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EXBERLINER MAGAZINE

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Berlin’s corset look: primping the prostitute way

With Berlin Fashion Week currently in full swing, Sarah Giblin from Exberliner Magazine examines a style particular to the German capital’s prostitutes: the corset look.

Berlin's corset look: primping the prostitute way
Photo: DPA

Hovering between cars or striding down their very own outdoor catwalk, the prostitutes on Berlin’s Oranienburger Straße have a dress code you can’t fail to recognise.

On top, long platinum locks cascade over a tightly-laced torso: in these cold winter months, the corset collapses the layers of unexpected puffer jackets and sweatshirts into a trim waistline. The bottom half features spectacular, gleaming PVC boots, laced, zipped, or pulled up above the knee to lift the wearer a good seven inches (17.8cm) off the ground. And don’t forget the umbrella, fake fur accessories and trusty bum bag. You know what it means: sex for sale. At its cheapest, the whole look costs about €400. And, for German prostitutes, it’s all tax deductible. In full dress, they are as recognisable as the police, if not more so.

Dr. Julia Bertschick at the Freie Universität notes that clothing is not necessarily fashion: “You can see the corset and boots that the girls along Oranienburger Straße wear as a uniform, rather than fashion. This clothing very practically signifies who they are and what they do for a living.”

Although this “uniform of prostitution” is not a formal one – the women are free to choose – it can’t be pure chance that the Oranienburger Straße street walkers adopt the same array of corsets and boots. So why does the corset so clearly signal prostitution? Dr. Valerie Steele is director of the museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. As the author of the definitive book about the cultural history of the corset, she thinks this particular style is special to Berlin: “Prostitutes across the world do not normally go for this look. The corset does have sexual connotations, but mostly in fetish wear.”

In Steele’s opinion the “obvious prostitute” on Oranienburger Straße belongs to “just another Berlin phenomenon” since the city “has always been in its own little fashion bubble, doing whatever it wants – and now it’s at it again.”

She is convinced that this clothing trend says more about the city than about prostitution. “The corset is associated more with lingerie dominatrix wear than prostitution: Berlin must have a taste for the fetish and dominatrix culture.”

Steele adds that while it may be difficult to see why corsets are a feature at this particular point and time, there are classic reasons why they are considered sexy. “It’s simple: the corset lifts the breasts, and tightens the waist.”

Essentially, it creates a sexual caricature of the female form. It introduces ideas of an erect and powerful woman, which plays on the idea of the dominatrix – apparently a normal phenomenon in naughty Berlin!

Late night fashion talk with a Berlin prostitute – 2:30am on Oranienburger Straße, 1°C

A cold and quiet night. One woman weaves between the cars, dressed in white and eating a hamburger. She might be 23 – blonde, slim and stunning.

Exberliner: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about fashion?

Berlin working girl: Fashion? (One eyebrow raised.)

Exberliner: I’m writing about how important clothing is in prostitution.

BWG: (Smiling.) Ok. Why not? (At this point, she spots some people coming. Excusing herself, she swans out into the pavement, but returns saying “Oh no, it’s fine. He’s got a woman with him.”) What did you want to know?

Exberliner: Do you wear a corset out of choice or because it’s your uniform?

BWG: Oh no, there’s no uniform. When I first started working, I just got tips from the other girls. I wear mine because it helps me to maintain my posture while standing around all night. It’s warmer as well, which is really practical during the winter. And, of course, the men like it.

Exberliner: So you buy them yourself, they’re not provided for you. Are they expensive?

BWG: That’s right. We don’t have to wear them. They cost between €60 and €80, which I suppose is expensive. But it’s all tax deductible, so it’s worth it overall.

Exberliner: Is this the only one you have?

BWG: No, I’ve got a few different ones: this white one, the same in black and a gold one. That one cost a bit more and I wish I hadn’t bought it. It’s good to stand out a little, but not too much. I generally wear this one: the white catches people’s eyes in the dark.

Exberliner: How many layers are you wearing tonight?

BWG: I wrap up like an onion! So I’ve got the coat, two sweatshirts, two T-shirts, a vest and the corset on top. It seems to do the job.

Exberliner: So the corset is actually practical. What about the boots [which are laced, immaculate white PVC with 7inch heels]?

BWG: These are more practical than you’d think. When I started working here, I wore flat boots. But within 20 minutes your feet are minus two degrees, like the ground. So it’s actually better to be a couple of inches away from it. You get used to these kinds of boots. After a while you build up calluses on your feet and they become easy to wear. Really!

Click here for more from Berlin’s leading monthly magazine in English.

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EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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