subscribe to style file blog via RSSkai kuhne’s berlin diary
July 22, 2008 2:49 pm
Thursday, July 17
I arrive in Berlin in the morning. Immediately upon checking into the hotel, we begin über-prepping the show. The conference room swiftly becomes our Berlin home and headquarters. As fittings begin, the run of show starts to take shape. In the evening, we go to my friend Jasmin’s bar, Anberg’s Bar du Jour in Mitte, and have sparkling Pimms Royale. Here we meet more friends, Ines from Bless and Gabriel, a member of the art collective Gelatine.
Friday, July 18
I rush off to my first engagement in Berlin, the Vanity Fair brunch held to celebrate Germany’s Best Dressed (for which I was a judge). To my excitement, I’m seated next to the winners, Iris Berben and actor hunk Clemens Schick. Iris is one of Germany’s most influential actresses. We talked about her work as ambassador to the Raum der Namen, the Room of Names. This is the room inside Berlin’s Holocaust monument that contains the names and numbers of the European Jews who died in Hitler’s Germany. The monument itself is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I have ever seen, designed by Daniel Libeskind (incidentally, I’m referencing his work in my upcoming collection). In the early evening I meet up with fellow New York designer Phillip Lim, at his Vogue reception at The Corner on Französische Strasse, which happens to be the city’s chicest shopping district.
Saturday, July 19
After a long, hyper-busy day preparing for the show, I dash to my suite to grab the golden ticket and seat assignment for “Fashion Star: Celebrating 20 Years of German Elle.” I get a photo with my fellow countryman Karl Lagerfeld, who won the Platinum award for lifetime achievement in fashion, presented to him by Claudia Schiffer. The charming and humble Raf Simons received an award for his current Jil Sander collection, touted as the best of the year. Other highlights of the night were the boys of 6267 and a performance by Texas and Annie Lennox.
Sunday, July 20
The always animated team Kühne manages to be all business the day of the show, which takes place at the Bebelplatz tent. An electric green Kai Kühne signature is projected on the stage, and a Radboy remix of the new Portishead machine gun provides the soundtrack. We choreographed the models so that two girls come out at a time, shadowing each other as they walk down the runway—this was to emphasize the complexity of my designs. The day was perfect and I was humbled to see all the people that came to support me.
After the show, we head to Luiza, where a friend is hosting a party for me. I’m covered with white gladiolas from IMG, which are eventually stolen by the gender-bending hostesses and all the cute girls who walked in the show. Then it’s on to Weekend, Berlin’s destination for pumping music and major dancing. I love Berlin!
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