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Clothes Make the Man
The idiom that "clothes make the man" is just as valid in Germany as elsewhere. And even if Germans don't place as much importance in their dress as, for example, the French, they have managed to rid themselves of the reputation of driving in the sartorial slow lane. Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Joop and other fashion designers have certainly contributed to that.
What one wears and when often depends on the job. For instance, computer programmers or advertising copywriters display their creativity and spontaneity with jeans and colorful t-shirts. But if you're a banker, a tie with stripes in it is practically revolutionary. And by the way, only a very few people these days run around in traditional German dress, or Tracht. This is usually the preserve of the type of older Germans who favor folk music events. But even here, there are regional differences. For example, Bavaria's state premier often sports a pair of Lederhosen to demonstrate his proximity to the people, and the northern German politician Helmut Schmidt, a former German chancellor, was rarely seen without his Hamburg sea captain's hat.
Academic dress codes at German universities are extremely relaxed. Brief cases, collars and ties are few and far between among today's law students. Backpacks and t-shirts are in. Since the days of punk, few professors are likely to get upset at the sight of blue or green hairstyles. The briefcase as a student status symbol has been replaced by the cellular phone (dubbed the handy). But be warned - most art students still react adversely to public handy use!
All in all, nothing is impossible. If you're not sure what's acceptable you can check in the Knigge, Germany's standard work on good manners and good taste. There you can read: "Do not attract attention either through old-fashioned dress or modern foolishness."
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