help of the Antwerp flagship store – which also holds the studio and atelier – Ann Demeulmeester appears to be one of the finest of Belgian fashion.
Other than Ann Demeulemeester, there’s also Dries Van Noten and A.F. Vandevorst, who make contemporary Belgian fashion so crucial. The building, in which you see the Van Noten boutique, is fully owned by the designer and is gracefully called Het Modepalais (‘fashion palace’). The name might sound quite over-the-top, but the store is far from that term. It’s like Dries’ fashion – refined with an edge. It feels like an apartment that is currently ‘furnished’ with the designer’s mesmerising clothes and accessories from his 100th collection. Fresh bouquets of hydrangeas bring even more chic to this (literally) fashionable townhouse. What’s interesting, Dries Van Noten really is a local treasure of Antwerp. That’s evident from the moment you start observing the clients – the crowd of mature, aware-of-themselves women trying on floral dresses and passionately advising on their purchases with their patient (and equally stylish) husbands is surprising. Observing this scene is beautiful and heartwarming in its own way. Meanwhile, trying on faux-furs and preciously embellished sweaters at the menswear floor is double the pleasure…
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A.F. Vandevorst‘s store is small, but dynamic. The brand is known for off-kilter, punky attitude – better get your hands on those chunky knits and signature, pointy-toe boots. They sell out quickly. The braver once might want to indulge themselves in kinky, PVC coats and patchwork dresses coming from the brand’s latest venture into haute couture world.
I’ve been actually absent on the blog for over a week, because I took a road trip to Antwerp (that ended up with visiting Knokke, Amsterdam and Berlin, too). I adore this magnificient Belgian city and I really wouldn’t mind living in it one day. I love the fact that whenever I visit it, it’s always so fresh with new places and ideas. First of all, the fashion factor – my favourites like Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, Ann Demeulemeester and of course Martin Margiela started out in here – makes it so important to me. But its also all about those romantic streets and magical light that makes Antwerp that appealing to me. For now, here are some of my photos / favourite details from the city.
Posts on fantastic spots will come up soon. However, I’m completely puzzled right now -how to manage with writing about Antwerp, while being in tune with the approaching New York Fashion Week? Busy days ahead.
Design & Culture by Ed 