Trends from Berlin Fashion Week
Berlin Fashion Week provides a forecast of what we'll find in our favorite clothing shops next fall. Not all of it is suitable for everyday wear. But simplicity and beauty are key in the coming season.
Elegant and radically purist
Berlin Fashion Week gives an indication of what styles we can expect to see in shops next fall. According to Berlin-based Laotian designer Hien Le, the trends will be radically purist, delicate, refined - and always chic. Who needs buttons or belts? Clean lines provide a sense of calm elegance.
Timeless glamour
Austrian-born designer Lena Hoschek (pictured, center) has a style that's similar to Hien Le's. Her label is known for its feminine, curve-accentuating retro look that's reminiscent of the 1940s and 50s. With so much lace and so many bouncy skirts and opulent flower patterns, her creations are far from reserved. But they're meant to be wearable at any age - and not just on the catwalk.
Jeans forever
This model gets to live every girl's dream. Luisa Hartema from north-western Germany won the casting show Germany's Next Top Model in 2012 and is now a sought-after face in the fashion scene. The boyfriend shirt and black hat she's sporting here at the Stylight Fashion Blogger Awards (fashionbloggerawards.stylight.com) could have come straight from her own closet.
Wearable art
Model Lexy Hell is best known for what she wears 24/7: tattoos. She's pictured here sporting creations by designer Marc Stone. After the show, she summed up what seems to be a common opinion at Berlin Fashion Week: "There are too many bloggers here, and too many people that don't have anything to do with fashion." Alongside fashion shows, parties and trade fairs are an important part of the event.
See and be seen
The audience is at least as important as the clothes. For those in the front row, there's one rule: Stand out. German label Riani took his audience on a journey to the Arctic with off-white shades complemented by silver and grey. The audience resembled the label: elite but not old-fashioned, traditional but not conservative, and glamorous but not kitschy.
Literary inspiration
Among the celebrated up-and-coming young designers this year is Alena Akhmadullina of Russia. She says many Russian women make the mistake of wearing clothes that are too tight, skirts that are too short and necklines that are too low. Her latest creation is inspired by romantic motifs from Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost."
For any occasion
Big-name label Kavier Gauche is also flirting with fairytales this year. Whether for weddings or cocktail parties, their creations are a modern reinterpretation of the typical evening dress. The Berlin label celebrated its 10th anniversary with special visual effects: The guests were given a dress code in advance and all came in black or white. A touch of orange accentuated the stage.
Your inner Amazon
"Black Diamonds" is the title of designer Rebekka Ruetz's latest collection. She presented silk creations accented with wool, cotton, leather, imitation leather and sequins. While the dramatic mix of materials is quite an eyecatcher, it's not particularly suited to everyday wear. The designer says her styles are intended for modern Amazons. Every woman has an Amazon inside her, she insists.
No fear of color
Those who come to Berlin Fashion Week hoping for color might have to strain their eyes a bit. But they'll definitely find it with the label with the unpronounceable name: Vonschwanenflügelpupke. The long row of letters is a combination of the designers' names, Eleonore von Schwanenflügel and Stephanie Pupke. Both of them seem to be big fans of bright colors.