Traditional Clothing, Dirndl
and Lederhosen | Modern German Fashion
German Traditional Clothing
In earlier times, each 'tracht' identified a person as
belonging to a particular group in terms of social and legal
status (married, single), origin or trade.
Today, the term is used to describe any garment reminiscent
of the attire of rural communities. Regional varieties
vary greatly.
Women's attire, the dirndl, consists of a closefitting bodice
combined with an apron in a different colour. Sometimes its
sleeveless and worn with a cotton and lace blouse, sometimes
it features sleeves and a high neck. Hats are often costly
and elaborate. They vary according to occasion and region:
'Goldhauben' (Upper Austria) and 'Bollenhut' (Black Forest
region, Germany) are only worn on festive occasions.
A man's traditional clothing is made from leather, linen
and wool. The 'Lederhosen', knee-length trousers or
short-pants made from leather are worn with rustic shoes and
wool socks. Again, jackets and hats vary according to region
and occasion.
In many regions, esp. Southern Germany, Bavaria and Austria,
it is still acceptable to wear 'tracht' on official occasions
like weddings, festivals, etc. Contemporary fashion adapts
to traditional elements, the production of dirndl and lederhosen
is a thriving industry in Germany.
There are many societies dedicated to 'tracht' revivals.
Often, those efforts coincide with an interest in traditional
crafts, like porcelain, glass-making or wood carving.
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