Traditional German ClothesDirndl DressesWhat are the most popular traditional german clothes? When one thinks of something that is representative of the national dress of Germany, the dirndl comes to mind for women, as well as lederhosen for men. representing social and legal statusIn ages past, each "tracht" or folk costume served to identify a person as being a part of a particular group in terms of their social and legal status (whether they were married or single), origin, or trade.sign of national prideIn the modern era, the term is used to describe any garment that is reminiscent of the traditional german clothes worn by people in rural communities. Currently, wearing the dirndl is generally regarded as a sign of national pride.mostly worn in Bavaria and AustriaToday, the dirndl is mostly worn in Bavaria and Austria, and is customarily worn for official occasions like weddings or festivals.In Bavaria, it can usually be seen being worn by women whose work is in the tourist industry like waitresses in traditional-style restaurants or "Biergartens". It is also seen in these regions worn by women in folk music. Dirndl history in GermanyHistorically the dirndl had plain colors or a simple check and was the typical working dress of the female peasantry or female servants, like the peasant's wives, the farm girls, and the dairymaids.The apron (german "Schürtze) of the dirndl was designed to be mostly practical and suitable for everyday life. The term comes from the Austrian word "dirndl" meaning maid or maidservant, so in the 19th century "dirndl" became an abbreviation of "dirndlgewand", which means maid's dress. In the dialects of South Germany, "dirndl" also referred to a girl or a young woman, but "Dirndlkleid" was the term applied to the dress. In the beginning, each village had its own style and crest. Dirndl and high societyAround 1870 to 1880 Kaiser Franz Joseph made wearing lederhosen and tracht fashionable. The upper classes quickly accepted the dirndl as high fashion and wore it for the summertime. Nobles were able to wear it as a fashion item, rather than being stamped immediately as members of the lower class. This interest allowed Bavarian dress styles to survive until today.German Dirndl typesToday, these tradtioanl german clothes exist in a great variety of styles from simple ones to those that are exquisitely crafted, very expensive models. They differ from region to region or even by which occasion they are worn for.Hats, often worn as a part of the overall costume, are costly and elaborate. There are the ones worn for winter and summer, for everyday, or special ones for Sundays or holidays like Christmas. They usually also differ regarding how many pieces you put on. It is possible to have dirndls that are complete in one piece. Some come with a blouse and apron. regional specificsThe biggest difference is the specific characteristics of each region, which is typified by certain specific colors, hats, and embroideries on the apron.Seasonal StylesThe style of dirndl for winter has warm, heavy skirts with aprons made of thick wool, cotton, velvet, or linen, and possesses long sleeves. This style usually has rich, dark colors. The style for summer is lighter and frillier, has shorter sleeves, and is frequently made of a lightweight cotton, satin or silk.Dirndl AccessoriesAccessories worn with the dirndl can be a long apron that ties around the waist, a wool shawl, or a waistcoat. Heavy dirndl coats for cold weather are cut the same as the dresses, having a high neck and buttons down the front, wool hats and thick mittens. Shoes are usually only worn during cold weather; in warm weather, women usually go barefoot.Traditional german clothes & Modern DesignsFavored modern designs are frequently bright colored, and have more decorative trim and ornamentation, and tend to be more provocative and revealing (having a shorter skirt or showing significant cleavage).At the Oktoberfest, a good way to distinguish between non-native residents or tourists in Bavaria and a native Bavarian is the wearing of a true dirndl. It will have a softer color (since traditional vegetable dyes do not produce bright colors), not as revealing and simpler in style. More traditional german clothes- german lederhosenReturn from "this" page to German Clothes Return from "traditional german clothes" page to Best German Gifts
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