Shoebaloo
Where? This 1,000-square-foot boutique is located in Amsterdam Zuid, close to high-end designer stores such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
What? The shoe retailer launched its first boutique in 1976, in the Jordan district of Amsterdam, selling cowboy boots. The shop later moved to Koningsplein 7, which is now Shoebaloo Men. In 1990, a second store opened at PC Hoofstraat. This has since become the flagship store, selling men's and women's shoes.
Fashion finds: the styles are outrageous and include neon colours to match the lighting in the shop. Here, you'll find designer labels mixed with local brands. Choose from Prada, Christian Dior, Chloe, Dirk Bikkembergs, Yves Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Jimmy Choo, Viktor & Rolf, Jil Sander and Lanvin. There is also a less pricey but equally funky in-house label.
The crowd: anyone with an extravagant sense of style.
The vibe: the futuristic shop at Hooftstrat was designed by renowned architects Meyer en Van Schooten. The brightly lit store resembles a spaceship, sporting egg-shaped seats and display cases.
Extras: Shoebaloo has six other stores in the city, catering to men, women and children. It also offers accessories such as bags and leather goods. Another branch is about to open in Rotterdam.
