Dirndl
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A dirndl is a type of traditional dress worn in southern Germany and Austria, based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants.
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[edit] Description
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.
[edit] History
Dirndl is loosely based on Trachten, the traditional dress of Bavaria and Austria. Trachten is much older, and is very highly crafted and expensive. It has a different style and crest for each village, along with unusual hats and accessories.
Dirndl originated as a simplified form of Trachten, for Austrian servants uniforms in the 19th century (dirndlegewand means "maid's dress"). Simple forms were also worn commonly by working women in plain colours or a simple check.
The Austrian upper classes adopted it as high fashion in the 1870s.
[edit] Variations on the Style
The winter style has heavy, warm skirts and aprons made of heavy cotton, linen, velvet or wool, and long sleeves. The colors are usually rich and dark.
The summer style is lighter and more frivolous, has short sleeves, and is often made of lightweight cotton, silk or satin in brighter, summery colours.
Styles worn as national dress or to annual festivals can be highly ornamented with patterns and frills.
Accessories may include a long apron tied round the waist (mimicking the original form of a maid or peasant), a waistcoat or a wool shawl. For colder weather there are heavy dirndl coats in the same cut as the dresses, with a high neck and front buttons, thick mittens and wool hats.
[edit] 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 older 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 at the Oktoberfest is usually a good way of distinguishing between a native Bavarian, and non-native visitors or residents in Bavaria.
[edit] Trivia
- The dirndl is mentioned in the song "Turn Around", composed in 1959 by Harry Belafonte, Alan Greene, and Malvina Reynolds. "Dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?" This song, originally recorded by the Kingston Trio, continues to be a popular dance tune at weddings.
- On the animated television series King of the Hill, there is a town near Arlen named Dirndle, a possible reference to this dress.
- The way that the dirndl is worn can signify marital status. If the apron is tied to the left side it means that the woman is in a relationship. If it is tied on the right side it can signify that she is single.
[edit] See also
- Lederhosen (traditional male dress of Bavaria)
- Trachtpindle
[edit] Notes
[edit] References and further reading
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