Fashion Secrets to Dressing like a Berliner: The German capital of cool, Berlin is one of the most unpredictable, design-driven cities in the world. Even though fashion week is more about partying, the city still has a collective interest in fashion. Yet, the city has its own style rules. So you don’t lose your trying-to-act-and-look-like-a-local cover when in Berlin

Fashion Secrets to Dressing like a Berliner

Black is everywhere

Black is one of the colors you will see most when in Berlin. Berliners are not big fans of bright and shiny colors, whatever season it is. If you want to look like a local, leave your red skirt and yellow shirt at home.

Casual Jacket Layering

Berlin and grunge go rebelliously hand-in-hand, retaining some of the reckless flavours of the Eighties when east Berliners tore down the great Berlin Wall. Today, the next generation flaunt their freedom with grungy streetwear looks in mostly black.

Leather biker jackets or cotton Baracuta Harringtons found the grunge style, effortlessly layered with black basics – from tees to knits to long-sleeve shirts – paired always with black denim jeans in slim-fit.

Wearing heels will get you turned away at clubs

You might be used to the golden rule of clubs in cities like London and New York City, where girls will not get in if they don’t wear heels. In Berlin, it is the opposite. Unless you are heading to Mitte or a fancy club in West Berlin, leave your heels at home. Especially in East Berlin, you will be the only one wearing heels and people will immediately know you are a tourist.

Winter Coats With Denim

Not quite formal enough to be deemed smart casual, the elegantly undressed Berliner thrives on sticking it to the ‘dress code’, working tailored pea jackets and waistcoats over washed out denim, matte leather shoes and scruffy beanies.

Wearing Pajamas outside is trending

The ‘undone’ look is one of the most popular in Berlin. People will look like the came straight out of bed, even though they spent an hour in front of their wardrobe (and mirror).

Greasy-looking hair is considered stylish in Berlin

This goes with the previous rule. The more undone you look, the cooler you are. Don’t worry about greasy hair, it’s cool. Go all natural and you’ll be cool.

Do not judge people by how they look

Do not judge people by how they look. You might see someone on the street wearing a hoodie and jogging pants and think it’s a homeless person, but that person might very well be the founder of a million-dollar company.

Backpacks are not only for school kids

It might have been a long time since you wore a backpack, but Berlin is a backpack city. It is not unusual for Berliners to leave their house in the morning and only come back home the next day, working all day and partying all night. That’s why Berliners like their backpacks, as they are big enough to carry everything they need with them.

Fanny packs are the hippest new trend

Yes, fanny packs are back – at least in Berlin. Girls don’t wear fancy handbags in Berlin, and fanny packs are the answer to that. However, they don’t have to be worn around the hip, extending the strip and wearing it as a cross body bag is very Berlinish and cool.

Sneakers are not only running shoes but also totally accepted in everyday life

If you are a sneaker-lover anyway, you will find great sneaker stores around town, offering the most special sneakers.

Showing off brands is not cool

Berlin is a fashion city, but it does not show off brands. Berliners do not like to show off, but instead, like to invest in pieces where a brand is not visible from the outside.

Berlin is not a ‘boob-city.’ Leave your bra at home

Girls, you can totally forget your bras at home when going to Berlin. Berlin is not at all a boob city, and many Berliner girls don’t wear bras at all. Push up bras are very 90s, and if you don’t feel comfortable without a bra, at least try to not put on the wonder bra when you’re visiting.

Fashion Secrets to Dressing like a Berliner