Quartier Louise Gb

8/8/2019 Quartier Louise Gb

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THE QUARTIER AVENUE LOUISE - BOULEVARD DE WATERLOOglamour and elegance

Map and public transport

Louise metro

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materials, wonderfully highlighted in a Zen-likesalon that's an invitation to relaxation andtranquillity.

As you draw closer to the “Louise bottleneck“,one of the capital's most attractive shoppingareas, Belgian and new labels take precedence,such as Bellerose, then Mer du nord, Riverwoods,COD or the very new French Speaking, rue JeanStas. Well worth noting is the very internationalLibrairie de Rome, open 7 days a week, yearround: a key haunt for most of the capital'sEurocrats!

International labels are widely representedalongside these 100% pure Belgian products.Max Mara, accompanied by its younger sister

Max&Co, Maud Frison, Clergerie are worthyrepresentatives of them, or the multi-labelFrancis Ferent.

Near Porte Louise, opposite one of the mostfamous Belgian signs among the big storesGaleria Inno and Bouvy, a symbolic Belgianmulti-brand store, don't miss Holemans, asuper-talented jeweller's, making dream jewelleryfor young fiancées and femmes fatales! Theson and grandson of expert jewellers, ThierryHolemans works there tirelessly on stones andprecious metals, continually pushing back the

boundaries of the imagination until he createsa living ring that symbolically sets the seal forever on the newlyweds declaration “I do“.

Opposite boulevard de la Toison d'Or - note thatBrussels boulevards don't bear the same nameon either side of the main avenue! - is boulevardde Waterloo, which has become indisputably themost stylish in the capital.

The biggest houses have chosen this area,lined with mansions, as home to their exclu-sive stores: from Gucci to Giorgio Armani,including Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, LouisVuitton, Hermès, Yves Saint-Laurent, Tod's or

Boucheron, Gianni Versace or Salvatore

Paris has the Champs Elysées, Barcelona theRamblas, New York has Fifth Avenue andBrussels has avenue Louise and boulevard deWaterloo! In the XIXth century all the greatcapitals had their promenade for the middleclasses. Léopold II, Belgium's “Builder King“,created his own and called it after his eldestdaughter. Since then, avenue Louise has becomethe muse of designers. Lined with grand townhouses including the ones designed by VictorHorta, the avenue is home to the Maison Natan,which opened the very exclusive Natan Couture

there, exclusively for tailor-made clothing. It isin this magical place that Edouard Vermeulen,the designer, makes clothes for the princessesof the Royal Court and others in high places.

Just a few steps from there, Dominique Rigooffers creations by the big designers: Poliform,Knoll, Vitra, Cassina, while Senteurs d'ailleursblazes new olfactory trails, with uniquenessnot the least of its qualities.

Another shining star in the firmament of Belgianand Brussels design, Olivier Strelli, set up hissparkling store in an absolutely top-class boutiqueclose to Roger, hairdresser to the Queen. Chine

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On avenue LouiseHolemans at number 3,

Galeria Inno 12,

Max Mara 19,

River Woods 41,

Francis Ferent 60,

Maud Frison 67,

Olivier Strelli 72,

Chine 82,

Mer Du Nord 89,

Senteurs d’Ailleurs 94,

Dominique Rigo 182,

Natan 158

Chaussée de Charleroi

Clergerie at number 1,

Bellerose 5

Rue Jean Stas

Talking French at number 16,

Librairie de Rome 16a Avenue de la Toison d’Or

Bouvy at number 52

On Boulevard de Waterloo

Bulo at number 11,

Delvaux et Johanne Riss 27,

I de B Lifestore 49,

Donaldson 54,

sonia Rykiel 56.

Belgian furniture design. Specialising in fittingout offices or loft apartments, this place is a realsight for sore eyes and a treat for the senses.From one piece to the next, the materials revealtheir full beauty to the light, fine and soft,perfectly finished, their shape inviting us at timesto work, at others to rest. The gallery and itsdesigns are truly eye-catching and original! Eventhe designers Ann Demeulemeester and DirkBikkembergs have joined in the Bulo adventureand made their first designer furniture.

The opening of the eagerly-awaited lI de B

Lifestore was a big event. Its unique conceptgathers together, in one sumptuous place, arange of carefully-selected pieces for men andwomen, together with an interiors area, asuper-comfortable bar area and a beauty room.This unique environment proudly displays theinitials of Ingrid de Borchgrave, a muse forfashion in Brussels. Having made her debutnear rue Antoine Dansaert for Cortina, she isalso credited with the opening of the firstArmani store in Brussels, before setting upEmporio in Sablon and Dior on boulevard deWaterloo!

Ferragamo, not forgetting Ralph Lauren orFaçonnable.

Scapa of Scotland, a eulogy to sporty modernity,and Xandres were the first Belgians to maketheir mark on this unique stretch of pavement,next to the prestigious Maison Delvaux.Defending, with inimitable talent, the Brusselsflag at international level, this fine leather goodsshop is continually reviving its passion for leatheras well as, more recently, for unusual materialssuch as Ostrich leather, sheepskin or fish skin.The rear courtyard reveals the designs of

Johanne Riss, Lycra dresses that hang beauti-fully. Surprisingly simple and accessorised withsilk ponchos and jewellery, they flatter the beautyof all women and are available as eveningdresses and ready-to-wear. Men will also findsurprising and particularly becoming designsthere.

Very recently, the world of the Donaldsonfamily and of the character Mickey Mouse hasmoved to the much-talked-about boulevard,opening a spacious flagship store there.Another new feature has been added to theBrussels' landscape with the arrival of Bulo, a

heavenly design gallery dedicated entirely to

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L’ Hôtel Solvay

• 224 Avenue Louise

• Tel: +32 (0)2 647 37 33

This imposing town house was built by Victor Horta in 1894 for

the Solvay family. Visiting possible by appointment, from Monday

to Friday and Saturday mornings (only for groups).

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Tell us…

… edouard Vermeulen for NATAN

… olivier StrelliEdouard Vermeulen presented his first collec-tion in 1984. For several years, he has beendesigning clothes for the royal families ofBelgium, Sweden, the Netherlands andDenmark. He has been able to develop a stylethat's perfect for the modern, stylish workingwoman.

Why choose avenue Louise?

Because it forms a coherent environment where

luxury is a way of being and a way of life.

Which is your favourite district?

Old Brussels, in the lower part of the city,

because it exudes authenticity.

LWhere do you like to relax, have lunch or a drink?

At Easy Tempo, rue Haute, in les Marolles.

Strelli made his debut in the world of fashion in the late seventies.Today, Strelli is one of the biggest companies on the internationalfashion scene and is a figurehead of Belgian creativity in theup-market ready-to-wear range. For Strelli, fashion is a world ofsubtle materials and shades, highlighted with original prints.

Why did you choose avenue Louise?

The Olivier Strelli sign has been in the upper part of the city

for more than twenty years now. I chose this area because of

its prestige and high-class stores. On the other hand, I opened

a second store on rue Antoine Dansaert five years ago in order

to be part of the dynamic growth of a booming “fashion“ district.If, in a few words, you were to describe Brussels as a city of

creative design, what would you say?

Talent, humour and warmth and friendliness.

VWhich is your favourite place for having a drink or eating out? The Lola, a restaurant in Grand Sablon, the Marie Joseph

at Quai au Bois à Brûler and the Idiot du village, rue

Notre Seigneur in les Marolles.

““

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