We know all about NY, London, Milan and Paris. We’ve even become more familiar with fashion weeks around the work in Sydney, Australia; Mumbai and Delhi in India, and Mexico City. But Berlin Fashion Week is only three seasons old – but is getting a boost right now as it goes on over four days in Berlin’s Bebelplatz from visiting designer Vivienne Westwood, and from a smattering of stars who are in Europe on vacation, such as the ubiquitous Kim Cattrall (who must be cashing in big time with all her public appearances of late), Mischa Barton, Rupert Everett, and German actor Udo Kier. Even a few Euro supermodels, such as Luca Gadjus, are walking the Berlin catwalks – and Hugo Boss, a German label, showed in its hometown.
Westwood showed her spring/summer 08 collection of the Anglomania line – based on the ancient Greeks, it’s full of jersey column dresses with touches of fifties couture in suits. But the real stand out collection – very Christian LaCroix – was that of four year old like Basso & Brooke. Christopher Brooke is a Brit, and a graduate of London’s Central St. Martin design school (the clothes are very Galliano inspired, who is all a graduate of the school, as well as Alexander McQueen.) The clothes were not dark and Germanic at all – but filled with wild print, color – albeit with lots of black thrown in. It IS Berlin, after all. We think Sally Bowles would approve – and actually, look good in these clothes. – Merle Ginsberg
