Oktoberfest
During my junior fall semester, as many of you are probably experiencing right now, I had FOMO from all the exchange content I would see on social media, and one event truly caught my eye—Oktoberfest. Every story, every photo dump, every group picture of people squeezed together in beautiful dresses and braids made me feel like I was watching a party through a window. I told myself "maybe one day" and kept scrolling.
So when the opportunity to go visit a friend for Oktoberfest my senior year was offered to me, I didn't hesitate one second. I booked my flights to Munich in the blink of an eye. However, what drew me most to this event wasn't the beer, the songs, or the amusement park, but mostly … the outfits! I've always loved fashion that comes with a story, and a dirndl is basically a story you can wear.
As soon as my flights were booked I started creating a Pinterest board filled with dirndls and pictures I would want to take during the event. I'd open it on the train, in lectures I probably should have been listening to, and right before bed. However, finding a dirndl I loved at my price point wasn't as easy as it seemed. I scoured the internet, Etsy, Vinted and more, which led me to understand the intricacy and rules around traditional Bavarian outfits. I quickly learned there is a big difference between a "real" dirndl and the cheaper costume versions, and that even the way you wear your dirndl can say something about you. I went into it thinking I was just shopping for a dress, and came out of it feeling like I was studying for an exam.
First, let's dig a little deeper into the history of traditional Bavarian outfits…
The dirndl's origins are far humbler than its glamorous reputation. The word comes from "Dirn," an older Bavarian-Austrian dialect term for a young woman, typically a maid doing household and agricultural work, and her work clothes were called "Dirndlgewand," later shortened to "Dirndl." That outfit was a bodice, a blouse, and a wide skirt with a colorful apron. The apron wasn't just decoration either. It protected the dress from wear and tear, so instead of buying a new dress regularly, a woman could often just replace the apron.
Here's the part that surprised me most: at the very first Oktoberfest, Munich's residents were actually given fashionable French-inspired outfits to wear instead of their normal clothes. Traditional dress only became the main event later. Around 1870/80, the dirndl moved from being solely a servant's outfit to a "rural-style" dress worn by the urban upper class, and as Bavarian and Austrian aristocrats began spending summers in the countryside, they fell in love with the look and suddenly this simple servant dress was considered charming and "authentically Alpine."
Two entrepreneurial brothers then spotted a business opportunity and marketed the dirndl to the masses during the First World War as a casual summer dress, and its popularity boomed. It's also worth knowing that the dirndl has a darker chapter: it was co-opted by the Nazis, but has since separated all ties for its former association to the regime. A first marker of its return was the Munich Olympics of 1972, where the hostesses wore bright blue dirndls that made a striking impression on the new color broadcasts around the world. By the 1990s there had been an incredible resurgence in Bavarian tradition, with dirndls and lederhosen all over Munich. And today? Hashtags like #dirndlliebe and #wiesnmadl trend on Instagram every September. Which means my Pinterest board was, in a way, just the latest chapter of a very old tradition: a dress that keeps getting reinvented.
One thing I didn't expect though, was that even though the outfits are traditional, each year new trends emerge! So I thought it would be fun to go through this year's trends, how to prepare for the next Oktoberfest season, and what to expect in terms of new trends. According to my research, more traditional Bavarian outfits are getting more attention again. No more of the above-the-knee dirndls, glitter, and very "out-there" patterns that you could see before and that many people still picture when they think about Oktoberfest. For a bit now, the ladies are going back to more elegant and chic attire with midi-length dirndls, mostly all in one color and with velvet detailing. This year's hot trend: pastel colors like butter yellow dirndls and loads of lace for the underblouses. Which to me makes a lot of sense, because lace in general this fall and winter is making a HUGE comeback.
From my research, these trends are here to stay. Even though next year's hot color might not be butter yellow, keep an eye out for dirndls that look more put together, paired with a lacy, more modern blouse.
Now, let's talk shoes. Sneakers and cowboy boots are a big no-go, but if you don't feel like wearing heels all day or buying traditional dirndl boots, grab your favorite pair of ballet flats. They look very elegant with the outfit. The only thing to keep in mind is that you might have to take them off if you're planning on going on the wild rides! Speaking of rides, ladies, don't forget to wear shorts under your dress. You'll feel so much more comfortable on the 300-foot free fall or when you're being twisted around in the air uncontrollably.
Honestly, this is the kind of trend I can get behind. Instead of dressing up as a costume, it feels like dressing up as the most adaptive version of a tradition that's been around for generations. I ended up ordering two dirndls and a few different blouses to try on, and I picked a navy blue dress with a lacy underblouse with Flügelärmel, which means "wing sleeves," the soft, flared sleeves that flutter a little when you move. When I tried it on, I felt like Belle in the opening scene of Beauty and the Beast, when she floats through the village in her blue dress and white apron. I caught myself twirling in front of the mirror like I was about to burst into song. If you're planning to go next year, my biggest tip is to start looking early, because the good ones sell out fast, and you'll want time to figure out your apron, your blouse, and which details actually feel like you.
Sources:https://trachten.de/en/blog/little-history-of-the-dirndlhttps://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news-the-history-of-the-dirndl-6889696https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/11066/submitArticleLink?amp=truehttps://germangirlinamerica.com/traditional-german-dirndl/All photos are sourced from Louisa’s personal camera roll.