The Closet Of La Doyenne Vintage

Boutique owners Anne & Evelyne shared their thoughts on sustainable fashion, their favourite spots for designer vintage and more fun facts about their daily routine at their boutique La Doyenne Vintage in Amsterdam.

Based at the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, La Doyenne Vintage offers you unique vintage haute couture. The founders of La Doyenne Vintage are mother and daughter, Anne and Evelyne. They told us all about their love for designer clothing, their boutique at the Keizersgracht and more. A selection of unique pieces of La Doyenne Vintage are now available at The Next Closet. Take a peek and you might be their new loving owner.

“I started to build my closet on quality instead of quantity.” – Anne

Your favourite designer piece?

Anne: “I don’t think I can give just one answer to this question, I love all designer pieces made by Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Brunello Cucinelli and Christian Dior.”

Evelyne: “Difficult question, I don’t think I have one favourite designer piece. But I kind of have a thing for hats, I love hats!”

What does sustainability mean to you and for the boutique?
“Unfortunately, we live in a world where fast-fashion exists. Sustainability and fast-fashion are an almost impossible combination. Consumers need to start shopping more responsible. Fast is not free; somewhere someone else is paying for this way of producing fashion. If people weren’t buying €19,90 dresses at fast-fashion chains, they wouldn’t be selling it, the power lies with the consumer. It’s up to us.”

How can we start to take our responsibility?
“By buying and selling pre-owned clothing. We both believe in quality and craftsmanship. And yes, that comes with a price tag. However, you are certain that the garment is of great quality, as it already survived the test of time. Secondly, you are not paying the full price. Last but not least, you are leaving less of a carbon footprint.”

Best spot outside Amsterdam to find vintage designer pieces?

Evelyne – “L’Ibis Rouge, a must-visit when in Paris”

Anne – “Lily et Cie, based in LA”

What makes La Doyenne Vintage unique?
“I believe the unique location, high quality of our collection and the way we present it, is what makes our boutique unique. We care a lot about the presentation and consider each detail. We want to create a warm Parisian feel in the boutique.”

“We want to create a warm Parisian feel in the boutique.” – La Doyenne Vintage

Tell us a bit more about the collection of the boutique
“Our collection includes pre-owned bags, clothing and accessories by top designer labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Gently used bags, barely worn dresses and rare vintage finds offered at affordable prices. Authenticity, quality and collectability is what we value while searching for ‘new’ luxury vintage pieces. The winter collection finally, made place for summer dresses, tops, hats, flowers and colours. We’re ready for summer!”

Describe your style in three words

Anne – “Feminine, easy & chic”
Evelyne – “Rivièra chic”

“One of the great things about our life, besides working together, is that every day is different.” – La Doyenne Vintage

Please define style
Anne ‘’Walk like you have three man walking behind you’’ – Oscar de la Renta
Evelyne ‘’A girl should be two things classy and fabulous’’– Coco Chanel

How could you describe one day in the life of Anne & Evelyne?
“One of the great things about our life, besides working together, is that every day is different. Our day usually starts with a cup of coffee and it ends with a glass of wine, while we talk about our day. In between, our day is packed with selling, decorating the shop, treasure hunting, intakes, chatting with customers, authenticating, photographing, updating the website, social media…”

Where does your passion for vintage clothing come from?
Anne: “When I was sixteen I bought my first vintage designer piece; Le Smoking by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. I love how Yves Saint Laurent blended the masculine and feminine aesthetic. From this moment on, I started to hunt for more designer items and creators of this kind. Moreover, I started to build my closet on quality instead of quantity. The quality of contemporary fashion clothes could never live up to the quality of authentic vintage designer clothes. Every piece comes with a story and it excites me to dream and think about who was wearing it before me. Any vintage item; a dress, bag or anything, is unique. You can be sure that you will not meet someone else wearing the same item as you. I feel that wearing vintage clothing, is like being wrapped in romance.”
Evelyne: “Mom, of course.”

If you could have one closet it would be from…

Anne: “Claire Underwood”
Evelyne: “Carrie Bradshaw”

La Doyenne Vintage in 10 years
Anne – “Having raised the bar for the luxury, collectable vintage market. And having a small percent of the collection of Lily and Cie (and her clients).”
Evelyne – “Since I live in both Bruges and Amsterdam, my dream is to open a second store in Bruges.”

Starring: Anne & Evelyne, boutique owners of La Doyenne Vintage
Shop the entire collection of La Doyenne Vintage at The Next Closet
You can also follow La Doyenne Vintage on Instagram

Photography by: Iris Duvekot
By TNC creative : Kim Erich