Shopping in Berlin

While admiring the clothes in Galeries Lafayette, sticker shock combined with a you-got-to-be-kidding exchange rate, prevented me from actually buying the gorgeous navy blue jacket that hung on my arm.    I put it back and went downstairs to the food court.  Chocolate, brie and a delicious baquette made me forget all about the euro-dollar ratio.  Luckily, a few blocks down on Friedrichstrasse, I found a Tandem Outlet and bought Mimi the embroidered brown tunic she's wearing.

By far my best shopping experience in Berlin was the charming little basement shop on Linienstrasse called Sommerladen.  The shop sells vintage and gently used designer clothes.  I tried on several pieces, but fell in love with a black silk tunic.  It had a lovely neckline and split short sleeves.  It scooped lower in the back than the front and I immediately recognized the endless possibilities.  The sales associate told me it was made by a local designer, Michael Michalsky and she continued to rave about his work.  He started his own label in 2006 after working for Levi and Adidas.  He worked with Yohji Yamamoto creating the Y3 line, and then I understood why I was so drawn to it.  It has that urban sophistication and edgy simplicity that I adore.  She walked me around the store showing me other Michalsky pieces and I almost (almost!) bought a pair of olive green suede boots.  I have no doubt they are now long gone!

I swear 90% of the men and women in Berlin were wearing scarves.  I felt naked not having one around my neck.  I couldn't believe I didn't pack one.

"Yeah, yeah.  You did that on purpose," Mimi commented, winking.

"What do you mean?"

"It gave you an excuse to go shopping."

"Mimi.  Really.  Since when do I need a reason to go shopping?"

However, it was damn cold (at least for a Californian like me).  I understood why people in this part of the world made the scarf an essential part of their wardrobe.  It's a necessity!  I ended up buying two.

A cotton one in Berlin, and . . .

a wool one in the Czech Republic where it was even colder that week!  I wore them everyday.