Berlin street s t y l e
Issue #1
Berlin street s t y l e Issue #1
Unforced. Urban – Chic. Eclectic. Low Key. A selected few words in a lexicon of ways to describe Berlin’s Street Style. Street Style helps define who someone is; people express who they are through their clothes and everyone bounces inspirations off one another. Berlin has a vibrant, alternative and independent fashion and art scene; the city has a stylistic pulse. The population of Berlin is a new generation of young creative people. Their street style is an intoxicating blend of music, fashion, art, subculture and straight-up coolness. People in Berlin have their own world and really enjoy it in their own way, manifesting the enviable laid back attitude that’s found amongst the city’s streets, parks and venues. Understated cool is the way Berliners like it. The women of the city are internationally recognised as cool, they don’t dress to attract attention but will catch the eye. Sometimes it’s just the way they will leave an oversized white shirt hanging below a knitted pullover or the way they team statement pieces with laid-back wardrobe staples, such as a varsity jacket and jean shorts or a delicate dress with a sturdy biker jacket. Or maybe it’s the way that their vintage designer clutch bag contrasts against their old black ripped skinny jeans. In a city like Berlin, there is no strict dress code. They love to wear one off vintage pieces that are unique and no one else in the city will be wearing them, some of the best street style in Berlin can be seen at their flea markets and vintage shops. Women are always seen wearing an antique ring or earrings, accessories lend more personality to an outfit and personality is the most essential accessory in Berlin. The materials, history and story behind them are more important than the label.
The style of a woman living in Berlin cannot be described in a simple sentence, it is an eclectic look characterized by uniqueness and individuality. However there are a few collective threads that pull their approach to fashion together, coolness and natural beauty. Woman in Berlin do not wear a lot of makeup, they prefer to go natural and when they do wear it, they go for peachy tones that give them a healthy glow. Cosmetics containing natural ingredients are an importance, products that will nourish and protect the skin. A natural scented perfume is also a must, used to emphasize their personality and style. Their hair is usually worn down, naturally wavy or up in a lose topknot bun. This laid back approach to beauty adds to the coolness of their look. Street Style in Berlin is different to other capital cities. In places such as Milan and Paris, the main point of being photographed on the street during fashion week or at events is to show people your wealth and knowledge of designer trends. Their style can often be described as extravagant and showy, with designer garments being the focus point of their outfit. In Berlin no one is impressed by large logos, they see it as embarrassing to show off wealth in such an obvious way. Berlin is a creative city, not a financial one. They value originality and creativity over designer names.
chloe tjaguns
Berlin style benefits from the fact that so many influences come together there, the majority of the population of Berlin is made up of immigrants from other countries or from other areas of Germany. Berlin has never been as international as it is today; the great mix of people is so exciting, making the city the amazing place that it is. The beautiful thing about the city is that everyone can reinvent himself or herself over and over again, it is great for picking up one-off pieces and cult items, it has some of the best independent boutiques in the world and is home to some of fashions rising design stars. Many fashion designers move to Berlin when they graduated from university, the rent is cheap and the city has a creative network of fashion photographers, stylists and PR experts. Along with being the capital of street style, it has a reputation of being a creative hotspot and playground for young designers. It also has hundreds of art galleries spread across the city.
Scattered over the German capital are galleries set up in incredible repurposed spaces that the city never grows short of. Fashion on the streets of Berlin is evidently inspired by contemporary art; the modern and creative style looks like everyone once went to an art college. Berliners refuse to accept the conformity of the current ‘in’ trend or this season’s look; they have the confidence and creativity to produce a unique personal style statement that is an advertisement of who they are. There is a freedom of choice in matters of style; individuals have the power of deciding on their own appearance. At one point it looked inevitable that social media and fashion marketing would put an end to street style, everyone would become a copied version of one another stripping it of its authenticity, significance and importance. The closer street style came within the fashion industry’s site range the more likely it would be to lose it’s meaning, yet street style went and overcame it’s opposition standing as the most original fashion inspiration. People are determined to do style their own way.
Street style in Berlin is similar to the city’s architecture: incoherent, experimental, avant-garde and out-dated all at the same time. Something is always being built in Berlin; this raw state is reflected in the fashion of the people living in the city, their choice of style is a portrait of the cities subculture, its architecture and it’s people. People always look unfinished, just like the city. Street Style represents authenticity and everyone wants a piece of it. People in Berlin love the style of ‘Dressing Down’, dressing to show the descent of the economic ladder representing the realism of street style. Their goal is not to appear too dressed up and posh.
Berliners stay away from today’s mainstream designers and trends, investing in vintage finds and with up and coming boutique labels. Another area focused on fashion is Neukölln, designer shops meet studio places, artists and designers open new spaces and stores in this extremely cool part of the city. Along with the various shopping districts in the city the nightlife in Berlin is major; the choice of restaurants, clubs and events that you can go to on a weekend is incredible. People are always seen reading in street cafes and parks, with Brunch being a regular activity. Magazines and books are like food to Berliners.
The city’s walls and buildings are covered in graffiti; it is famous for urban art, which changes all the time leaving fresh art on the streets. Street art is abundant in Berlin, with some parts of the city feeling like an open-air gallery. Local and international artists create the graffiti and street art, bringing abandoned buildings and drab blank walls alive with colour. Along with its vibrant art scene the city also has an alternative and independent fashion scene. It has a number of various shopping districts, with stores to suit everyone. The stores mix nonchalant German designers with cool international designers. Independent fashion, interior and lifestyle stores are located in the Mitte district, the main place to pick up extraordinary pieces where they are displayed as what they are - pieces of art. It is the place to find hidden hot spots, full of fashion, culture and a little chaos.
The majority of people living in Berlin work from home due to being self employed, popular career choices are writers, artists, designers or musicians, and so décor and interior of the home is important. Berlin interior design reflects the attitude of the city. The home is not just seen as a place to sleep and wash but also a place of business, a place you can invite your colleagues and friends to. The key of the Berlin lifestyle is to create a home that is inviting and adaptable. Style is a way of life in Berlin, it isn’t just about the clothes you wear it is about everything in your life, your look, your lifestyle and your home. The street style in Berlin shows exactly what makes the style of the city so vibrant, universally relevant and unforgettable no matter where you live.
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