Dirndl -Traditional Bavarian Dress
Traveling in Bavaria, you will find Bavarian women, especially in Upper Bavaria around Munich and in the Alpine region proudly wear the German Dirndl.
It originated as a simple uniform of Bavarian and Austrian servants and working women in the 19th century, (dirndlegewand means "maid's dress"). Over time, each village developed its own style.
Toward the end of the 19th century, the dress transformed from a simple and practical work uniform into a summertime dress worn by the middle and upper class ladies. Many were made from finer quality fabrics and had embroidery and embelishments.
Traditional clothes and Bavarian trachten fell out of favor with the general population in the mid 20th century. Some older women, waitresses, beer maids, tourism workers, and folk dancers still wore the dirndl.
However, around the year 2000, something changed and the younger generation started their own trend of wearing traditional German clothes to fests and during other special occasions. New, updated styles became popular and now you can see many women at the Oktoberfest wearing them.
General Description of a Dirndl
- A dress with a tight fitting bodice.
- A short sleeve white blouse.
- An apron or pinafore.
- Sheer hose.
- Low-heel pumps or loafers.
- The summer style dirndl is lighter and more casual, has short sleeves, and is often made of lightweight cotton, silk or satin.
- The winter style dirndl has a heavy, warm skirt and an apron made of thick cotton, linen, wool or velvet. The blouse has longer sleeves and the colors are usually rich and dark.
- The traditional style has more muted colors because the vegetable dyes originally used could not produce bright colors. They are also less revealing in style than the newer, modern Oktoberfest dirndl style.
For the men, here is some important information to keep in mind before you start flirting with that pretty Oktoberfest dirndl-wearing lady: The location of the knot of the apron sash indicates her availability. The knot or bow on the right side means, "I'm married or not available". When it is on the left side it means, "I'm single and/or available", and tied on the back means that she is widowed.
Shopping for the Perfect Dress
It is easy to shop for and buy a dirndl. There are myriad styles and prices available. Many German websites sell them. European sizes are different, so pay close attention to the sizing chart on the web site.
If you are traveling to Germany, Bavaria has many Trachten shops where you can get personalized help finding the perfect one for you. Just tell the salesperson if you are interested in the traditional style or want the more revealing and flirty style.
Plan to spend up to a couple hundred Euros for a complete outfit. However, you can sometimes negotiate a discount - It won't hurt to ask!
Here are some things to be aware of when shopping and putting your outfit together:
- The traditional Dirndl is long and full, and falls to below mid-calf.
- The apron should fall even to the hem.
- The hose should be sheer.
- The shoes should be low-heel, black or white pumps or loafers.
- Some dress styles have hooks or eyes to thread silver chains through the bodice, so make sure to wear the chain.
- In colder weather, wear a wool shawl or a waistcoat.
- The sky is the limit if you choose a modern or non-traditional style. They tend to be shorter, lower cut (to show off your cleavage) and are brighter in color. They are very pretty and very sexy!
In my opinion, a Dirndl is the perfect souvenir from Bavaria. It is fun to buy. It represents Bavarian culture and tradition. You can wear it and enjoy it many times over the years. It will get you many compliments and is a great conversation starter.
Do you have a favorite? Send me a photo of you or someone you know wearing a dirndl and I will post it here!
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