Dirndl
A
dirndl is a type of traditional dress worn in southern
Germany and
Austria, based on the historical costume of the Alpine peasants. It became popular in
Austria as a fashionable dress among the upper classes between
1870 and
1880.
It has a tight bodice, low neck, full skirt, lacy blouse, and apron. While appearing to be simple and plain, a properly-made, modern dirndl might be quite expensive.
In Bavarian slang, 'dirndl' originally referred to a young woman or a girl. Nowadays, 'dirndl' may equally refer to either a young woman, or to the dress as described in this article.
Contemporary Uses
The dirndl is generally restricted to
Bavaria and
Austria, but is also seen in these regions by women in the
folk music business (which often targets an elder conservative audience in Germany).
In
Bavaria, it may often be seen on women working in tourism-related businesses, and sometimes waitresses in traditional-style restaurants or biergartens.However, despite being far from an everyday dress, a common woman in southern Bavaria may sometimes wear it at formal occasions (much like a
Scotsman wearing a
kilt) and certain traditional events. Surprisingly, it is hugely popular even among young women at the time of the
Oktoberfest in
Munich (and similar festivals in southern Germany), although most young women will only wear dirndl-style dresses (called
Landhausmode), which may deviate by numerous ways and are often much cheaper.
Popular designs are often less plain and much more revealing and provocative (e.g. having a short skirt and/or displaying significant
cleavage). A true dirndl is usually a good way of distinguishing between a native Bavarian female visitor of the Oktoberfest, and non-native female visitors who may just happen to live for some time in Bavaria.
One artistic note: The dirndl is mentioned in the song "Turn Around", composed in 1959 by Harry Belafonte, Alan Greene, and Malvina Reynolds. "Dirndls and pettycoats, where have you gone?" This song, originally recorded by the Kingston Trio, continues to be a popular dance tune at weddings.
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Lederhosen (traditional male dress of
Bavaria)
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Tracht*
image at an Austrian website*
another image
