Survive the Summer: What (Not) to Wear

When it's 38C with no A/C, your skinny jeans will make you want to throw yourself in the Spree

Photo by lo lindo on Unsplash

It has actually been colder and rainier than normal in Berlin this summer. But we have had a few days where the temps climbed up in the high 30sC (30C = 86F, remember).

But as I’ve been getting back into the habit of ‘kipping’ the windows in the morning, but remembering to close them before noon (more on that later) - I’m also reminded how different my summer wardrobe in Germany is from what I used to wear.

Back in the States, my summer wardrobe consisted of long t-shirts over leggings or jeans and a tank top. It took one July week in Berlin for me to realize that wouldn’t work here.

And it’s not that I wasn’t used to the heat — or the humidity. I was born in the southeastern U.S., when to college in Alabama, and spent most of the previous two decades in Atlanta. Triple Fahrenheit digits are a regular occurrence.

The difference? Air conditioning. Most homes and cars and virtually all businesses there have it. And, like most Americans, I spent the bulk of my day transiting between my air-conditioned home, and driving in my air-conditioned car to whatever air-conditioned destination was on the schedule for the day.

(Yes, we ventured outdoors to the pool and park, too. But usually only for small amounts of time and not in the heat of the day.)

Cut to our move here:

No A/C.

I think some shopping malls have it? That’s it.

And, we no longer have a car. There’s excellent public transportation. (And that can be its own particular circle of hell on hot days.¹) We make good use of it.

But there’s no point in waiting 10 minutes for a tram (which does have nominal, spotty-on-its-good-days air-conditioning) when the pharmacy, supermarket, or restaurant is only a six-minute walk away.

We walk to where we need to be a lot more than we did before.

Have I mentioned that Berlin is a literal swamp?

Located at the confluence of three rivers — the Spree, Havel, and the Dahme — and numerous smaller streams, tributaries and lakes — the natural geography of the city is a low wetland.

The city’s name is even thought to have been derived from an old Slavic word for swamp.

In short, summer days feel like one giant steam bath when the mercury rises. This is the natural enemy of form-fitting cotton or anything containing lycra.

It’s important to dress appropriately.

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Here’s my personal style guide.

1. Wear loose-fitting clothes

   It didn’t take me long to ditch the skinny jeans and leggings for looser styles. My summer wardrobe now is 90 percent maxi skirt, maxi dress, or wide-leg linen pants, topped with cotton shirts and blouses. Nothing too tight that traps heat against you.

2. Choose natural fabrics

   Light cotton or linen is the go-to. These fabrics let your skin breath, while synthetic fabrics will trap moisture against your skin.

3. Sweat happens

   You’re going to sweat - just be prepared. Wear breathable fabrics (above) or fabrics that wick moisture from your skin. Invest in some decent deodorant. (FWIW, I have not found the eco-friendly, aluminium-free ones very useful.) Also, use some kind of barrier cream or powder to prevent chafing in any areas that are at risk. IFYKYK.

Because the winters here are so long and so dark, Berliners spend most of their summer outdoors soaking up the sun.

Whether it’s dining al fresco, hitting up one of the many ‘freiluft Kino’ (open-air cinemas), open-air dance clubs, or hanging by the lake, you don’t want to miss out on the fun. And you don’t want to be miserable.

Of course, there’s also the time-honored German tradition of wearing no clothes at all, but that’s a post for another day.

As for what style you should wear, I am not the person to ask. You can check out the vloggers below for a start.

Berlin summer fashion tips

GRWM from Yok

Berlin summer outfits from Alexandra at My Slow World

1. Newer S-Bahn and U-bahn trains, as well as trams and busses have some air-conditioning. But many trains still use the older cars without it. And, crowds of sweaty people with varied bathing habits makes the S Bahn a real adventure come
August.