To go shopping with my husband is more like doing a Canossa. For days and weeks I have been begging him to buy a new suit for my sister's wedding. His general refusal to enter department stores is added by claustrophobic fears in change rooms and the aspect of time which he had none to waste of. Places like „Konen“ and „Hirmer“ won't serve as potential snapshots then. "Then you should take some risk", a friend of mine said, "take him to Schwabing.“

Promises like "I know a great place there, with great service" can't reallyimpress my husband. Thus I pretend I have to pick up a book at „Lehmkuhl“ at Münchner Freiheit and ask him to accompany me.

There are lots of cool boutiques like „Flip“ or „Robot“ with groovy leather jackets and hip accessories. Trendsetters shop here. At „Maile“it's more sophisticated. Here you get affordable tailor-made suit, shirts or shoes. My sheet anchor, if there's no suit on Hohenzollernstraße falling off the peg into my husband's arms.

Meanwhile the sun has come out and I see the chance to replace my lost Ray Ban sunglasses with a Paul-Frank from the machine at „Hartogs. With my mantied closely I swivel of good cheer into Hohenzollernstraße. We pass chains like Hallhuber, Tretter, Mandarina Duck, Stefanel, Esprit, More & More or Marc O´Polo, which has opened a store for men.

Luxurious saloon atmosphere and cool guys receive us at „Made for friends“. My husband likes the stylish clothes, yet the ambiance is not his taste. We'd like torelax at Caffè Florian, but all chairs are taken. Fortunately cafés, bars and fashion stores alternate here. My husband stops at „Luis Trenker & friends“allof a sudden. Blazer in the traditional stil and other specials of the alpine idol, sounds like a deal. We leave the place with a few funny suspenders and the tip to check out shoes at „Halfs“ on Schellingstraße.

On the other side of the street lures „Virmani“ with amazing dresses and blouses in the windows. I don't need to check out my wardrobe, there's always space for a piece by Virmani. But eventually i buy nothing. „Herdt“ has adiscount. I feel soft pressure on my arm and follow. Inside there's an older lady recommending my husband to get some combination and me to buy a shirt-blouse dress. While he tries the things on and I fall into a chair exhaustedly, I come up with „Wild“ on Schleißheimerstraße. It's more progressive and has no troubles putting pieces aside.

After having bought an intriguing wedding card with an integrated moneypocket at „Semikolon“, we are heading for the next lottery. Only then we celebrate this successful day with some pasta.

by Karin Nagl