The Very Messy History of the Dirndl | A Deep Dive into Bavarian Tracht

[@annikarossmanith]

As a Bavarian and someone with a strong connection to the Vorarlberg region, I really loved this video! One thing I would also like to mention what I love about the dirndl is how size-inclusive it is. Most dirndl brands provide their designs from a size 0 up to size 60. And they look good on everybody no matter the size! :)

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

I'm so glad, that really means a lot to me :) I didn't know that about the dirndl, but that's absolutely amazing!

[@curlychapina]

My boyfriend is from Südtirol, where they still wear Trachten, and he always says that!! That the dirndl is basically made to look on everyone no matter your size or proportions :) I have my own Tracht as well ^^

[@TheKatze90]

Very cool video on this topic. ! I chuckled a little when in 02:07 i read "Henndorf am Wallersee". I live near the Wallersee and Henndorf is only some kilometres from here :D. I have the book from Gexi Tostmann too, and she is some kind of icon here in Austria, in the realm of the dirndl. Thank your for including the topic about the appropriation of the Dirndl/Tracht through the nazis and the work of Getrud Pesendorfer (book cover 12:25). What is interesting, that "Tracht"/the regional folk costume, a stylized and romanticized version of the dress of rural people and the dirndl, the dress urban people wore when they traveled to rural areas in the summer "Sommerfrische", were considered as a contrast. At the one side the "real" folk dress, richly decorated, with regional materials of rural people, on the other side the urban dirndl from cotton aka not regional material, which urban people (often with jewish background) wore, to "pretend" the rural lifestyle. But this was and is a very complex discussion "What is the real Tracht/folk costume or what is a real Dinrdl, and who is aloud to wear it". Sometimes also very disturbing: in 1938 in Salzburg, jews were prohibited to wear Tracht/Dirndl. Today the terms "Tracht" and "Dirndl" are used almost synonymous. Some additons to the video: The Pongauer Tracht is, as the Vorarlberger Tracht, also Austrian, but it is very similar to the Bavarian folk costumes, because the surge of Tracht Associations/"Trachtenvereine" came from Bavaria. The Bregenzerwälder Juppe isn´t pronounced french, but german. Between the Nazi-Regime and the 70s the Dirndl was also veeery popular in the 50s. It corresponded with the fashionable silhouette and after the war and the other atrocities, the Dirndl + the presentation in the media (e.g. "Heimatfilme", schmaltzy and kitschy movies) were an escapism.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Thank you for this very insightful comment, at these times I only wish I could go back and edit in all this knowledge you share! I always try my best to research t the fullest, but I know at the end of the day there's so much more to learn :)

[@ChampionMahina]

I'm designing a character currently and I want her to wear a dirndl and in my research into it I stumbled across your video, it's very informative and honestly quite entertaining! Thank you for making this!

[@silverstarfinder]

Saw someone mention dirndl and dirndl fabrics when in a quilting forum, and here I am. I forget that most of my heritage is German, and I’ve fallen a little in love with these! I’ll have to see about finding a pattern, and maybe I’ll splurge on a set of materials from Laura und Ben. What a wonderful, in depth video! Thank you!

[@muffinthecat4706]

Hey, how lovely to discover your channel and your stunning work!!! