The gold-plated sign by the entry hints to the luxury that exists behind its doors. If you are a fan of Ralph Lauren's all-American luxury line, then you've found yourself in the right place. This collection features classically tailored clothes for men and women, and there is also a selection of upscale home furnishings and designs under the same label. For clothes that remind one of prep-school or collegiate chic and summers at Martha's Vineyard, Polo takes the match.
Brussels' most exclusive shopping district provides a multitude of upscale shopping on Boulevard de Waterloo, between its intersections with Chausée D'Ixelle and Avenue Louise, and down Avenue Louise itself. Just strolling through this neighborhood, one notices a radical change in the way people dress and carry themselves. Jeans give way to Hugo Boss suits, and sneakers are replaced with Gucci stilettos. Visit during the summer and the two wide streets are veritable fashion runways. This is where Belgium's aristocracy hang out, where high-powered business execs book rooms (at one of the neighborhood's top-of-the-line hotels), and where trust-fund bunnies spend hours replenishing their wardrobes. Cartier, Armani, Chanel anyone? Welcome to Brussels' equivalent to New York's Fifth Avenue, Paris's Rue Faubourg and London's Knightsbridge.
Rue Neuve is a narrow shopping avenue that is jam-packed with top notch shops like Morgan, Esprit, H&M and Mango. On weekends, however, this is hardly the place to window shop, as the boisterous crowd of fashionistas and casual shoppers alike pack together for an afternoon of perusing. If you're planning on doing some serious shopping, visit Monday through Friday, when the selection is a little less picked over and the shopkeepers can give you personalized attention.