Follow along as Fashion Writer Christy Lyn leaves the dance studio for a trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands to find the best fashion the city has to offer.
Hallo from the Netherlands!
2024 is the perfect year for following your passions and chasing your dreams! If you know me, you know how much I admire exploring fashion, style, food, and culture around the globe. My dream journals are filled with all the spots I wish to travel! Reading books, opening up fashion magazines, and scrolling travel pages on social media, my wanderlust grows!
Our first stop on our fashion journey is the Netherlands! Passport stamped, it’s time to fly!
I have dreamed of visiting the Netherlands, so having the honor of discovering some of the capital city’s magic for myself felt like a dream come true! With more bridges than Paris, France and more canals than Venice, Italy, the city of Amsterdam is unique! Come along for a fabulous day exploring the fashion, fun, and inspiration of this Dutch city.
The thriving fashion scene in Amsterdam is unlike any other. There is new inspiration around every corner! Amsterdam has a history in fashion. It is a city that isn’t just stylish. Amsterdam fashion is known for holding meaning and purpose, taking inspiration from art, film, music, movements, and culture. “This city doesn’t march to the beat of the fashion industry’s drum; it creates its own rhythm,” Marina Azcárate says in her analysis of Amsterdam fashion for The Next Cartel. In Amsterdam, you can find fashion anywhere you look! The fashion here is subversive and authentically new and different.
Amsterdam Shopping
When in a new city…go on a fashion adventure! Find styles you love, the fit you like, and fashion that you can express yourself through. From big-name stores that we know and love to small boutique shops, and even unique thrift stores, Amsterdam’s shopping scene is super! This city is the perfect place to find something unique.
Outdoor Markets
I took the train to the city center, and I knew I was in for some cool fashion finds. While strolling along the peaceful canals and after enjoying a yummy Dutch acai bowl at a local cafe, I looked up to discover the coolest street market! Europe is known for its lovely outdoor markets, many of them filled with local vendors selling vintage clothes, remarkable jewelry, fun accessories, and home decor. Like a scene out of a movie, I flipped through one-of-a-kind clothing pieces on the market rackes under the European sun, surrounded by ornate and historical Amsterdam architercure. Trying on apparel right in the city square, I found a few cool pieces to add to my fashion collection. This is the place to walk the cobblestone runway and find something irreplaceable to wear.
Thrift Stores
As a fashionista, my travel to-do list for a new destination always includes a local thrift shop. Like a kid in a candy store, I cannot help but smile when I walk into a new clothing store and see all the exciting fashion waiting to be discovered. There is something for everyone. The best part is that you know your finds are one-of-a-kind, and if they feel right, they’re totally meant for you.
Kiloshop is a cool consignment shop for vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories. These trendy thrift stores have a hip concept where your clothing purchases is priced out by fabric weight in kilos. On one of my previous adventures in Paris, brought me into a French Kiloshop full of impressive finds, so seeing a store here in Amsterdam was exciting! Never underestimate a thrift store’s potential.
Step back in time! Printed above the door of Time Machine Vintage is “Amsterdam’s First Vintage Shop.” It opened in 1969! A special find, even the window display is filled with eye-catching fashion. The Vintage Guide knows that Time Machine Vintage is a closet worth digging through. “Each piece tells a story, allowing you to embrace the fashion trends of the past while adding a touch of individuality to your wardrobe.” There is fashion treasure here!
Quirky Gems
My favorite gem is in the city center. Located in the famous “9 Streets” of Amsterdam is It’s a Present!, a store created by two brothers that houses original products. I Amsterdam recommends visiting this store for its gift-worthy finds, calling it “the place in Amsterdam for the latest trends and inspiration for an original gift.” Colorful postcards, makeup-shaped flower vases, cool jewelry, and fashionable home decor create an atmosphere that will make you smile. There are so many fun items to turn into the perfect gift (for someone else or yourself).
I love learning the history of a city through shopping, and in the city center, you don’t have to look far to find a souvenir shop with classic Amsterdam treats and goodies. I discovered so many beautiful gifts from this beautiful city. Dutch chocolates, sweet Stroopwafels (caramel-filled waffle cookies), and beautiful bouquets of hand-carved pink tulips, are all pieces of Amsterdam’s story. Another staple? Clogs! During the Middle Ages, when Amsterdam was still called Holland, clogs (klompen in Dutch) were common footwear. Try on a pair of traditional clogs! Who knows? They could be your best fashion find.
Dutch Fashion Brands
Visting the Netherlands inspired me to research Dutch fashion brands. Full of vision and innovation, Amsterdam’s local creators, designers, and fashion houses push the boundaries of fashion in such cool ways.
Scotch and Soda
Know for their high-quality and fashionable signature pieces for women, men, and children, Scotch and Soda is an Amsterdam-based brand that has exploded globally since its founding.
Viktor and Rolf
A Dutch avant-garde luxury fashion house recognized for its elegance, creativity in fashion, and detailed pieces, Viktor and Rolfe is know for its continued commitment to sustainability.
Mud Denim
This Dutch fashion brand is the world’s very first circular denim brand, using recycled resources, reducing waste, and increasing the life cycle of products. Mud Denim is incredible and stylish! They have stores in Amsterdam and around the world.
Amsterdam Fashion Week
Fashionista fact: Did you know that Amsterdam has its own Fashion Week? Amsterdam Fashion Week (AFW) is a spectacular yearly even in the Netherlands that “celebrates fashion through a myriad of expressions, including runway shows, presentations and events,” says Official Amsterdam Fashion Week, “Amsterdam Fashion Week embraces young talent as well as established designers and brands…” This is runway inspiration!
Adventure OOTD
My outfit of the day for exploring this beautiful city consists of some fun pieces I packed for this trip and a new addition of clothing I found right here in Amsterdam! ]
The Look
- High-waisted corduroy pants in a neutral tan
- Ruffled white top (featuring cute fabric details I love)
- Sweet saying tie (bring the look together!)
- Red leather jacket (for late summer wind)
- White sneakers (Good walking shoes that match everything are a must when exploring a new city.)
- Cool shades (for eye protection and style. What’s a Europe trip without a pair of sweet sunnies?)
- Gold rings and earrings (Accessorize!)
A standout star and my favorite part of this look is my red leather jacket. IES Abroad says, “The staple piece of every Amsterdammer’s wardrobe is a good leather jacket. When in doubt, throwing on a leather jacket over your favorite knit sweater and good pair of Levi’s will always be presentable.” You never know what you will find walking the streets in Amsterdam. I thrifted my red leather jacket at an Amsterdam street market. The only one of its kind, this vintage piece caught my eye, and after I tried it on, it felt like it had my name written all over it. I also accessorized my OOTD with colorful rings I purchased at an Amsterdam boutique. Fashion to wear. Memories to take with you.
Amsterdam is unlike any other place I ever visited. The Royal Capital of the Netherlands has so much beauty to explore and inspiration to discover. This wonderland might be the number one fashion city in the Netherlands. A vibrant place line with endless exploration, Amsterdam you have my heart!
Follow along as I fill my passport with more fashion-fueled stamps. Where would you like me to “Find Fashion” next?
Xo,
Christy Lyn
