Clothing shopping in Amsterdam
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Pauw
Pauw means ‘peacock’, but the clothes at this elegant Dutch minichain are more formal than flashy, with taffeta in gemlike shades, equestrian-style coats and sculptural blouses. There’s a men’s shop down the road at No 90, and another women’s boutique at No 66.
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Shirt Shop
On gay Amsterdam’s main street, this funky, two-storey shop sells tight-fitting men’s shirts to make you look fabulous. Look for sale items around €20.
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C&A
Alright, so there's little fancy about this Euro-chain (what's a designer brand?), but it's a fine choice if you're backpacking at the threadbare stage and need inexpensive knockabout clothes. It's along the same lines as H&Ms - the well-known Euro-chain. Comb through what they have and choose carefully, and you may even find some wares with style.
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So Dutch Fashion
The Dutch Fashion Foundation promotes the best of Dutch fashion and helps designers develop their labels into commercial brands. Its showroom at the World Fashion Centre provides haute couture ateliers (studios) and carries collections by the hottest Dutch designers, such as Mada van Gaans, Jan Taminiau, Bas Kosters and Percy Irausquin.
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Br.wn Clothes
Englishwoman Melanie Brown designs women’s clothing with elegant lines and whimsical twists, such as feminine flowing tops with gathered sleeves and figure-hugging coats featuring unexpected, sexy accents. Her studio is adjacent to the shop, so you may see her stitching a new skirt as you contemplate the designs.
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Hana Zuki
Local designers started this funky boutique-cum-studio as a showcase for their creations and those of their friends. Check out Hana Zuki’s own graphic fashion, the hip Aiko label, and edgy Phatoak by Dutch Natasja van den Elzen, along with illustrations, magazines, Lomos and Maomaland’s handmade toys.
reviewed
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Cora Kemperman
Kemperman was once a designer with large Dutch fashion houses, but since 1995 she’s been working on her own empire – now encompassing nine stores, including three in Belgium. Her well-priced creations feature mainly solid colours, floaty, layered separates and dresses in linen, cotton and wool.
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Be Innocent
Style-savvy fashionistas will be familiar with these Victorian Gothic-inspired frilly baby-doll dresses from the elegant Gothic Lolita look of the Japanese Harajuku subculture. Although it took off in Japan in the '90s, its recent appropriation by Gwen Stefani is now popularising it in the West.
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Jefferson Hotel
Sure to wow men with a discerning taste for edgy designers like Vintage 66 and Girls love DJs, this shop feels like a museum of men’s clothing. Can’t decide between quality shirts and rare denim? You can mull it over while sipping a cocktail at the in-store vodka bar.
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Lady Day
This is the premier location for unearthing spotless vintage clothes from Holland and elsewhere. The leather jackets, swingin’ 1960s and ’70s wear, and woollen sailors’ coats are well-priced winners. There are also some men’s suits and new shoes.
reviewed
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Riele
Fancy and edgy at the same time, this minimalist space lets the clothes do the talking. Designers include Ines Raspoort (Dutch), E Play (Italian), Tone Barker (Danish) and Ghost (British). Accent them with accessories from the Dutch designers Chick on a Mission.
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Uri Duri
South Korean An-Su Kim's tiny boutique stocks funky little (little being the key word) dresses in retro fabrics that she designs and her mother and sister sew up in Seoul. These sassy numbers you won't find elsewhere are teensy - but they're worth dieting for.
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SPRMRKT
Whether you want a super-tight pair of Acne jeans, a vintage Thor Larson pod chair or the latest copy of Butt magazine, it’s all here at this lofty industrial concept store, a major player in Amsterdam’s fashion scene.
reviewed
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Sissy-Boy
Never mind the name - this Dutch clothing chain sells quirky print shirts and other items that tread the line between preppie and hip. This large branch in the basement of the Magna Plaza shopping centre also stocks lots of home items.
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Look Out
Searching through the racks at these wonderful neighbouring men’s and women’s stores is a real delight. Look out for superstylish labels such as Paul Smith, Philosophy, Etro, Kenzo, Bruuns Bazaar and Annemie Verbeke.
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Open
This tiny shop showcases 10 different designers - a bit of repurposed vintage chic, a bit of creative knit jersey, and some tongue-in-cheek Dutch milkmaid skirts. We like 100% Halal, a line of East-meets-West street style.
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Marlies Dekkers
Dutch lingerie designer who’s known for her subtle hints to bondage, detailed on exquisite undergarments. This shop itself is a bastion of decadence, with hand-painted wallpaper and a lounge area with fireplace.
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Shirdak
Wooden clogs not for you? Pick up a pair of beautiful soft felt ones here, complete with whimsically curled toes. It also stocks felt clothing and blankets, as well as African, Chinese and Central Asian textiles.
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Henxs
The two tiny floors of this indie clothes store are crammed with fave labels of skaters and graffiti artists, such as Hardcore, Bombers Best, Evisu and G-Star, along with graffiti supplies and edgy accessories.
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Female & Partners
Everything you need for your inner dominatrix…or the one who’s waiting for you at home. Female & Partners is filled with clothing, undies, leather and toys for women and those who love them.
reviewed
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Laundry Industry
Hip, urban types head here for well-cut, well-designed women’s clothes by this Dutch design house. There’s another branch at Magna Plaza, but the Spui location is the main shop.
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Concrete
This is part exhibition space showing rotating exhibitions of adventurous photography, graphics and illustration, and part cool clothes store floating racks of zany T-shirts, jeans and trendy trainers.
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Local Service
Media types (male at 400, female at 402) hunt here for the latest Paul Smith (it’s Amsterdam’s exclusive dealer for his main line), and the Ghost, Stone Island and Drykorn collections.
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Mono
The owners of this little shop got their start at the Waterlooplein, selling sturdy canvas bags in groovy prints. It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but they even design very cool bumbags.
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Callas 43
Dig through tightly packed vintage designer garments, creative secondhand finds, good-as-new samples and a large assortment of leather bags (some new, some not) for your next favourite outfit.
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