A Pleasant Surprise.

Shopping in Bruges is not something I do often. Not by choice mind you, I love me some shopping. But when I moved to Bruges I made a decision that I was going to slowly weed out the H&M and other fall apart brands from my life and only purchase items that were classic and would last. Take advantage of being in Europe (before i learned the Euro would slaughter me daily) and move into the "grown up" sphere of designer and quality clothing.
 There are very few specialty designer stores here in town that cater to that vision and for the most part, the shopping streets have lots of chain clothing stores, H&M, IMMO, ZARA, ESPRIT, MANGO , ETC. I am quite sure you can find great things inside many of these stores but I try to avoid them and stay focused on my goal.

I discovered the store Quicke about a month ago before a trip to Paris to buy a bag ( yea, yea, it sounds real fancy 'n all but it's those perks that keep me from the edge of the Belfry some days).
  I was picking up my usual Kip (chicken) Curry sandwich from the little hallway of a sandwich/pastry shop I love called St Salvadore, when I noticed it across the way.

Enticed by the endless amounts of shoes in the window, and happy to get out of whatever cold dreary Bruges day this was, I head inside. The view in front of me opens to a row of bags, perfectly placed on a shelf, illuminated by the lighting below.  I know them immediately.
Celine.
The french brand that has so classicly and chicly been revisioned by Phoebe Philo.
 Say what? Say yup, they have Celine. The mecca for which I would be visiting in a few days to purchase a bag.  Not only am I a Francophile but also a Philophile. ( not to be confused with the nasty business in the Catholic church.)
I am shocked that Bruges has something I have been lusting over and make a mental note to return once Spring collection is due in. Just to look.  Since it is Bruges and not Paris, the selection is on the safer side in terms of the styles but I spy the Agneau tote and some other fashion-y pieces so I trust beginning of the season could have some goodies.  

I go about my business, leave for my trip to Paris with a girlfriend. We end up taking more trips to Le Bon Marche and macaron shops than Celine,  I decide I'm incapable of deciding on what bag I want and return home, empty handbagged. 

Until a few days ago.

 I ran out to get some groceries for whatever I was making in my savage attempt at a dinner that night.  Pasta? veggies? Who knows. What I cooked or picked up have since been overshadowed. And for certain the meal was not memorable. 

 As I walked to the supermarket ( which is really not super in terms of size or assortment, more like mini or a halfsies market) I saw SOLDEN signs in just about every window that wasn't a restaurant.  At first, I wrestled with the possibility that it meant the stores themselves had been sold, but soon I caught on to what it actually meant, "SALE". We didn't cover enough shopping terms in Dutch class. :)

It should be said that Bruges (and other parts of Europe I would assume) don't really do "sales" like the US. Here it's  bi-annually; January and July for the entire month.
 Otherwise It's full price Euro whether the rest of the world has it online or in their stores for half off or not.
 I decided to do a little detour on the walk home and check out Quicke,  the store I had made the mental note of some time ago to see if they too had any SOLDEN signs in the window.

I arrived to see the window filled with sale and went inside for a look around.

Where there are winter sales there are racks of spring merchandise, with their promise of better weather,  waiting to be displayed in the stock room. This may be my big chance to peep the new Celine collection, or what they have selected from it.
I am greeted with mild disdain- I admit- I was soaked from the rain and wearing a cotton army green parka ( whose pockets double as my purse) and rubber boots- but the saleslady graciously went in the back to bring out the bags she had just gotten in. Eek the excitement.
 I pull it together and try to forget my hat hair,  that I feel a little like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and don't want to be impulsive just to prove the saleslady wrong.
 But there they were. The mini luggage tote in lipstick and camel, the Trio in blush and navy.

Trio bags in assorted colors.

 It was like a dream.
I wasn't in Bruges, it wasn't raining. My cotton parka wasn't a sad little state of affair from H&M. ( OK i broke one rule- it was so just so cold!)










I was in my own personal fantasy of possibility. What outfits to go with which bag, how many seasons could I pull of this color versus that. In that moment it was me, the mirror and Celine.
After much deliberation, I went with a  possibly not so timeless choice, the blush with rose gold hardware, but loving it and hoping it would match in all the ways I hoped to my existing wardrobe. The saleslady was nicer, everyone chimed in on what they thought was the best choice and I was Sold.

My Quicke detour was a highlight and a place i would have never given a second look to among all the other shoe stores on that street. I'm so glad I did!  If wandering along Zuidzandstraat in Bruges,  I would recommend popping in if you like fashion or want a change from the H&M's and Zara's on the street.  They have D&G, Barbara Bui and a solid selection of mens shoes from what I saw. I will admit I had tunnel vision so I can't weigh in on the other designers.
 And although I was met at the door back home with a bit of confusion, soaked and exhilarated as I was,  all parties agree that I made an excellent choice.
Even if all parties are just me and the mirror.

Quicke-  Zuidzandstraat 21-23 8000 Brugge  
www.quicke.be

www.celine.com

 .