You’re looking hot and wearing a fur coat Katie Holmes. Of course you are: It’s Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015!

Just over a week ago, it was Berlin Fashion Week, and now I’m skiing in the Czech Republic! I’ve got the flu at the moment, but surely I’m living the dream. Berlin today, the Czech Republic…today too!

Well, I’ve said it before. If I can do it, so can you!

But firstly, thank you all so very much for the wonderful likes of my last post on THE WYLD. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that on 29.01.15, I received 350 “Likes” on a single day. 302 were from Facebook alone. I was astonished! You’re wonderful guys. Keep it coming and again, thank you so much for reading!

So Fashion Week.

It was fabulous of course, and all very exciting for those in the know. Being that it’s Berlin, it was also “oh, we’re so cool and calm” until you got backstage and everyone was either panic-stricken or going berserk. Aaah! That’s better. That’s Fashion baby!

I love this city. It’s crazy but also offers up all sorts of opportunities. I mean, who would have thought that I, a lifestyle travel blogger of only one (1) year, would get the chance. THE CHANCE to not only attend Berlin Fashion Week, but also the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin! That is the creme de la creme of all that is fashion around here. I mean, they own it LOL!

Next week, I’ll tell you all about the parties and stuff but for now I’ll tell you what I did, where I went, and how I did it!

SO, HOW DID I DO IT?

I applied to the Fashion Houses that I wanted to go to, and waited for the accreditation to take place. For the fashion places that I had attended last season, I didn’t need any further proof of my press credentials, but for Mercedes-Benz I had to apply “freshly” as I’d only been by either bluffing my way in, gate-crashing, or assuming that I could have tickets and stuff, and then getting them LOL!

As a blogger, it’s easier to supply “proof” as everything is online for all to see, so that’s what I did. I was asked for details of my website and most importantly, proof of pieces that I had written about the fashion world. You can find an introductory piece here, how I got a press pass here, why go to Fashion Week Berlin here,  and how to get invited to the Fashion Week after-parties right here! I was asked for a photograph and a €20.00 fee! I sent in the photograph above!

The wonderful thing about being a lifestyle, travel, and expat blogger is that I can write about anything and everything. And I do. Berlin is great for that. You can never get boring!

SO WHAT’S MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK BERLIN REALLY ALL ABOUT THEN?

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin or MBFWB herein on, is an event that offers a glimpse into what’s next in fashion. It showcases exclusive fashion offering a unparalleled platform for young and up-coming talent from all around the world, who want to present their latest creations to an international fashion audience, industrial professionals, and fashion journalists.

Presenting Fashion week in Berlin is not only because this city is a platform for hot trends but also because it’s here. In this city. Where creative geniuses can showcase their work, and share their vision. It’s in Berlin where incredible resources, local designers, and international emerging brands can evolve in a unique and artistic way.

If it’s not going to be in Berlin, where else would it be?

AND IN LAYMAN’S TERMS?

Well, the focus this season was on clean, sharp silhouettes, luxurious textured fabrics, vibrant colour palettes, graphic bold intarsia knits, and fur.

And what were most people wearing?

Black and grey.

Sigh!

WHERE DID I PLAN TO GO?

I decided to go to my old favourites SHOW & ORDER, PANORAMA, BRIGHT, SEEK, PREMIUM, BREAD & BUTTER, BERLIN’S NIGHT of FASHION, and MBFWB of course!

WHERE DID I ACTUALLY GO?

Next season, I’m actually going to take a few dedicated days off so that I can really get to grips with the fashion scene. As you know, I’m quite a busy bee and normally pack everything in, but this time I realised that I might have bitten a but more than I can chew. For more details of this, you’re going to have to read my blog next week!

I actually went to:

• SHOW & ORDER:

It’s located in KRAFTWERK; the premises of a former abandoned heating power station and the present day TRESOR club, and has an industrial feel. SHOW & ORDER also combines an exclusive international platform with networking and selective presentation. All iron pipes and slabs of stone. Very rugged. Very Berlin. To add to the “winter” vibe, there were stuffed bears and deers everywhere, baskets of real apples, and steel buckets of lilies! You could also help yourself to bottles of cherry and lemon water. Going to Fashion shows is thirsty work so it was very useful! As press, we were also given a goodie bag and a voucher for free coffee and a hot croissant. I had tea instead!

