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Rosalia Romaniec, born in Poland, living in Germany since 1995
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A Short Discourse on Jean Sporters, Müsli types and Yuppies.
"Clothes Make the Man," runs the old proverb. If you believe that, you might feel somewhat confused in Germany. And especially if you come to Germany to study, you might be surprised to learn that many students in the "Land of Poets and Thinkers" lack the courage to be colorful or individualistic. The motto seems to be "stay inconspicuous, avoid being overdressed." It doesn't matter if it's a student party, an exam or a fellow student's wedding - you can't go wrong with a pair of jeans. At least that's what a lot of people seem to think and they act accordingly. Guests from Eastern Europe in particular would do well to remember this - German students don't tend to express their joy at the beginning or end of semester by dressing up. The tradition of wearing more formal clothes at examination time, which is still followed in many countries, is generally frowned upon. Germany's undergraduates place great emphasis in practicality in all things.
One common sartorial type in the German university landscape is the so-called "müsli type." The müsli type dress code is perhaps best described as understated. The color range stretches from a friendly camouflage-gray to black, or from beige to brown. It is essentialthat the material is a natural fiber. The name of the manufacturer is unimportant, with one vital exception - the ergonomically designed sandals must be Birkenstock. These healthy, shapeless shoes made of cork and leather have become the global signifier for the musli type. For the Müsli, clothes are an expression of their worldview, as are environmentally aware eating habits - cereals and pulses (hence müsli). Preferred means of transport are the bicycle, the bus and the train.
The opposite of the müsli type is the "schicki-micki," or yuppie - but this personality is a rare species at German universities. Schicki-mickis take their fashion very seriously. They only wear smart clothes and glittering accessories from well-known designers and are firmly convinced that "clothes make the man."
Rosalia Romaniec
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The fashion designer, Arrey Kono from Cameroon finds inspiration all over Berlin
A piece from Dw-tv "My Germany, how foreigners experience it" (German)
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