In search of a nice trip with a fashionable touch? Go to Antwerp, for some chocolate, french fries and fashion!
Last week we went to Antwerp for just a short visit; some shopping, a lovely dinner, dancing until midnight and a museum trip next day. Just how we like our city trips!
In the fashion museum of Antwerp (MoMu), which is not very large, but mostly has beautiful exhibitions, we went to visit the ‘She walks in beauty’ exhibition of Olivier Theyskens. This fascinating Belgian designer went through his very own evolution in fashion. His work was presented like a story, from fashion house to fashion house, it almost reads like a poem. It went from dark to light, literally. His early designs were for the French house of Rochas (2003-2006), which felt very mysterious by the use of mostly black, emphasis on dramatic silhouettes and gothic yet romantic detailing like feathers, lace and corsetry next to leather and hook-and-eye-closures. The fashion house had been ‘sleeping’ since the death of its founder, so when Theyskens entered the company in 2002 he created a new vision and future. He took the classic Rochas perfume as inspiration for sculpting a shape on a female body, besides the love of Marcel Rochas for delicate lace. This resulted in sensual, sophisticated designs – no longer only used for lingerie, but also for regular clothing.
After Rochas, Olivier went to work for the haute couture house Nina Ricci (2006-2009). Fluid fabrics and silhouettes, following the movement of the body, were again his main inspiration. His first collection was inspired by the bottle of the brand’s bestseller fragrance, L’Air du Temps. The next collections were based on the world of dance and the new millennium, with futuristic silhouettes.
After gaining worldwide fame while working for these two major fashion houses, he started working as creative director and head of design at the American brand Theory. His creations became sleek and minimal, with tailored suiting and sharp-cut styles. In 2014, he left Theory and took a break until launching his own collection. The wedding gown on the picture was made by Theyskens by hand for a friend, it was exhibited absolutely beautifully! While walking down a long dark hallway, you can already see the dress shining like a star. Next to his many designs, drawings and pictures, the exhibition is build up with poems and literary voices from different eras. In these days, Theyskens has his very own label envisioning his own DNA.
The fashion exhibition in MoMu can be visited until the 18th of March, 2018. MoMu, Nationalestraat 28, 2000, Antwerp (Belgium).
If you are in search of a restaurant after your museum trip and shopping, we have found one for you! Roest has a warm and cosy atmosphere in a unique interior, with a jungle vibe and transparent glass floors (ieeh it took us a moment before we dared to walk to the rest-room). Don't forget to make an online reservation on beforehand.
Restaurant Roest, Sint-Aldegondiskaai 64, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
