Berlin Fashion Week: Marcel Ostertag Brings the Seventies Back to Life
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Did you follow the Paris Fashion Week with Isabelle Huppert strutting (or rather gliding slowly) for Balenciaga? Well, in Berlin, it’s the complete opposite: no dawdling here, we walk, and we walk fast, to the beat of techno and 90’s pop (yes, it’s still Berlin).
Buckle up: let’s dive into the recap of the rocket-like show by Marcel Ostertag, who presented his Paradise collection at the Uber Arena in Berlin on July 2nd. It was a reflection of his image — tolerant, sexy, intergenerational, all infused with the power flower vibe of the seventies.
The Flowers
One of my favorite outfits. The little shorts with high socks, the shiny shoes, the little side part reminiscent of Superman, and the seventies sunglasses. All the details in this summery, powerful and sexy look perfectly embody the DNA of the label.
But what makes this silhouette truly special are the flowers. Embroidered, printed, or stylized in a vintage tapestry way, they shake up the codes of classic masculinity. At Marcel Ostertag, the flower has no gender; it represents freedom, embraced softness, and fluidity between genders. And when it graces a masculine outfit worn with confidence, it becomes a symbol of sensuality. A way of saying that one can be strong and floral, proud and sensitive. In short, 100% Paradise.
Bell Bottoms and Flair
No way to draw inspiration from the seventies without bell bottoms! Marcel Ostertag reinterprets this classic with a lace men’s pant, open on the sides.
What I love about him is that he fully commits to his ideas: lace, bell bottoms, blonde bleaching, sunglasses… nothing is left to chance, and nothing is done halfway. And while ruffles are more prominent on women’s silhouettes, gender clearly has no boundaries in this new collection. Male models proudly strut in open lace pants, never losing an ounce of their masculinity — quite the opposite!
The Ruffles
Ruffles are a bit of a trademark for Marcel Ostertag. Used on lace dresses, they further accentuate the femininity of the pieces, beautifully dressing the summer dresses of this new collection, and above all… they soar like butterflies on the runway, carried by the swift strides of the models.
These baroque-rock looks are the signature of Marcel Ostertag, that little twist that sets him apart from other designers. Personally, I feel he has something of a modern Marie Antoinette: a slightly crazy creative spirit, a passion for the baroque, and a bold love for ostentatious aesthetics.
The Hot Superman Look
This look is probably not called that, but between the outfit, the glasses, and the hairstyle, I can’t help but think of Clark Kent (The 1990s Superman version: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman). I love these masculine silhouettes in shorts and high socks, not to mention THE killer detail: the bow tie. From a distance, the pattern resembles paisley, but upon closer inspection, it looks more like fine tapestry with embroidered flowers.
Leather, Dangerous and Sexy
Well, here we admit it, it feels more Charles Manson than flower power, but that’s also the paradox of the seventies, it was a time when anything was possible, including total nonsense — I wasn’t there, though.
After the 70s, comes… the 90s (sorry millennials, we’ll pass on the 1980s!). Welcome to a more raw, more provocative decade. The nineties reveal themselves more violently. The world has changed, technology has taken flight, and the nineties rage that emerged after the fall of the Berlin Wall is clearly felt. In Berlin, techno pulses, and punk aesthetics become a cry of the people.
History is never far in art, and among Berlin designers, visual aesthetics are always embedded in their personal journeys.
Upcycling
With 70% of the fabrics sourced from deadstock (unused fabric stocks), Marcel Ostertag is a designer known for his eco-responsible collections.
Upcycling is a bit of his signature. He transforms the old into desirable, scraps into treasures, and breathes new life into forgotten materials.
The Final Word
In short, we loved Marcel Ostertag’s “Paradise” collection at Berlin Fashion Week 2025. We braved the only day of heatwave in the country to see him, and we were absolutely right to do so!
As always, we leave feeling energized, wanting to party (he’s not Berlin for nothing).
But this collection is primarily a love letter to women, an invitation to explore identity and gender, all with a sustainable approach.
With references to baroque, the seventies, and the pop culture of 90s raves, Marcel Ostertag presents a rich, provocative collection that revives an aesthetic we all love — whether we experienced the seventies or nineties… or not!
Featured Image: Marcel Ostertag, Matt Jelonek
