14
JULY 2015
BELGITUDE
FASHION
NatanS/S15
Costumier of choice forQueenMathilde
ofBelgium, not tomention the royal
families of Luxembourgand theNetherlands,
Ypres nativeEdouardVermeulen is the
manbehind fashionhouseNatan. His
current couture collection isbasedaround
angular blocks of a single colour, inspired
bydesign rather than fashion. Buttercup
yellow is the collection’sbreakout colour
(witness this oversizebustier dress in
shantung silk, left), andour old friend
thedeconstructed jacket is in there too.
Fit for aqueen, indeed.
natan.be
MUSIC
EclecticGhent
Puristsmay stroke their beards quizzically
at several artists headliningGent Jazz
Festival (10-18 July). VanMorrison, Lady
Gaga (albeitwith the great TonyBennett),
the virtuosoMexican guitarists Rodrigo y
Gabriela: impressive names, but not jazz.
Then again, any bigmusical event in
Ghent is likely tobe amixedbag. The
arty heart of the north-east became a
UNESCOCity ofMusic in 2009, and loves
to experiment. Ghent Jazz began in 2002
as theBlueNote Festival, “amix of jazz
and so-called fusion”, explainsmarketing
manager Peter Zwertvagher, and the fusions
continue. Also appearing this year are
popular jazz/soul singersNenehCherry,
Gregory Porter and LauraMvula, the rap-
inspired, Obama-endorsedbluesmanGary
Clark Jr, and jazz/rock legendGinger Baker.
Ghent’smusical mash-ups resonate
beyondBelgium. Soulwax, the influential
rockers-turned-DJs, celebrate their 20th
anniversary in 2015; Ghent’s jazz scene
produces acts such asNathanDaems,
whose numerous bands channel
everything from gypsy folk to Indian
classical, while the city’s internationally-
renowned festivals collaborate, rather
than compete. Glimps, inDecember, is
a burgeoning alternative-rock/pop
showcase, but also features a diverse
jazz line-up–programmedby theGJF.
For an early glimpse of Glimps,
incidentally, the organisers also run a
(largely free) festival in late July, Boomtown,
this year starring twouniqueUS acts:
alt-country pioneers Lambchop, andCold
Specks, whomix soul with gothic rock. In
Ghent, anything goes.
gentjazz.com
SLEEP
ARCKB&B, TIELRODE
Tuckedaway in rural northern
Belgium, this impeccablydesigned
B&Bwas conceivedby interior
architectNeleVercauterenand
her husbandBasWauman. It
offers adiscerningmixofvintage
and contemporary furnitureby
Japanesebrands andScandi
stars likeHayandMuuto (also
showcased in theonline shop).
Besides three serenebedrooms
– the ‘Rear’ has aprivate terrace
–guestsprofit fromaneclectic
library, anhonestybar and free
bikes. Theowners can suggest
cycle routes across the stunning
Tielrodebroeknature reserve, as
well as top local eateries likeCafé
‘tVeer andDeGroenendijkand
cultural hotspots like theSofie
LachaertGallery. Comemorning,
breakfast is agenerous spreadof
homemadebreadand jam, and
eggs from the resident chickens.
Rooms from€90.
Kaaistraat23,
+32 (0)487202026, arck-bb.be
