Having had press credentials for the last fashion week in NYC I was on IMG’s mailing list and received an email about upcoming fashion week in Berlin. I had no idea Berlin had a fashion week – I mentioned this to a friend who does freelance work for AP, Reuters and a few other places and she secured me some work. So now I had an extra reason to go. Other than the obvious that Berlin has become one of those creative meccas you always here about but are a little suspicious as to whether or not they exist.
So Berlin Fashion Week 2010 is my time to find out! And I thought I’d share it with you.

I arrived with my friend Karen who is also attending fashion week and find our apartment in the Prenzlauerberg section of Berlin. It’s light and airy and adorable –other than the fact that it’s on the 4th floor of a walk up building. (somehow the Craigslist ad didn’t mention this and we didn’t think to ask!)
Walking around getting acclimated my first day I’m struck by how beautiful the mix of the old buildings, grafitti, and flowers and trees is. Here when there is a tree between the sidewalk and the street the square of grass beneath it is left alone: long, unkempt, full of wild flowers and weeds that creep up between the neighboring cobblestones as well –how unlike the States where everything is always manicured.
The other thing that I notice is that it seems remarkably quiet for such a large city: tons of public transportation = less car traffic = more quiet I quickly realized. There is also a laid back vibe that is almost jolting in its contrast to New York. People don’t walk down the streets with their thumbs on their crackberries. In fact I have begun to pay attention and see none of the *“status texting” which is de rigueur in New York.
But on to fashion week! First of all it’s not technically a week: it’s 4 days starting on Wednesday.  Since most of the designers/labels are ones I’m unfamiliar with I did a little research ahead of time. For the most part I’m going to 2 fashion shows a day along with receptions and parties. Because I mostly like to see street style, attending the shows is less critical for me. Also I want to make sure that I have time to see some friends who live in Berlin and I don’t burn out like I did during last fashion week in NYC.

So my schedule thus far looks like:

Day 0
Opening Party at ProjektGalerie
Day 1
Marcel Ostertag Show
Franzius@KONK
WESC Party
Day 2
Anja Gockel Show
Depesha Press Reception
Lala Berlin Show
Reception “Call Her Name”
Custo Barcelona Show
Drinks with friends who live in Berlin
Day 3
Michael Sontag Show
Guido Maria Kretschmer Show + After Party
Je Suis Belle Show + After Party
Day 4
Kaviar Gauche Show
Deanoor Fashion Show
Kai Kuhne Fashion Show + After Party
 

*status txting – my term for when people stand somewhere or walk extremely slowly while texting and not pay attention to their surroundings implying that what they are doing is too important –or texting while in the movie theater like a woman sitting next to me last week at a special screening!