How to be an embodiment of urban, provocative cool: Berlin Fashion Week – Autumn/Winter 2016 – PART II!

In Berlin, fashion and design labels present themselves with work that can be described as inventive, experimental, expressive and so very urban, and so the other week, I told you about Berlin Fashion Week – Autumn/Winter 2016.

I had so much to tell you that I had to split the post up. Here’s what you missed: How to be an embodiment of urban, provocative cool – PART I!

Now that’s sorted out, let’s go on!

WHERE DID I ACTUALLY GO?

• ANNA GORKE
• ANJA GOCKEL
• BRACHMANN 
• BRIGHT
• ESTHER PERBANDT
• FACES MAGAZINE PARTY
  
• #FASHIONTECH BERLIN-KONFERENZ
• GREEN FASHION TOUR THROUGH PRENZLAUERBERG
  
• IVANMAN
• LENA HOSCHEK
• LNFA TRIPLE LAUNCH
  
• PANORAMA
• POP UP Fashion Berlin
• PREMIUM
• SEEK
• SHOW & ORDER
• STEINROHNER

DAY THREE (3)!

ANJA GOCKEL

Anja Gockel was presented on the RUNWAY as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.

Being an item on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin is a big thing.

A big thing indeed, as the Mercedes-Benz fashion campaign brings together some of fashion’s most inspiring and creative talents with the acme of automotive technology to present a fabulous, future-facing hybrid of style and sustainability!

Anja Gockel was no exception and is a collection inspired by the then Burma freedom fighter “Suu.” Her collections are often based on strong women who also have no qualms celebrating their femininity.

I once again found myself on the front row with German celebrities right, left, and centre and camera lights popping away. Sadly, I hadn’t a clue who they were!

The clothes had an Asian theme with one of the models doing a sort of Bollywood dance! The clothes were bright burnt orange with orange poppies and long-trailing capes. High-heeled flower-patterned wedges, tightly tapered trousers and high-waisted belts. Lots of orange, black, aubergine, pink, greys, and pale blues. Materials were wool and silk, black patterned tights, sexy ankle socks (yes!) orange eyeshadow, pink lipstick and some sort of powder on their foreheads! Long hair done in a twist.

My type of colours.

Very wearable!

In fact, I actually got to meet Anja herself. She’s lovely.

• BRACHMANN

The BRACHMANN collection this season played with space, layers, and surfaces.

Using experimental photography as it’s theme, clothes were cut with strong architectural lines, geometric forms and patch pleats. Colours were dark blue and copper. Shiny leather shoes, linen suits and a button-up shirt. The look of a modern-day gentleman-about-town.

Doesn’t he look smart?

And like other fashion houses, using English wool in coats and jackets to give an impression of minimalistic elegance and urban chic!

I was due to visit a couple of fashion tradeshows so before I left, I availed myself of the fashion lounge, did a little networking, had two (2) glasses of champagne, two (2) cups of hot chocolate, some mini-Asian titbits and got myself a Mercedes-Benz car!

PREMIUM

• #FASHIONTECH BERLIN-KONFERENZ – THE CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF FASHION.
  

The FASHIONTECH conference is the platform for all up-coming ideas and business models that influence the way fashion is designed, produced, distributed, marketed and sold.

I absolutely love this conference and last year I only had time for one workshop. This time I picked five (5) and I wasn’t alone, as the venue was packed! It’s at the location of PREMIUM and the workshops are totally free of charge!

Wow!

My day was pretty busy but I made it a priority to attend SNAPCHAT and Pinterest.

SNAPCHAT isn’t really my thing but it never hurts to learn what’s out there, so I went to a workshop called: SNAPCHAT – How to embrace the new (social media) revolution.

It was really interesting as SNAPCHAT has no visible followers or likes, no stress on FOMO (fear of missing out) and is pretty spontaneous and refreshing!

Pinterest has been around for a little while and is a platform that helps people discover things they love, so that they are inspired to use it in real life! I went to: Keys to Success – How to kickstart and maintain a successful pinterest presence.

If you’re big on fashion or home decor, that’s the platform to go for!

I’ve been thinking of adding another social media application and that’s probably going to be the one!

GREEN FASHION TOUR THROUGH PRENZLAUERBERG

I really wanted to go on this fashion tour as I like to support local artists and it’s in my gentrified suburb, but I really couldn’t be in two places at the same time so I opted for FASHIONTECH instead!

PARTY THREE (3)!

So the evening was a little long as I was invited to five (5) parties but managed to get to three (3) as it’s all about pacing!

