Outside Berlin
A fashion portfolio developed by long time friends May Alvarez and Anastasia Brada. In 2017, when they were only 15 and 17, May and Anastasia met for the first time in a German language school in Berlin. Despite being from Spain and the US, separated by thousands of miles, the two remained close. They realized as they grew up that they shared the same interest in fashion, particularly in the wearable unique and unconventional. They continued their education, experimentation, and friendship OUTSIDE BERLIN.
Team
A rotating roster of contributors, editors, and founders keeping the spirit of wearable, unconventional fashion alive across cities and scenes.
Co-Founder, CEO
Anastasia is better known by her middle name, Lilly. She studied philosophy at Stanford, not quite sure where she’d end up. With a strong passion for all things aesthetic, especially clothing, and her unstoppable writing habits, Lilly combined her love of a good outfit and essay skills to create Outside Berlin. In her free time, you might find her writing a novel, trying new wine bars in NYC, or mid-rant about obscure Lord of the Rings facts no sane person should know.
Co-Founder
May Álvarez, (who goes by Malva, inspired by her favorite color and the flower she loves) is passionate about drawing and visual art, always expressing herself through color. She believes colors reflect all our facets, so zhe weave them into her style, socials, and her daily life. She’s lively and energetic and loves to show it through what she writes about.
Editor
Lexie’s love of fashion started at a young age watching Project Runway with her mom and sister. Armed with an art degree and literature degree from UW Madison, Lexie believes that fashion is a form of self-expression and a way to tell a story. In her nine-to-five, she’s a recruiter for an ESL School. In her free time, when she’s not editing Outside Berlin, Lexie enjoys creative writing, traveling, and bookbinding.
Graphic Designer
Sarah Griep is a graphic designer and creative based in Los Angeles, CA. Inspired by vintage advertisements and graphics, she blends handdone physical media with digital design. Outside of work, she self identifies as a cinephile and Pinterest addict.
Staff Writer (Cocktails & Horoscopes)
Magalie (mah-gah-lee) is a Los Angeles native with multiple skills and talents. She is a bartender of almost a decade, a visual artist all of her life, and a mystic. Her astrological knowledge spans over 5 years along with the sacred practice of tarot & divination. She is a visionary and plans to one day merge her mystical and artistic expression together.
Staff Writer (Fashion & Culture)
Are’Yanna Dickens brings an insider perspective to the cultural shifts redefining style and music. Her work trace the evolving changes in the fashion industry, spotlighting emerging creatives and explores the ever-growing intersection between fashion and sound. When she’s not writing, you can find her DJing, spending hours on Pinterest, or thrifting for a new outfit.
Staff Writer (Sustainability & Science)
Raahi Patel is a nanoparticle scientist who aims to dig deeper into the science side of fashion. She’s also passionate about reversing fast fashion trends by highlighting the intersections between culture and slow fashion. Her interests included music, reading, traveling, and Liverpool FC.
Staff Writer (Makeup)
Shayaine is a Berlin-based makeup artist, drawn to beauty as a tool for storytelling and cultural commentary. Pulling inspiration from the runway makeup and fashion archives from the 90s & 2000s, her work aims to challenge trend-led beauty from a decolonial, editorial lens.