If there is one thing we learnt about BERLIN over this weekend, it is that the Berliners are fashion conscious and they sure know how to dress! Both boys and girls in most of the ‘trendy’ areas are dressed to UK fashion perfection, with us having to double take and check that we weren’t wandering around Dalston half the time.
Armed with a budget and hand luggage, two girls hit Berlin for the first time. We knew we wanted to sight see, shop for vintage clothes and partai like it’s 1999. But what on earth do you pack in the tiniest Ryan Air allowance hand luggage?! Well my friends, this article is about to save you. With the help of my incredible organized and capsule wardrobe-d friend Simona, i have compiled a style diary of two days and two nights in Berlin, equipped for everything the city can throw at you.
Day One:
Simona wears: Vintage Lacoste jumper, vintage LeviS cut-off denim shorts, Top Shop cotton sleeveless shirt, M&S tights, Office brogues.
Day Two:
Simona wears: M&S tights (as worn on the friday), Top Shop long sleeved skater dress, COS necklace, Office brogues, Calvin Klein sunglasses.
Night One:
Simona Wears: Top Shop t-shirt, H&M skirt, M&S tights (as worn in both day times), Vintage heeled leather boots (Rocket, Camden Town), Vintage feddora purple hat (bought in Berlin – check out COLOURS where you can pay by the kilo!)
Night Two:
Simona Wears: H&M sleeveless, backless, white shirt, velvet leggings American Apparel, Vintage heeled leather boots, Forever 21 denim cropped jacket.
Theory:
The perfect city-break handbag is a linen shopper number, which can roll up into a tiny ball in your minute hand luggage. (In Simona’s case a wheely suitcase purchased from Ryan Air and Samsonite.)
The trick is to bring one of everything bottoms wise. This means 1 dress, 1 skirt, 1 pair of leggings or jeans, 1 pair of shorts. Top wise, if you don’t bring a skirt then you only need two tops (and add in an extra dress) but 2-3 tops are advisable. Tights are essential and a necklace or two won’t go amiss. Finally, two pairs of shoes are a good idea, one which is good to walk in and doesn’t make you sweaty betty in the heat and another to dress up at night or protect from a rainy blast. On that note, a light raincoat was also slipped into hand luggage along with some sunglasses - both essential and in the handbag at all times!
Berlin is a city that does not sleep, so make sure you’re comfortable and reasonably casual. One thing we noticed was that a preened look would not get you into the Berghain! A group of girls in front of us were disallowed but myself, wearing very holey suspender tights and a red AA dress and Simona in her second outfit, breezed through security!
Who’s Jack Love Berlin – we’re definitely going back!
