Trinny and Susannah would love Germany

I think Trinny & Susannah would be in hogs heaven if they ever did a shoot in Germany. Mind you, they've pretty much labelled UK mens streetwear as consistenly going for the "thug" look.

I wonder if Trinny & Susannah's approach would even be popular in Germany though. I mean they're famed for being brash, straight-talking, no-nonsense fashion bullies. Hardly innovative attitudes in Germany, I guess...

You probably noticed these types of things when you first came to Germany, I guess because in the beginning you're super-aware of what's going on around you. But here's my funny list for your Friday:

1) Grown up men and women wearing jumpers and socks with fluffy bunnys/sheep motifs or 80's Kids TV presenter clothes.

2) The 1980's "Knight Rider" Leather Jacket with large collar/lapel- please somebody tell me how it is possible to buy such a thing nowadays

3) Wearing trousers which are clearly 5 inches too short so that you can see the socks (when standing)

4) The "orange" solarium tan as sported by the Prolle (usually in combination with full denim uniform / stonewash denim and an appearance on an RTL talkshow)

5) The 80's secretary look - blue mascara (!), curly perms, geometric jewellery in pastel shades (again, who sells this kind of stuff?)

6) Mustache Mania Duet- a fairly attractive woman accompanied by presumably a husband with a huge curly mustache (a la cirque du soleil "lion tamer" )

7) Everything InsanelyBright&Colourful Kids Apparel & Backpacks (there is such a thing as overdoing it with colours, even for kids)

8) Fur coats - as sported by packs of women trying (and failing) to look elegant when they take their Kaffee/Kuchen on a Sunday (especially near the Düsseldorf Kö) Time to get the red paint out and splatter it everywhere...

9) The scalped female bank-clerk look: Hairstyle cut insanely short (even for a man) then coiffed "Tin Tin" style and dyed an insanely unattractive red/orange colour

10) The opposite to the other 9 points. Especially in Köln - the "always styled" look for every occasion. Want to quickly throw on a jeans and a jumper, or some sweats and go down to the supermarket / nip into Kaufhof etc??? Good Luck with that! You must look immaculately dressed whatever the occasion, and you'll be scorned at / have store detectives follow you if you dare to break the rules.

11) The Winter dork: Wear one of those alice-band looking devices to keep your ears warm, and instantly look like Bill Gates

12) Key Chain dork: Procure a key chain with a fluffy brown bear/cuddly toy dangling at the end of it and attach onto your work jacket, briefcase, shoes, wallet anywhere where people can see it. Mix and match with point 1) above for maximum effect.

Well, hope that all gave you a giggle.

Very funny list! I agree with all your observations. Point 10 applies in Munich too; people in the city centre get totally dolled up just to pop into the Galeria Kaufhof to buy socks.

What I'd like to know: who told German men it was okay to wear brown shoes with a black suit? I see this around Munich all the time and it makes my skin crawl.

"Ashamed to be British" - thread


How do the people in Italy dress when they go shopping?

I'm guessing you're British, where grey is the norm and dark green is considered radical. You can always spot a group of British guys visiting BMW, their clothing is so dull!

I must admit flying out of chicago near christmas time on a flight back to LHR the cloths some people were wearing was astounding and sometimes downright scary. I must admit I prefer the german sandals and socks to the british alternatives.

Agree. Whenever I go to London Im amazed at how many people there wear suits. A lot of them cheap shabby drab looking ones at that. Some of the German sense of style is a bit odd, like green, yellow or purple jackets and stuff, but Id rather have a bit of colour than everyone looking like Mr Grey.

@AnswerToLife42 : To the nines. including a burst of perfume/cologne which can be smelled in the apartment for an hour after you've left and come back.

I only go back once or twice a year now, but I always know Im the the UK when

1) I see my first overweight half-naked teenage girl with muffin tops, mini skirt and open sandals no tights when its December (This usually happens waiting for the transit at Stansted)
2) All the blokes wear identical replica sports kit during the day and identical short-sleeved checked shirts in shades of blue in the evening
3) Noone wears a coat unless its a caramel coloured business coat or a dingy hooded monstrosity used to hide stolen goods/firearms/drugs
4) All the girls/women have those straightened bi-colour haircuts that look like Atomic Kitten five years ago regardless of age, height and width.
5) people think its ok to wear shell suits in public

I never understand how you can see clothes on the Kings Road /around Neal street /lots of other funky places that the best German designer wouldnt even dream of, yet your average Joe/Jane looks such a lump.

Of course, I know Im back in Germany when

1) Birkenstocks with (or without) socks
2) Loon pants on both sexes
3) Fur coats
4) Business ties with Looney Tunes or Simpsons cartoon characters
5) VOKUHILA(OLIBA) (aka mullet (with 'tache))
6) 80s geometric-patterned pastel coloured knitwear
7) Union Jacks on everything (particularly accompanied with printing saying "Mod revival 1976" or, as a T-shirt of mine says "Rebel Cnion"[sic])
8) Exact copies of 1977 punk-wear including painstakingly hand-painted of logos of bands that broke up 25 years ago worn by 16 year-olds (and/or extraodinarily clean heavy-metal denim cut-offs with patches neatly sewn on by mummy).

andy M

Don't even get me started on UK Charver-wear, and dads dressing their kids in matching football kits and buzz cuts:-)

[img]http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/img/brucedarnell_neu.jpg[/img]
Bruce Darnell is apparently going to be doing a style makeover show in Germany. http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/info.asp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er2OHsOwMMQ

Now I'll have to be having a look at that. Although a show with Brendan Courtney would be even better. Me and Brendan discussing fashion tips over coffee in a nice Dublin 4 property (melt)