Since my ancestors hail from Germany (well, some of them; I’m a complete American mutt), I experienced a sense of pride coming to Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week, where designers were showing their Spring/Summer 2010 collections a full two months before the same season starts in New York. Yes, we are an organized, responsible people. The re-launch of Boss Orange on Thursday night was my first show, and while the venue was miles away, the provided transportation was meager, and the publicists at the door were very far from friendly, the collection had some peppy elements, like his-and-her denim and cute T-shirts with sequined ball skirts, not to mention a front row that included VIPs Sienna Miller and Adrien Brody, the latter of whom was working a tight cardigan with nothing underneath but a bandanna. On Friday afternoon, Peek & Cloppenburg Düsseldorf’s Designer for Tomorrow presentation—Germany’s answer to Project Runway—showcased eight finalists from a pool of more than 150 applicants and proved that Berlin is a city to keep an eye on. Later that night, you couldn’t help but keep an eye on the Michalsky show. What the clothes lacked in originality, the theatricality of the production more than made up for: Designer Michael Michalsky set up a Broadway-worthy stage complete with upside-down cars and a runway with a moat. I put on my tourist hat to see Knut the famous baby polar bear at the Berlin Zoo. Sadly, Knut ain’t a baby anymore, nor is he as cute, but a young elephant called Ko Raya, who has taken up residence at the zoo, fits that description. The highlight of the week, though, was seeing the legendary Veruschka at Kai Kühne. She looked severely chic (or chicly severe) in a full-body jersey thing, which had a turtleneck that rolled up rather fittingly into a dramatic hood.

Post from: Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog

Blasblog From Germany: Veruschka Represents At Berlin Fashion Week

©2012 Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog. All Rights Reserved.

When Julia Stegner replaced local lovely Eva Padberg as the face of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin, she catapulted the showcase for German fashion from an insular national event to one with global appeal. The Munich-born supermodel’s coltish good looks have landed her on Victoria’s Secret runways as well as on the covers of many international editions of Vogue. Here, we catch up with Stegner during her afternoon on the clock.
 

1 p.m.

After a day and a half spent getting to know her best friend’s newborn, hunting for an investment-worthy Berlin apartment, and shopping in Mitte, Stegner begins to greet journalists in her room at the Hotel de Rome, next to the Bebelplatz main show tent.
 

1:30 p.m.

Stegner selects a pair of black Margiela wedges that she acquired over a year ago, misplaced, relocated, and is wearing for the first time for her upcoming roster of television interviews.
 

1:32 p.m.

While prepping, Stegner discusses her role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. “I always had a good life. I have great parents and a great family. Then I started at this job when I was 15 and I have been so fortunate to be really successful. I realized that I really want to help people less fortunate. Whatever my problems might be, they are nothing compared to those of people out there.”
 

2 p.m.

Stegner fields questions about the German economy, the career prospects for the winner of the country’s Next Topmodel contest, and Berlin’s viability as a fashion capital. “Everyone is looking to Berlin now,” she says. “I love Munich, because it is my home. It is very clean and people are very straight. But they are a little, well, I guess people elsewhere would think that people from Munich are a bit snobbish. Berlin, however, has a very open and hopeful energy.”
 

4 p.m.

Stegner attends a catwalk show by Argentine designer Pablo Ramírez. A preening television star in see-through stacked stilettos and pinup shorts becomes petulant when Stegner enters the room and the photographers immediately reposition themselves. “Well, she is taller,” the starlet mutters to console herself.
 

4:45 p.m.

Stegner sits front-row at South Africa’s Black Coffee show, in which each model meets the preceding one midway up the catwalk to tie the final bow of her draped and beaded silk cape or dress. “It was like modern dance or theater,” said Stegner. “At first, I was confused, but then I loved it. Berlin is such a creative city. These things happen here.”
 

And with that, she’s on a plane back to New York for another photo shoot in the morning.

Post from: Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog

A Day In The Life: Julia Stegner

©2012 Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog. All Rights Reserved.