Street Style from Amsterdam

Dispatches from the Dutch capital

Late fall could be a tricky time to visit any city, but fortunately, I timed a trip to Amsterdam just right a few weeks ago. The yellow leaves lined the canals with some pretty hues. I didn't mind the grey skies for the entirety of my trip, as I was too busy watching out for bicycle bells coming at me from all angles as I meandered around the cobblestone streets of this charming city. I hadn't been before, and I had many questions. Namely, are there really that many bicycles? And, does the Heineken really taste better here? The answers are yes and yes.

I had one full day to explore, meander, and take photos with no real agenda, which is one of my favorite things to do. I ended up walking around ten miles, taking a lot of photographs, and drinking a few beers. I had an excellent time. Naturally, I was curious about fashion and men's clothing, so I took street-style photos.

Now, the one thing you need to know about Amsterdam is that everyone truly uses bicycles as their main form of transportation. While cars aren't necessarily banned in the City Center, I think it's generally frowned upon to drive there, much like wearing a bicycle helmet when cycling.

Men dressed well but more functionally, it seems. Tailoring was hard to come by. It could be the fact that it was drizzling rain off and on, but I saw an extraordinary amount of Arc'teryx. A lot of layering was happening, but the most interesting thing I saw was the absence of more formal shoes. Nearly everyone was wearing white sneakers. Perhaps they have a better grip on the pedals of your bicycle. I need to do some research.

Below are a few of my favorite photos from the day observing the style, which I hope give you a sense of the trends and a bit of the atmosphere around Amsterdam.

I would say this was the most formal gentleman of the day. I love how I caught the reflection of his strap as he whizzed by. One of the only people I saw wearing non-white shoes!

At first glance, this might seem somewhat banal, but let's look closer because a lot is happening here. First of all, for context, this is a very busy intersection where this guy is biking. He is riding his bike with no hands on the handlebars because, naturally, he is tying his scarf. Notice the headphones in, so he's also listening to music, and he's some sort of bag of something dangling off the handlebars—a gift, perhaps. Also, notice the white shoes. An incredible moment.

A masterclass in layering and a masterclass in bicycle turn signals. Are you kidding me with this outfit! Beautiful chore coat, some sort of quarter-buttoned sweater, all with an Oxford underneath. Some nice grey trousers. And the Carhartt flat-brim hat to boot? This is just too good. I can't even continue. Also, it's nice to see hand-turn signals when cycling is a tradition that is alive and well in the Dutch capital.

I'd like to think the guy just got out of bed and decided to walk down and get a coffee, as he does every Saturday morning, at this exact spot. I love the casualness of the outfit and the nice pop of color with the socks. It's simple yet perfectly fits the moment of a Saturday morning coffee. I bet he could also tie a scarf while riding a bicycle with no hands.

This one is out of focus, but I wanted to include it because I love this guy's look. It's another great example of layering, this time with jeans. A wicker basket is the perfect accessory.

These were the only ties I saw, and they looked great. I'm a fan of anyone who wears a tie on Saturday, especially when the suits look this good while cycling.

This gentleman has decided to use his dog as his GPS, a noble approach, I must say.

I caught this crew who decided to turn all at once. It felt like a scene from a Wes Anderson movie as they all glanced at me in unison. I think they were looking for their friend behind me and not looking at me taking a photo of them, but there's no way to be sure.

I'll end it with this photo of four friends crowded on a bench. I'd like to think they were having a coffee and recapping last night.

Finally, I have to say, if I have one recommendation for you in Amsterdam, go to Cafe Binnenvisser. It's a natural wine bar and bistro-style restaurant with rotating plates that's genuinely one of the best meals I've ever had.

Tot ziens!