Mathieu

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will have a day layover in Amsterdam on Oct. 20th and amongst other things planned for the day, I thought I'd browse the menswear stores, looking in particular for a lightweight 3/4 length winter coat. Not a solid Blue, Black or Brown one, but something different like tan checked or houndstooth, etc.

Any suggestions on shopping areas or districts or even particular stores where I might find something unusual or different like this ?

Might it be too early for winterwear in Amsterdam ?

Thanks for your suggestions.

M.

margyb

Now I get it. I thought the title meant that you "loathed" shopping!

October 20th will be a good time for winter clothing. Be sure to check the closing times of the shops before you go....they may close early on Saturdays.

I like C & A, but you may be looking for something more high-end...C & A is good for basics, but it's far from designer quality!

Have a good trip.

Margy

hopscotch

There is a V+D department store on Kalverstraat near the Munttoren. V+D is like the Sears and Pennys of Holland. This is not far from the Cafe Luxembourg I recommended in my other post.

OTOH, the quintessential department store of Amsterdam is de Bijenkorf. It is on the left hand side of the Damrak. On its south side it faces the Dam and the Hotel Kraznapolsky. See http://www.bijenkorf.nl/BijWeb/.

hetismij

If you want real high end stuff you need the PC Hooftstraat where all the BNers shop. (BNer =bekende Nederlander= famous Dutch person. Not famuos for anything neccessarily, nor famous anywhere else in the world.)
But Bijenkorf is worth a try, V&D and C&A will have more conventional colours, and lower quality. H&M also have mens clothing, again not top quality, but good, and maybe more unusual. There are also still mens stores around if you look that may have something.

Mathieu

Thank you all for your helpful replies.
I at least have a place to start now.

And thanks Margyb for the heads up about the early closing times on a Saturday (and apologies to you and everyone for the 'lothes' typo).

I am familiar with C&A from when they used to be in England (maybe they still are) and H&M which we get here in Toronto.

Are there any other department stores besides Bijenkorf that I should know of ? Anything similar to, say, Selfridges which carries a mix of high and low end stuff ?

hetismij

The shops close at 6pm on Saturdays in Amsterdam so you don't need to worry - you'll be back at Schiphol by then.
You could have a look at the shops at Schiphol too actually - there is a good range of shops in the Schiphol Plaza, landside, they are open from 7 am till 10 pm.
V&D have shops within shops now so may have better brands there too, also there is a shop called We, they have a mixed store on the Kalverstraat and a mens store on the Nieuwendijk. Setpoint is another chain of mens clothing stores. Department stores are not very "big" in Holland - we seem to prefer small specialised shops, I'm pleased to say.

Mathieu

Thank you Hetismij, you've been really helpful.

I'm not a fashion clothes horse by any means (just a horse!) but I like nice stuff. I'm glad for samller stores too and I will try to look up, or look for, the ones you mention.
Thanks again.