Cool Hunting

You've trawled the shops of the world-famous Fashion District in the first installment of our Antwerp shopping guide, now venture out to the Latin Quarter and the South District, where style thrives with the same individual Belgian spirit as those that surround the MoMu (Nationalestraat 28, tel. +32 (0)3 470 27 70). While much of Europe is buzzing about prét-à-porter, the Belgian fashion community celebrates their way with Vitrine (or "Laundry Day", this year from 6-16 September), when young and established designers create installations for store windows, art galleries, town squares and even bakeries, accompanied by a healthy dose of parties.

Louis
A longstanding Antwerp institution, Louis carried many of the big-league Belgians before anyone else, starting with Margiela and the Antwerp Six in the '80s. This launching pad stays local with Veronique Branquinho, Jurgi Persoons, Raf Simons, AF Vandevorst and Ann Demeulemeester, as well as pan-European labels including Lanvin and Rick Owens.
Lombardenstraat 2
tel. +32 (0)2 232 98 72

Huis A. Boon
Established in 1884, this is the place for leather gloves in all colors, styles, and lengths from orange opera gloves to fingerless driving gloves in earth-toned pecony—an unlined wild pig leather that stays warm in winter and cool in the summer. Jean Paul Gaultier has also been known to stop by for silk- and cashmere-lined gloves.
Lombardenvest 2-4
tel. +32 (0)3 232 33 87

Anja Austa
As one of the few clothing shops with Sunday opening hours, this driftwood and white shop is plunked down on a street famed for its many antiques stores, which also stay open all weekend long. Anja works out of her shop, making clothes with vagabond femininity. "I take inspiration from the last century's theater in big metropolitan cities," said the designer, who worked for Escada before going off on her own. "Like how the ballet and theater contrast with the metropolises they're in."
Kloosterstraat 175
tel. +32 (0)3 237 38 67

Elsa
Owned by former Dries Van Noten shoe designer Elsa Proost, she stocks shoes by Hussein Chalayan, Violetta & Vera Pepa, Nathalie Verlinden, and Ellen Verbeek.
Nationalestraat 147
tel. +32 (0)3 226 84 54

Fritkot Max
Yummy fries and quite possibly the world's only French fry mini-museum is in the middle of this bustling square.
Groenplaats 12
no phone

Lunch-Lounge Het Gebaar
For a fancy sit-down lunch, check out this dainty little birdhouse plunked down in a lush garden that serves Belgian-French dishes.
Leopoldstraat 24
tel. +32 (0)3 232 37 10

by Angela Gaimari

Read more…