Color and Style

One of the things I've enjoyed especially about my trip to Berlin (and beyond) was the sense of adventure and enjoyment of color that I've found in the folks who live here. At home, young people might at times consider wearing something just a little bit interesting. But for the most part, it's jeans (usually blue) and T-Shirts (often black).

Quite different here - everyone, and especially middle-aged and older people, enjoys color. Maybe it's the many grey days in the fall, maybe it's just what everyone's used to, and what's available in the stores. I've seen many men in bright pants in red, light green, yellow, or purple - all colors of the rainbow really. And they were often with their wives or girl friends - it's not gay style, it's just style.

Women wear a lot more dresses and skirts than I'm used to seeing - makes sense, really, there's no air conditioning in summer and a dress is much cooler than pants. (Shorts are generally frowned upon in women except for the very young who still have the legs to go with the shorts.)

And while there was still a lot of street style that I found less than attractive, it was fun to watch people go by, look at their outfits, enjoy the show. And with the many street-side cafes and restaurants, everyone can be a watcher, or can be on the runway that's the Kudamm (or one of the side streets).

Even friends visiting from Hamburg (well know for being more staid and conservative) remarked upon the striking outfit that they saw in a woman who was having coffee at the cafe across the street. "She was a little older," said my friend "but she was not afraid of dressing up - yellow outfit with heart-shaped sunglasses with yellow frames. "

And while I almost questioned such exuberance in a woman past her prime, I realized that the fun of it is really what counts when a saw a couple of a certain age strolling down the Kudamm just a day later. She was wearing an almost matching blouse and knee-length pants, socks with her high heeled boots, a large purse with an interesting pattern, and, to top it off, a down shawl.  He was wearing a rust-colored jacket and matching shoes. Clearly they were having a wonderful time in the big bright city. After they had enjoyed picking out their outfits, they knew that other fun things were ahead!