Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

Along with being Reader in Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Bristol, Chris Bertram is part of the popular Crooked Timber blogging combine. A recent assignment brought him to Bavaria and led to this observation:

I'm back from a few days in Munich, which I'd recommend as excellent value to visit. (I suspect there's an oversupply of hotel rooms in advance of next summer's world cup.) It rained nearly the whole time I was there, but that didn't stop me from visiting some excellent art galleries... All of which brings me on to a less flattering observation on Germany and the Germans, namely, that the Germans may well be the worst dressed of the major industrial nations. Admittedly, the competition is stiff from us British and from the Americans, but I think the Germans may win on grounds of sheer uniformity. It is possible to sit and watch a string of people of all ages and sizes walk past all dressed as follows: dark denim jeans, dark denim jacket, trainers (sneakers). The monotony is hardly broken by the occasional deviant who leaves the denim jacket behind for a regulation black leather one."

Bertram's post has provoked some very funny and informative comments, including: "Yes, Germans tend to dress rather boringly, mostly with an emphasis on solid-looking standard clothes. There's definitively greater variety in America and Britain (where I, as a German, have been living for the past couple of years). Also, you're right that Americans and Britons, especially in the 14-35 years bracket, tend to go for sexier outfits." Rainy Day suggests that Chris Bertram should return to Munich in a month to see the gear that people don for the autumn/winter season (October to May). A grey-green felt (!) uniform appears from the cellars and is worn by almost all pensioners and some younger persons who feel compelled to express their colourful Bavarianness. The outfit is completed with a snarling dachshund at the end of a short lead.