-
Antonia By Yvette
If Sex in the City was shot in Amsterdam, we bet that the girls would spend half their time in this shop. Shoes, boots, sandals and espadrilles run from supremely classy to just plain fun. There's also a small section for guys.
-
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.
-
Bebob Design
Lovers of international 20th-century design classics - from Arne Jacobsen Swan chairs to Isamu Noguchi lampshades - should make this their first stop in Amsterdam. While the store arranges shipping, a George Nelson ball clock should fit nicely in the carry-on.
-
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.
-
Cora Kemperman
Kemperman was a designer with larger Dutch fashion houses, but since 1995 she's been working on her own empire - now nine stores, including three in Belgium. Her creations feature floaty, layered separates and dresses in linen, cotton and wool.
-
Droog Design
A relative newcomer on the international design scene, this slick Amsterdam-based firm is already a market leader with inventions like the 85-lamp chandelier, the cow chair and curtains with dress patterns. There are over 180 products by 100-plus designers.
-
Episode
Visiting rock stars head to Episode to trawl through two floors of fabulous vintage and secondhand gear. Most impressive when we last dropped in were the seemingly endless racks of 1970s suede coats, folk peasant blouses, colourful ponchos and big, bright plastic sunshades.
-
Eva Damave
Eva Damave creates funky wool sweaters and zip jackets with her signature front patchwork panels made up of graphic cotton, silk and wool squares. She only produces one-offs or in small series, so you're unlikely to see anyone else wearing your woolly knit.
-
Fietsfabriek
Wessel van den Bosch trained as an architect, and now he makes custom bicycles from this wild 'n' crazy workshop, one of several in Amsterdam. Come in and pick up a bakfiets (cargo bike), a familiefiets (with covered 'pram') or even a standard Omafiets (one-gear city bike). Just browsing is a joy.
-
Frozen Fountain
The city's best-known showcase of furniture and interior design. Prices are not cheap, but wares are offbeat and very memorable (designer pen-knives, kitchen gadgets).
-
Advertisement
-
H&M
This fashion chain store has up-to-the-minute clothes for all ages at several locations. You may find higher quality elsewhere, but prices are remarkably low.
-
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.
-
Internationaal Design Centrum
Begun over a century ago, this shop has repped the forefront of Dutch design ever since - Gispen, Edra and Artifoort - and some foreign designers as well. Its affiliate, De Kasstoor (across the street), applies the same design concept to kitchens and lighting (towel hooks are simultaneously slick and cute).
-
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.
-
Laundry Industry
Hip, urban types head here for well-cut, well-designed clothes by this Dutch design house. Watch glamorous couples coveting soft leather coats and perfectly fitted suits. There's another branch at Magna Plaza, but the Spui location is the main store.
-
Miauw
Analik is one of Amsterdam's edgiest young designers. Her latest enterprise, Miauw, is a showcase for her idiosyncratic collections, and likeminded labels such as Preen, Karen Walker, Kokon to Zai, and Henrick Vibskof. It also has changing exhibitions of graphic, media, graffiti and conceptual art.
-
Seventyfive
At this true temple to trainers, you can stimulate your sports-shoe obsession with all the latest high-tech footwear. For sport or fashion you're sure to find something here that'll make your toes twinkle. The brands on offer include Gola, Diesel, Everlast, Nike and Adidas. Naturally, Von Dutch makes an appearance too.
-
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 €25 .
-
Shoebaloo
The spaceship design of this futuristic store demands a look - during the sales kick up your heels at discounts on shoes by Prada, Miu Miu, D&G, Gucci and Christian Dior. There are four other branches around the city, specialising in mens, womens and childrens shoes as well as accessories.
-
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 and carries collections by the hottest Dutch designers, such as Mada van Gaans, Jan Taminiau, Bas Kosters and Percy Irausquin.
-
Advertisement
-
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.
-
Van Ravenstein
Chic men and women shop here for upmarket Dutch and Belgian designers including Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Martin Margiela and Viktor & Rolf.
-
Volksbond Shop
A relic from the days when Haarlemmerstraat was not so chic. Proceeds from sales of used clothing (most items around €1 .50 to around €10 ) help finance facilities for the homeless: halfway houses, counselling services and the like.
-
Women's Outdoor World
Owned by Bever, one of the city's leading sporting-equipment shops, the WOW had to open a separate shop due to overwhelming demand. It also sells equipment that you don't need to be female to buy (eg tents).
-
Wonderwood
Head here for originals or reproductions of '40s and '50s Dutch furniture design. Classics include the T46 coffee table by Hein Stolle, works by Gijs Bakker and Han Pieck, and the box chair, which folds up into its own box - you can actually ship it with your luggage!
