Miss B's Vintage Wardrobe: Vintage Shopping in Brussels

Last Saturday I made a trip to Brussels with my friend Elisabeth. Our goal was to visit an Art deco event and do some shopping. Because of several delays on the way we did not have that much time for Art Deco but we did have a splendid time shopping. The picture above shows us in a café in Roosendaal, where we got stranded and had to wait for an hour. Without having agreed on it our outfits matched wonderfully well: we both had fur(trimmed) black coats with matching muffs. Elisabeth in curly astrakan and me in sleek furs of different animals.

I took these pics just before leaving (very early + I hadn't had coffee + it was still dark = terrible pics). This 1940's coat was the only winter coat I had not worn yet this season. It is trimmed with black fox on the collar and the hem. My muff is made out of mole but goes well with the fox as it is sleek and shiny. Even my shoes had a fur trim (though only rabbit). Muffs may seem cumbersome but when you go shopping and have to take your gloves on and off all the time (which results in me forgetting to wear them alltogether, and very cold hands) they have their use.

When we stranded in Roosendaal we decided we could enjoy an Irish coffee despite the early hour ;)

I wore a dark-blue 1940's dress with gold-lamé appliques at the shoulders and a beret hat. I put half my hair up in a kind of poodle and the rest in a hairnet as this style had lasted so well a little while ago.

Our first stop in Brussels was Modes. I got the tip from a friend and wanted to go there this summer but it didn't happen.

The shop is situated opposite the famous flea-market at Vossenplein/ Place du jeu de Balle 70.

While most vintage shops tend to be rather small, this was on a whole different scale. You only needed the one shop. We were there for more than an hour and a half and still did not see everything. They stock many era's, mainly from the mid/late 19th century through to the 60's

Some impressions:

Prices are higher than what I'm used to in Amsterdam but by far not as high as on Etsy. Daydresses and seperates are affordable. They even had a rack of skirtsuits but the blue one I had my eye on was too big :(.

I did think there was a wide range of sizes though: not only the 25 inch waists but plenty of 'average' sizes (which I consider my own to be) and what is considered volup.

There's even a large selection of menswear and children's clothes but I did not have time to see the prices and quality of those.

Here's what I found:

1930's/40's white pique shorts. Such a good find in unstained condition and in my size too (as they are usually teeny tiny)

I'd been looking for shorts like this for a while so I was very glad to find them! Though they are white they are very flattering with deep pleats at the front and back making it look like a little skirt. I saw Café Society a few weeks ago and though I did not think it was a very good movie the costumes were spot on. The 'shorts and blouse' outfits really made me wish for summer and shorts like that!

A 1940's wool plaid dress:

I wrote in my last post these are a rare find and they are and this one has some great details. Such soft colors too. Perfect for the beginning of next year when dark colors become boring but spring is nowhere near.

I somewhat regret not buying on of the exquisite silk plissé lace trimmed underpants I saw but I was so overwhelmed and time was too short! A good reason to come back soon maybe ;)

Afterwards we went to the Art Deco event in Ukkel (just outside the city)

We did not have time to see much but had to take a picture with the car!

Before going back we had a beer (it was Belgium after all) at Le Verschueren an Art Deco bar in Sint Gillis.

It was a nice place with lots of locals and a feeling of authenticity.

You can see the rest of my dress. The velvet belt does not belong to the dress but as it is a few sizes to big for me it needs some chincing at the waist.