Fashion/lifestyle

The city’s new centre is heaving with oh-so-hot fashion and the people who design, wear and sell it (who are also those who party till dawn, so enjoy that extra ’tail at Bebel, and start this itin after noon)

Take the U-bahn to Rosa-luxemburg-platz to kick off this voyage of hip at the cnr of Rosa-luxemburg-str. (R-L-STR.) and Almstadtstr. for Pro Qm at #48 Almstadtstr. (see Stand. Stores) to find outré tomes and mags on design, art and archi. Skip out left then take the next left into Hirtenstr. Totter down to meet R-L-STR., and cross it for local sweetie Rike Feurstein at #28 / 922 596 69 / rikefeurstein.com / candyhued hats in classic silhouettes; and cult, bio skincare and fragrances by Julisis, Nasengold et al. at Breathe / 243 425 77 / two doors down. Exit left for racy, lacy knicks n’ underthings at #22 Blush / 280 935 80, across the street is Trüffelschwein / 702 212 25 / with gear for the utilitarianprep hybrid man. Shuffle on down, passing Lux 11 (see Accom.) with Beate Kahlcke’s Aveda Hairspa / 280 919 18, and alpine Italian eats at casj-chic Luchs / 247 816 56, before arriving at Ulf Haines / #9 / 747 865 77 / for global fashion forward gear (m/w). Opp. is Cash at #11, a tiny cache of high-end vintage garb. Exit left and follow the street round the corner of Memhardstr. and R-L-STR., where there’s a big, empty, white shopfront – that’s Apartment / Memhardstr. 8 / 280 422 51 / apartmentberlin.de. Enter and take the spiral stairs down to one of the city’s forefathers of edgy multilabel retail. Climb out, cross Memhardstr. and continue down R-L-STR. for handmade metal and cellulose eyewear at Berlin brand Mykita at #6 / 673 087 15 / mykita.com. Exit right, cross the street and make a left onto Münzstr., then twirl right into Almstadtstr. where you’ll find Oliv at #8 on the cnr for a latte, then on the left at #1 is AM Magazin, the womenswear outlet of concept-store mastermind Andreas Murkudis stocking off-season Céline, Margiela etc. Pop next door for Esther Perbandt at #3 / 885 367 91 / estherperbandt.com / with structured avant-garde cuts in black, grey and white, then carry on to #7 for local designers Tiedeken / 240 473 80 / and Rob-ert / 240 473 83 / rob-ert.com / who share the space, the former offering relaxed threads with unconventional twists, and the latter sophisty fem angles. Exit right, back to Münzstr., cross the street and turn right, then left at Rochstr., for Cinque at #1 on the right / 280 999 99 / a German love affair with Italian style (m/w); a few doors down is cosy little Lebensmittel in Mitte at #2 / 275 961 30 / closed Sun / for South Deutschland comfort eats that has the kool kids cooing. Carry on down the street for Wood Wood at #4 / 280 478 77 / funky t-shirts, skinny jeans and floral-print ankle boots, then cross and pay a visit to No. 8 Store at #18 / 818 083 00 / with its rows of party-ready sandals and calfskin boots (m/w). Exit right, then left back on Münzstr., and left again into the courtyard at #21, where Andrea Murkudis’ / andreasmurkudis.net / Balenciaga-stuffed menswear boutique is stylishly tucked away. Zip back out to the street, turn left and at the junction, pivot right to cross Münzstr. and go straight up Alte Schönhauser Str. On the right, inside the courtyard at #33/34 is Wax in the City (see Spa). / cont’d

At #35, Broke + Schön’s / 510 559 13 / on-trend hipster cache (w) awaits, and if you’ve made a booking, pop to #46 and note soup-er Monsieur Vuong (see Lunch). Dash opp. for vintage-inspired tweed suits (m/w) by Herr von Eden at #14 / 240 486 82, then exit left and gallop into Filippa K / 240 487 78 / on the cnr of Mulackstr. for urban threads in clean, Swedish lines. Tuck a left coming out, down Mulackstr. and sample splendiferous green tea cheesecake at #33 Mamecha / 288 842 64 / mamecha.com. Exit right, then twirl into the courtyard at #37 for Das Neue Schwartz / 278 744 67, a treasure trove of vintage label m/w togs plus décor and collectibles. Back out onto the street, cross to the left for airy fairy candyfloss threads at #7 Lala / 257 629 24 / cnr Rückerstr., daring m/w knits from pioneer Claudia Skoda at #8 / 400 418 84, homegrown designers at #12 Baerck / 240 489 94, and dainty stationery stop RSVP at #14 / 280 946 44. Cross back over for fashion forward glamwear at #26 C’est Tout / 275 955 30, and edgy womenswear at #28 Schwartzhogerzeil / 288 738 68. Almost done! Potter on, then hang a left into Gormannstr. to find styley leather bags and cute baubles at #8-9 Hecking / 280 475 28 / closed Tue, then cont. to meet Steinstr. and turn left for arty minimal gear (m/w) at #26 YUU / 537 993 93 / on the right. So hungry you could eat your own handbag, lightly grilled and tossed in a salad? At the end of the street, say hallo to Alte Schönhauser Str. again, cross it and turn left, bounding back into M. Vuong’s open arms. Pho-ry good!