Hot on the Highstreet Week 252: Shopping in Stockholm

Posted on 06/04/2015 by Milly

This was my second trip to Sweden’s capital city, a place which is dominated by design. We visited for just two days and my mum and I were on a mission to discover the top Swedish designers, produce and crafts. Here are a few of our favourite shops on the Scandinavian highstreet.

Grandpa – This quirky shop sells scandinavian and international fashion, interior, vintage, books and gifts. It is a good place to pick up a local souvenir or gift.

Stutterheim – These brightly coloured handmade raincoats are the ultimate Stockholm accessory. Striking and trendy they will make you crave the wet weather like never before.

Hasbeens – These wonderfully made wooden soled shoes have become so popular that they are now found in shops worldwide. Based on the clog styles from the 70s Swedish Hasbeens creates traditional handmade shoes that will always be in fashion and will last forever.

Nitty Gritty – This chic shop started out in 1991 in Stockholm as a counter reaction to all the mainline clothing department stores dominating the market in the early 90’s. Beautifully curated and thoughtful the shop is a great place to browse through interesting Swedish designers and unique products.

Byredo – This is one of the few Swedish independent perfume brands and produces lovely pure scents. The fragrances are made with only five core ingredients, and smell fresh and vibrant. I fell in love with Mister Marvelous, a unisex scent which has won several awards.

Palmgrens – Established in 1896 by saddlemaker Johannes Palmgren this beautiful and luxurious leather designer is a Swedish institution. I loved the iconic leather-trimmed rattan tote, but there are many more styles and accessories to choose from. Sadly the beautifully craftsmanship comes with a hefty pricetag.

Svenskt Tenn – I wish my home could look like the inside of this shop. This famous Swedish design company has stunning fabrics and designs that would add character to any room. The flagship store also serves a Swedish afternoon tea in the salon upstairs.

Nividas – The word Nividas is Esperanto for ‘we see’. This new brand was founded on the idea that our eyewear should be adaptable to our lifestyle, for various occasions and different moods. The stylish glasses and sunglasses are very wearable and affordable.

Hope – If you want to leave Stockholm looking like a chic Scandinavian head to Hope and pick out a monochrome outfit. Founded in 2001 by designers Ann Ringstrand and Stefan Soderberg Hope has a lovely selection of masculine garments for men and women that were originally based on men’s utility-wear.

Hotel O, Antwerp

Posted on 13/03/2015 by Milly

Hotel O is a sensual and stylish place to stay in Antwerp. Located on the trendy south side of the city, often called ‘T Zuid, this 3 star boutique hotel is surrounded by chic eateries and bars, and impressive cultural venues like the nearby Museum of Fine Arts.

We were allocated a room on the second floor, overlooking the street below. Everything was black, sleek and design orientated. Sheer curtains draped from the windows to give privacy but allow light in. The multi-light bulb construction on the ceiling gave out a warm golden glow over the room, and could be operated by an efficient dimmer switch system. The room felt a little squashed with the double bed taking up the majority of the space, but we excused this as it was extremely comfortable. The cupboard and desk were awkwardly placed and hard to use, I definitely felt the room was more for pleasure than business.

After a busy day of sightseeing, I was relieved to try the giant black freestanding bath. It was the ultimate indulgence to relax in a hot soapy bath whilst watching night descend over the city from the window. There was a separate rain shower wet room and toilet, fully stocked with toiletries by Rituals.

If you feel a little peckish you can head down to the ground floor, where the restaurant Brasserie Nero serves up Belgian beer and regional cuisine. Continental breakfast is also found here in the mornings, it is a pleasant room with natural light streaming in the large windows.

We checked out early to catch a train to Bruges, so missed out of on breakfast, but instead witnessed a wonderful fresh sunrise in this pretty area of the city. Hotel O is a glamorous and affordable option for style conscious tourists visiting Belgium’s most fashionable city.

More information and book here.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled to Belgium with Eurostar.

· Eurostar operates up to 9 daily services from London St Pancras International to Brussels with return fares from £69.

· Tickets to any Belgium station start from £79.

· Fastest London-Brussels journey time is 2 hours.

· Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 03432 186 186.

Hotel Julien, Antwerp

Posted on 12/03/2015 by Milly

The Julien Hotel is not easy to find. The unassuming exterior offers no indicator of the style conscious rooms inside. It is situated within two historic buildings and has a surprisingly quiet atmosphere considering its central position in Antwerp. This hotel is a trendsetter opening in 2004 as one of the first boutique accommodation options in the city.

There are twenty-one rooms, each unique in its layout and feel, some are more rustic than others. Our room was extremely photogenic, I spent the first fifteen minutes observing every detail and snapping away eager to catch the charm through my lens. With a high ceiling and infinite floor space, the room felt airy and spacious. The original features are kept intact which gives the rooms a touch of tradition, but cutting edge modern amenities and luxuries ensure guests feel pampered.

Little details make this hotel special. Tall windows have chic wooden blinds, a monochrome striped carpet adds pattern to the floor, and the bed is topped with fluffy pillows and soft linen. The bathroom was a haven, clad in grey marble with an oversized bathtub and rainshower and expensive Ren toiletries.

Whimsical modern art adds some colour to the walls. Outside our room I noticed a Michael Wolf photograph depicting a building in downtown Chicago. The clever combination of eclectic art and design features makes Hotel Julien a fascinating place for culture enthusiasts.

Breakfast was a highlight of our stay. Pastries come direct from Domestic – the city’s finest boulangerie. The croissants are light and flaky, buttery and divine… I couldn’t resist a second, and we even paid the bakery a visit to see the place where these magical delicacies are made. Also on offer are sweet fresh juices, jewel like chopped fruit and homemade jams and honey.

Should you need it, Hotel Julien has a glamorous but casual bar which is cosy and perfect for a nightcap, and gorgeous meeting rooms which are blessed with good light and kitted out with essential equipment. The décor is minimalist and design conscious and would inspire creative minds at work.

Hotel Julien is more home than hotel, combining character and style in perfect measure, to create a place you’ll never want to leave.

More information and book a stay here.