Vintage chic
From Chanel to Christian Lacroix, follow local Belgian fashionista Carolijn Domensino’s guide to the coolest vintage stores in Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent
Some fashion styles just keep getting better with age, so it’s not surprising that vintage clothing – typically used to describe garments from the 1920s to the 1970s – is currently very much on trend. One person’s has-beens are the next generation’s treasures, and everyone from celebrities and socialites to everyday shoppers is clamouring to glam up their wardrobe with ‘one off’ pieces by big-name designers from the past – but without blowing the budget. And the sustainability factor of vintage clothes makes them extra chic in these eco- minded times. Don’t you just love it when being green gives you another excuse to go shopping?
Age old beauty in Antwerp
Maïta Muijres, the owner of vintage boutique Belchique (117 Kloosterstraat, tel. +32(0)497 584902, www.belchique.com), epitomises her shop’s style – she is both beautiful and chic. With a keen eye for all things vintage, Muijres spends plenty of time abroad searching for exclusive names and original styles, whether it’s an authentic Burberry trench coat or a breathtaking little black D&G dress. Expect to find rail upon rail of vintage designer chic, from Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent to DKNY and Ralph Lauren, with price tags ranging from around €20 to €250.
When it comes to accessories, Jutka & Riska (87 Nationalestraat, tel. +32(0)473 528252), owned by two Dutch ladies, is the place to go for vintage bags, shoes, clothes and accessories. Add some kudos to your wardrobe with a pair of ’70s Dior shades or choose from their selection of vintage designer handbags, including real and fake crocodile-skin clutches. Then complete the look with a pair of Prada pumps. Prices range from about €10 to €100.
Not far from Jutka & Riska is the fabulous Ann-Vers (10 Mechelsesteenweg, tel. +32(0)3 239 8896), offering a sensational range of vintage handbags from Fendi and Emilio Pucci. And you’ll love the gorgeous Chanel accessories including brooches, necklaces and gloves. Prices range from about €80 to €400.
Retro chic in Brussels
A fairly recent addition to the Belgian capital’s fashion scene is Lady Dandy (81 Rue du Page, tel. +32(0)2 538 4774, ladydandy. com), where you’ll find a luxurious collection of ‘nearly new’ as well as vintage clothes and accessories. Rummage through international labels such as Chloé, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Diane Von Fürstenberg and then accessorise with handbags and jewellery by some of Antwerp’s home-grown designers. Prices range from about €100 to €1,000.
Opened in 1970, Les Enfants d’Edouard (175 Avenue Louise, tel. +32(0)2 640 4245, lesenfantsdedouard.com) is housed in a beautiful townhouse and is a must for any fashionista worth her boho boots. Think pre-loved, big name labels like Christian Lacroix, Dior and Givenchy. Next door is the menswear store with similarly classic labels and beautifully-tailored, timeless designs. Prices range from €150 to upwards of €1,000.
If you’re looking for vintage design furniture as well as fashion cast-offs from big names like Hermès to Pucci, Vintage Today (500 Chaussée de Waterloo, tel. +32(0)2 539 3480, vintagetoday. be) is a one-stop shop. What’s more, guys will love rifling through the classic watches with timepieces from Omega, Rolex and Longines. Prices start at around €150.
But if it’s a film-star frock you’re after, then the fabulous selection of gowns at Gabriele Vintage (27 Rue des Chartreux, tel. +32(0)2 512 6743) is to die for. With a sumptuous range of dresses left over from yesteryear, you could pick up a vintage (50-year-old) Guy Laroche dress for a real bargain at €300, or a slinky dress from the ’70s for about €40.
Golden oldies in Ghent
This is the place for vintage shopping in a vintage setting. Wander down Vlaanderenstraat – a fast regenerating part of town – where you will find Eva Bos (66 Vlaanderenstraat, tel. +32(0)495 496164). In this couture shop, with its original art deco frontage, you’ll find the eponymous owner has displayed her own unique designs alongside a sumptuous collection of pre-loved pieces from the likes of Marc Jacobs, Chanel and Prada, as well as a gorgeous array of Parisian couture from the ’50s and ’60s. Bos has a knack for picking out styles and clothes that really flatter the figure, so don’t be afraid to ask her opinion. Prices range from around €50 to €750.
Meanwhile, for vintage designs with a difference, stylist Myriam Wulffaert (85 Sint Jacobsnieuwstraat, tel. +32(0)9 223 1420, myriamwulffaert.com) has a keen eye for truly fabulous gowns. Browse through her eclectic collection of authentic ’40s tea dresses and exquisite ’20s beaded party frocks along with many other gorgeous pieces. Many of the clothes Wulffaert sells she has customised herself, making them truly unique – and they’re not at all expensive, with prices starting from €15.