How To Get In Anywhere

Last March I found myself stepping out into 40-degree weather wearing nothing more than a bra-length top, 5-inch long black leather shorts, and a fitted black leather jacket, not meant for warmth but style. My hair was slicked back with gel and I wore a red lip I would never think of wearing in New York. But this was Berlin, and in Berlin, you were required to meet a certain level of edginess to enter some of the most famous nightclubs. In the city known for inclusivity and progressiveness, if you weren’t dressed the part, you would never see the doom and glory of Berghain or Kit Kat Club. Each city has its own set of rules, and if you’re there to have a good time, you best follow them. This isn’t to say you should dress the same as everyone else, but if in Paris they require women to wear a pair of heels and men a pair of dress shoes, then you better slap on a pair. London, New York, Berlin, and Paris, all live by a different set of rules, but in this guide, I’ll share some locals-only knowledge of night out dressing so you’re prepared for your travels. 

New York: 

I'll admit I'm entirely biased in thinking New York has the best style of any city I've been to. As a born and raised New Yorker, I feel like trends hit New York first before the rest of the world picks up on it. If you're ever at a loss for what to wear, sit outside your favorite coffee shop for a half hour and you'll find an interesting new combination you would never think to put together. Like all cities, trends have come and gone. A year and a half ago, you couldn't walk into a club without seeing twenty people wearing sunglasses like it was a bright day outside. In one phrase, New York's nightlife style can be described as streetwear. Short tight dresses are rare and heels are even rarer. Most men are wearing a stylish sneaker and hoodie combination, and women wear tall boots, sparkly tops, leather, and really whatever they want. 

In recent years, the go-to going-out uniform has been some kind of wide-legged pants, maybe a cargo pant or a destroyed pair of jeans, and a cool embroidered jacket. New Yorkers are notorious for pairing thrifted pieces like an early 2000s pair of True Religion jeans with a $2000 designer bag. Maximalism is not expected but accepted and colors of all shades and tones are allowed. Compared to other cities, New York is casual, and you can find yourself in any club you want wearing just jeans and a hoodie as long as you make it look "cool." 

Paris: 

Paris is notorious for their, let's say, unfriendly demeanor, specifically toward Americans. However, one easy way to win the Parisian’s favor is to both speak the part and dress the part. Culturally, language is important to the French, so knowing a few key phrases will go a long way. Even if you stumble over your words or give a non-coherent sentence, an attempt at speaking French will be greatly appreciated. Bonjour to say hello, Au revoir to say goodbye, and Je voudrais un verre de vin blanc to say I would like a glass of white wine. That being said, Parisians are not much different than New Yorkers. If you've survived New York, you'll be just fine. 

Now onto the dress - nightlife dress code aside, you will never see "sportswear" in Paris. Not baseball caps, leggings, or workout sneakers, and if you do see sneakers, they are probably white, leather, and clean. At night there is an unspoken code that heels rule. All women are expected to wear heels, but boots with heels work too. Men typically wear loafer or leather dress shoes. In my own experience, Paris can best be described as "chic business casual" at all times of the day. Black is the most common color worn, and everyone seems to own a pair of tailored trousers, men and women. Blazers for men are not uncommon, but crop tops for women are. In general, it seems as if everyone sticks to a neutral color palette of black, white, camel, and navy, but at night, black dominates. 

Berlin: 

I'll admit that as soon as I touched down in Berlin I went straight to the thrift stores. Not only did I know my closet wasn't fit for the nights I had ahead of me, but I was warned by a friend that the way to dress as a local is to check out their stores. Immediately I found a fitted leather jacket in perfect condition. It was shaped like a blazer with a zipper up the middle and since then it has been my most worn jacket. Among my friends' finds were sheer black shirts, black lace shirts, and leather pants. When we stepped out at night, there was not a hint of color, except for maybe a touch of red. 

The overall aesthetic of Berlin both daytime and night time is somewhere between gothic and raver. Chunky black boots are typical and also necessary for comfort. Oftentimes you may see a high platform bootie or a platform sneaker (lots of Alexander McQueen Tread Slick's), and in my experience, it was not uncommon for people to shed clothes throughout the night. While dancing to the techno that seems to play in every club there, you may see shirtless men and women attempting to fight the heat. Don't let this scare you, though. Berlin is a highly non-judgmental place both daytime and nighttime. There is no expectation for you to shed your clothes too, and their clubs are arguably some of the safest environments I've been in.

London: 

It feels as if people move between London and New York as if the cities are next-door neighbors. Constantly, I meet people who have just moved from London or who want to move to London, and I think it's because the two cities are so similar. Daytime it's easier to distinguish who's a tourist and who's a local, as Londoners are typically dressed cleaner, with simple silhouettes, slicked-back hair, and neutral colors. Most of the women look fresh out of a The Row campaign; however, out at night, the lines between New York and London blur. 

There's no real color or style that's off-limits in London. Even at the most exclusive clubs, there's a level of casualness to the dress code, although I would stay away from blue jeans and sneakers. Here, individual style is appreciated, and taking risks will work out in your favor. A difference I noted, however, was in the coats. In New York, most men and women throw on oversized leather jackets - likely from a thrift store - or bomber jackets. In London, the sophisticated style of the daytime persists at night. While waiting to get in somewhere you'll see shin-length wool coats in black or camel, covering whatever it is the Londoner is wearing underneath. 

Do I think any of us should change our style based on what others want from us? No. But sometimes it's nice to know exactly what to expect of locals when traveling so you can remove yourself from the tourist stereotype and instead act like you live in the city. There are plenty of ways to take the basic outline of a local uniform and make it your own. And sometimes, it's fun to cosplay as someone else.