POP UP Fashion Berlin

This POP UP party was organised by #FashionTech and was in the BIKINI building. This get-together had cool model presentations and free drinks however, by the time that I got there most people were already giggling away and looking quite dazed, so I moved on!

LNFA TRIPLE LAUNCH: NETWORK IN FASHION & FILM

This after-party event was a combination of the technology launch of a new photo production line by YDL Fashion Network, the launch of a new campaign by LNFA (Live, Network, Fashion & Art) and an introduction to the programme of the Berlin Fashion Film Festival 2016 and a way for the fashion set to network and sip on a few cocktails.

In truth, this particular party was about 30 seconds away from POP UP Fashion Berlin so it was easy to get to!

The LNFA is a chilled crowd and people are easy to talk to.

I was already beginning to droop a little so I got myself a snack of currywurst and chips before moving on to my last party of the evening.

PANORAMA PARTY

All the fashion trade houses had an after-party planned out and it’s always difficult to decide which one to choose so I opted for the one nearest my home!

PANORAMA hosted their part at Ungarn Haus in Mitte. At Alexanderplatz.

Easy to get home from!  And since public transport in Berlin is super efficient, I only needed to hop on one train and be home in four (4) stops!

The DJ was jamming and the fashion set were hopping. There was an open bar and I managed to recognise a few local politicians hanging out!

The only snag was that people were puffing away as if smoking had gone out of style!

Great party. Brilliant crowd.

DAY FOUR (4)!

This was my last day so I tried to pack everything in!

STEINROHNER

The STEINROHNER collection was at the STAGE and I was at the RUNWAY ‘cos I’d forgotten! Thankfully, I wasn’t alone as there were loads of press people practically running to get the Mercedes-Benz bus!

Inspiration was found in Switzerland and Russia!

The models were presented in a loose circle which you had to walk around.

Pale blue and white make up around the eyes, plastic flowers around the hands and feet, black dresses with plastic-like shapes and white pumps. Sort of freaky-looking!

SEEK

SEEK is a contemporary fashion tradeshow and presents a selection of progressive designers and brands from youth culture, music and art segments. It’s got a high level contemporary portfolio, focuses on modern clothes with an independent streak and a mix of new attitudes and old traditions, and is located at the very trendy club, and pool beach ARENA location.

Let the pictures do the talking!

BRIGHT TRADESHOW

If you walk onto the furthest side of SEEK, you’ll connect to BRIGHT. In fact, what’s really sharp is that for some trade fairs, you get a joint ticket for SEEK, PREMIUM, FASHIONTECH BERLIN, SHOW&ORDER, ETHICAL FASHION SHOW, GREEN SHOWROOM & BRIGHT itself.

How cool is that!

Anyhoo! BRIGHT is an original platform with a great vibe, in a unique location.  BRIGHT XXII presented more than 250 brands from its carefully handpicked portfolio on 2,600 square meters with side events ranging from skateboarding, art and music, to live painting & tattoo action!

BRIGHT has a streetlife boardsport approach with clean lines and snazzy colours!

Take a look!

PARTY FOUR (4)!

Nada!

DAY FIVE (5)!

ANNA GORKE

Anna Gorke is a collection that invokes an Indian summer, radiant colours and flowing material. Materials are 100% organic with dark blue, black, brown and dark red textiles and large leaf-patterned motives. White pumps and white socks or tights!

Very wearable!

PARTY FIVE (5)!

FACES MAGAZINE PARTY.

This party was hosted by Anna Gorke, LNFA & Faces Magazine. I was focused on the British Shorts Film Festival and forgot all about it!

Oops!

I’m sure that they all had a grand time!

That’s it for the winter season. See you in the summer!

• Photographs of Anja Gockel ©Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz.
• Backstage photographs ©Nass / Brauer Photo images for Mercedes-Benz.
• Photographs of Brachmann ©John Phillips/Getty Images for IMG.
• Photographs of PREMIUM ©Steve Herud / ©Jennifer Fey / ©Boris Kralj.
• Photographs of STEINROHNER ©John Phillips/Getty Images for IMG.
• Photographs of SEEK ©Renato Silvia.
• Photographs of Anne Gorke ©Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz.
• Photographs of Faces Magazine Party © Ina Niehoff.
• Photograph of Mercedes-Benz Fashion campaign Autumn/Winter 2016 featuring Natasha Poly.  ©Jeff Bark
• Other photographs ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner.

This article is not sponsored and even though I received complimentary press tickets, all opinions and the glasses of champagne and glittery nail varnish, are my very own!

Watch this space!

I’m not a fashion blogger but I know what I like! What about you?