Most of the fashion presented were of fur, leather, cashmere, and shawls. Along with accessories. With a space of more than 10,000 square meters, three (3) levels, and more than 250 international brands, they had three (3) very successful business days. I always enjoy going there as the space and vibe is fresh.

• PANORAMA:

Panorama presents a contemporary array of women’s and men’s collections, shoes and accessories, by market leading brands. This relatively new (2013) fashion trade fair focuses on a select portfolio of top international fashion brands with business relevance. With impressive visitor numbers, 549 exhibitors on 37,500 square meters, the Fall/Winter 2015/2016 season was the biggest and most successful edition to date, in Panorama Berlin’s relatively young history.

I loved going there as I always have a fine time chilling with the exhibitors, buyers, and other press hounds LOL! I had my photo taken by a photographer and once the venue was officially closed, the fun really began.

I found a nice hanging out corner at a New York fashion label called Broadway and sat down on their fur-skin-covered-leather sofa and laid back a little. I chatted with an architect/interior designer from Hamburg because of his hipster outfit – the beard, glasses, and a striped shirt, and had a few cocktails, two (2) glasses of champagne, and a hot dog. I forgot that I had a hotdog, you’ll know why next week!

• BREAD & BUTTER:

BREAD & BUTTER is a trade show for selected brands and a one-of-a-kind trade fair event for contemporary clothing culture. It provides a creative marketing and communication platform for brands, labels and designers. BREAD & BUTTER unites inspiration and business and allows brands to keep their individual philosophy, their own brand culture, and emotional setting. With about 500 exhibitors from the sector of denim, sportswear, street fashion, and casual wear, it represents the contemporary segment of street and urban wear.

BREAD & BUTTER has always been Berlin’s baby, but last year fell into so much trouble that going for insolvency seemed to be the only way forward.It was all quite dramatic! Happily, I am able to tell you that they have not disappeared into a black hole but have re-invented themselves with a concept called “Back to the Street.”

With about 40 brands, Bread & Butter decided to host a guerrilla trade show within it’s own facilities, right in the heart of the city. In Mitte. To them “Back to the Street” meant an unconventional business forum and networking point in the Theatre-land Quarter of Berlin. The guerrilla trade show was set up for industry, trade, and press. More info next week!

• BIKINI:

BIKINI is a space for national and international labels of the future spanning from fashion, design and digital lifestyle to exclusive, innovative products, smart ideas, and creative marketing. I went there to catch a German-made fashion label called LUXAA.

LUXAA presented it’s winter collection called SKALAR. It’s the use of functional material from various sources, and pure aesthetics. Working with innovative material called Tyvek, the geotextile is similar to paper, is durable, breathable, washable, anti-allergen, sustainable, and 100% recyclable! I managed to catch the end of it LOL.

• MBFWB:

The excitement of being at MBFWB will all be revealed next week!

This article is not sponsored and even though I received complimentary press tickets, all opinions and the various refreshments and glasses of enticing champagne that I didn’t hesitate to accept, are my very own!

I have so much to share with you.

Next week, I will continue the excitement that is Berlin Fashion Week, and what it’s like for all you budding fashionistas!

After that i will tell you what skiing is like in the Czech Republic and how to travel there using only public transport! We just got here yesterday, so you can follow me daily on Twitter & FB!

Some time in February, I will be at the Wintergarten Varieté where illusion replaces reality – for their latest production THE MAGICAL MYSTERY SHOW otherwise known as “The Show of the Magician.“

The 65th Berlin International Film Festival – The Berlinale – will be taking place from 05.02.15 – 15.02.15.

Strictly Stand Up – The English Comedy Night is going to take place on 25.02.15 at the Quatsch Comedy Club in Berlin.

I’ll be participating in the pre-ITB Travel Massive event on 03.03.15. If you’re a blogger or just fancy a knees-up, come meet us. It’s going to be so much fun!

The actual International Travel Trade Fair – ITB – will be taking place from 04.03.15 – 08.03. 15.

If you’re not in Berlin in February, you’re missing out!

February is going to be stuffed.

Watch this space!

Have you ever been to a fashion show or event?  Katie Holmes or Elizabeth Hurley?

See you in Berlin.

If you like this post or if you have any questions send me a tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below, or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com