Gridskipper

Spring is in the air, which means drab winter wear ought to be properly stored away. Pretty pastels in breathable fabrics are the essence of this time of year, as are sweet berries, crisp greens, and a fabulous pair of Romanesque sandals. And so, to help you shed the old and bring in the new, I've scoured east and west for the snazziest shops in Berlin. Whether you've a penchant for Tokyo's youth culture or for Sex in the City, there's something here for everyone. Happy spring shopping.

Eva Niemand
Knaackstrasse 45, 10435
Eva Niemand's deceptively simple jewelry designs are altogether irresistible. What she can do with aquamarine and ruby is both seductive and elegant. Her pearl necklaces are exquisite enough to be mistaken for heirlooms. Sadly, her most divine pieces are not on her website. Visit her shop and see if you're not tempted to own anything by this highly proficient goldsmith.

Filippa K
Alte Schoenhauser Strasse 11, 101019
Swedish designer Filippa Knuston deserves all the buzz she is receiving. Her current collection is so clean-cut, understated, and alas, Scandinavian, I am left coveting just about every item in her charming Berlin shop. To wear a Filippa K dress is to feel both dashing and poker-faced. Think Audrey Hepburn in the opening scene of Stanley Donen's Charade. The best part about her designs is that you don't have to be a six-foot Scandinavian goddess to look fabulous.

Starbeit
Danziger Strasse 21, 10435
Each time I pass this tiny shop I find myself drawn to its window display. Its single mannequin, alternatively male and female, is always dressed with a special kind of urban European audacity. Mixed fabrics, textures, and colors come together in subtle and unexpected ways. The spring/summer collection is particularly pretty, a kind of summery girlishness to be found in Scoop NYC's designs. Conclude your shopping spree with a perfectly thin pizza, half a block away, at the Focaccia King.

Starstyling Shop
Mulackstrasse 4, 10119
If ever there was an independent shop which pulled together so many youth cultures in one, it's this one. With its fun graphic t-shirts, dresses, and accessories, you may find yourself wondering whether you've just entered some strange portal in which Berlin, Tokyo, Denmark, and New York's East Village all come together. Artists, supermodels, and super-moms — come one, come all. For a better sense of the shop's joie de vivre, watch the short film, dedicated to residents of Tokyo.

Latte Wie Hose
Kopernikussstrasse 13, 10245
Let's suppose you've hit the thirty mark and, out of the blue, an identity crisis surfaces. You want to look youthful without feeling adolescent. Perhaps you need to start with a latte macchiato to think things through. At Latte Wie Hose you can quench both your thirst and inner crisis as you browse through a stylish selection of runners, denims, t-shirts, and accessories. The shop is also the only I know of in Berlin which carries Papfar, a Danish clothing line of ultimate streetwear comfort.

Lisa D Shop
Die Hackeschen Hoefe, Hof 4, 10178
Gold-colored trousers and a grey linen blouse are not exactly what I'd look for when shopping, but such is the charm of Lisa D's designs. Unexpectedly, you end up sporting her quirky garments with sheer pride. You may even find yourself, as I did, making a mental note of all the compliments you've received. The shop is in the heart of Mitte.

Majaco
Fehrbelliner Strasse 24, 10119
Don't you love it when you stumble on a shop that can fulfill most of your fashion needs? Such was my luck the day I chanced on Majaco, owned and run by three lovely female fashion designers. If, like me, you like to look spring-pretty in yellow or bohemian-chic in flowing cotton dresses, then you needn't look further. In fact, any oh-so-pretty item you buy will likely elicit comment and more than a few double takes. The shop is in the heart of East Berlin.

Zenker
Kurfuestendamm 45, 10719
How many boutiques in Berlin offer a one-stop shopping experience of Diane von Furstenberg, Plein Sud, Juicy Couture, and Ernest Sewn jeans? The answer is one. Zenker is my Barneys New York while I'm in Berlin. It also stocks a toothsome selection of Issa-London, Debbie Katz, and Luella. Get your gal-pals together, ladies, and start marching on over to Ku'damm for an out-and-out indulgence.