Berlin by Chris Danforth

For me, Berlin style has always been defined by club style. Nightlife is the biggest driver of style trends, and ultimately, the city’s dress codes have spilled over into the sidewalks of Kreuzberg. It’s not cliché to say that Berlin loves black. Techno clubs and sex parties from Berghain to KitKat bring out crowds swathed in fetish gear, latex, leather, and mesh, donning platform boots: a confluence of kink, high style, and glamor. In clubs, a pair of beat-up Reebok Classics or Buffalos says far more than the latest Air Jordan collaboration. But unless you’ve queued up yourself, cookie-cutter descriptions will always come short of explaining the dance floors of Berlin.

Under the Schlesische Tor sits Berlin’s original sneaker outpost Overkill. Overkill’s friends and family of BFC Dynamo Berlin supporters and graffiti writers have also done a lot to shape the landscape of Berlin style. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the adidas Equipment and ZX lines were coveted for the simple reason that they were so expensive. Anecdotes from 1989 tell of East Berliners spending their Begrüßungsgeld (Welcome money) on ZX sneakers. Today, Equipment and ZX are still beloved among the Overkill crowd, and Overkill has collaborated with adidas on many occasions, including the 2019 "No Walls Needed" ZX pack. It goes without saying, as a hometown hero, adidas sneakers are common in the German capital, which also has its own member of the City Series franchise, the adidas Berlin.

Vintage and thrifting are also significant factors that shape how Berliners dress. Humana, a vintage store with over 20 locations in Berlin, is a staple in any neighborhood of the city. Berlin’s many Flohmärkte (flea markets) like Mauerpark offer yet another opportunity to uncover hidden gems, while the infamous Trendy Army Store on Skalitzer Straße remains fully stocked with the classic Bundeswehr GAT, a quintessentially German silhouette, better known as the shoe that inspired the Maison Margiela Replica.

Of course, each neighborhood very much has its own flavor, and the East-West dichotomy still exists to a lesser degree than it once did. Additionally, the city’s laissez-faire attitude means the city is a safe space, as Berliners and visitors alike are free to truly express themselves without judgment. On a night out in Berlin, creative expression isn’t just about black, leather, or even the clothes on your body. The city’s chaotic and free energy is a magnet for ravers, skateboarders, retirees, tourists, and students. All in all, this is what Berlin style means to me.