Dirndl is a popular part of traditional German clothing. Although it is often associated with Bavarian culture, its origin lies in the Alpine regions. Dirndl dresses (or rather overdresses) for women are the most popular women’s dresses for festivals or parties throughout Germany and Austria. Unlike traditional german drindl dresses for other European countries, it was only used for agricultural work in spring when alpine farmers very briefly wore particular clothes on their way to the fields. While living in large cities in Germany or Europe, you might find fashion dirndl shops virtually everywhere and easily buy one from there.
Now dirndl’s are the traditional German dresses worn by women at Oktoberfest. However, over the last few years, more and more girls have been choosing to don them outside of the world-famous beer festival in Munich. If you are considering buying one yourself, you might be wondering what dirndls look like these days and how factors like material and style can alter their appearance.
Anatomy of Dirndl
The history of the dirndl is incredibly complicated and multilayered, just like the dress itself. It was originally made of four separate items: a dirndl skirt, a bodice, a blouse, and an apron. While stitching techniques have evolved over time, it’s still celebrated in period costume events and occasionally worn as it was during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Today, the top and skirt are often sewn together as one dress, but the overall look of the garment is preserved. The amount of effort and skill that goes into stitching a Dirndl makes elaborate outfits very expensive, with some selling for thousands of dollars. The reason for this high cost becomes apparent when you see the Dirndl in person!
Below is a brief summary of each half, so you can get a sense of what goes into this iconic outfit.
Dirndl Skirt
The skirt of the dirndl traditionally has been ankle-length and pleated. The skirt of the dirndl is usually made out of several yards of cloth. But there are variations to the line; every advance in the dirndl leaves its mark on the dress.
A typical dirndl is mid-length, sitting slightly below the knee. But there’s also a mini version that has recently become fashionable at Oktoberfest, although this length is very untraditional and worn mostly by tourists and younger people.
Dirndl Top
The top of a Dirndl dress, which is historically separate from the skirt, follows fashionable Victorian silhouettes. The fitted and low cut top usually has a square or scooped neckline and is boned; it is closed using either lacing or hook-and-eye fasteners or, nowadays with invisible zippers.
The top details vary but usually involve some kind of piping, embroidery, and trim of stunning origami-like, cloth rosettes that draw attention to the neckline.
Dirndl Blouse
The blouse you will wear beneath the Dirndl is cut shorter to provide an ideal fit with the dress. The top of the blouse is also designed to sit slightly below the bust, so as not to produce unwanted bulk beneath the Dirndl.
Traditionally, these blouses are made of white or black cotton, with puff sleeves and a plunging neckline. They’re usually worn with skirts or pants. Because the blouse is often see-through and lightweight, it’s important to choose fabrics that are durable and long lasting; silk or cotton are good choices.
Dirndl Apron
The apron completes the Dirndl, so don’t forget to wear it! Once used only for its function, today’s aprons are more often than not decorated with embroidery or prints. They can be tied in front or at the back, usually with a big bow.
According to the sayings, a bow tied on your front left means you are single and interested in dating, while if tied on the right you are either married or in a relationship.
Change in Dirndl’s trend over time
Each traditional dress has its own look, depending on the region and the people who live there. In Passau in lower Bavaria, people wear a golden hat with their traditional costume. Though it’s only a few miles away from Passau, in tranquil Hinterskirchen different details take center stage.
Ladies wear knee-high socks and crowns. Single women wear the latter, married women wear the former. In Bavaria, fashion-conscious women often wear bavarian dirndl dress with chokers. The final look is always a unique combination of tradition and personal taste.
Dirndl Online Store offer traditional dirndl dresses at low prices. You can choose from a broad range of styles, colors, and prints. All of their dirndl dresses are made from high-quality materials and come in different sizes.
Shop now at Dirndl Online Store for your authentic Oktoberfest dirndl outfits in time for the 2022 festival. Dirndls represent tradition and culture in Germany. Today, they are worn on oktoberfest festival as form of dress that distinguishes Bavarians from the rest of Germany and relates them to their roots.
click here for more articles.