Ixelles – Local tips (shopping)

As many girls, I don’t go outside without my bag. Thanks to it I can have with me anything I need… one of those things being a book.

I can read many books a week and I often even read while walking in the streets. Sometimes when I finish work, I find myself at the Natural Caffè (see the Natural caffe article) for a drink, but without a book to read… and it’s already 18:30: my nightmare: being the whole evening without a chance to read….

Of course, I can go to Cook&Book: they’re open late (as it is also a restaurant), but come on, I’m tired, I’m in Ixelles on my way home, and sometimes I don’t want to run till the other part of the city.

Fortunately, I found out that the owner of the bookshop “Place Voltaire” is not counting the minutes before closing her shop. If you arrive around 18:30, there is a good chance you will be allowed to come in and to take the time to choose a book.

I like the fact that I can arrive late and find it open, and I also like the warm and nice atmosphere and the nice chat with the owner. It has the colour, the smell and the impression of being back in the time where people get to take the time for the good things.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Librairie Place Voltaire | Art & culture, Shopping | Books from € 4.00
rue de l’Aqueduc, 101 | Ixelles
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

There’s something you have to know about me: I like to wear dresses and I hate to buy all the nice dresses they have thousands of in famous (and not so cheap, finally) shops around the world…

This said, as I want to keep my addresses quiet secret in order to be sure that no other girl wears the same dress at the next party, I don’t say often where I found them… A woman has to keep some mystery, isn’t it?

Anyway, today, and especially for you, dear reader, I decided to break one of my numerous principles: “Never say where you find your nice clothes” (in the same list, you can find “never have a relationship at the office”, “never eat more than one chocolate a week”, “never have a girly discussions in front of your boss”, but don’t count on me to let you know which ones I have already – or are on their way to be – broken).

So when I have time AND money: I just love to go to this shop: Look 50.

Laura (the owner) has a big stock of second hand vintage clothes for men and for women, but started also to sell some new clothes, for this last category she’s choosing only collections from less famous stylist and, having a small shop, you don’t find the same model in many exemplar: so it’s good, but if you find a nice one: don’t wait to buy it, you may never find it back!

If you know the shop (a legendary second hand shop in Brussels) and meet Laura, you may be surprised how young she is, due to the fact that the shop is open since decades. Actually the shop was first owned by her mother, and she took over, continuing with what did its success in the years ‘80 but with her personal touch and taste: brilliant!

And of course, while in the area, you can visit the other shops in the same street (rue de la Paix) and have a nice break after at one of the nice places in Saint-Boniface Place.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Look 50 | Shopping
Rue de la Paix, 10 | Ixelles | +3225122418
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 18:30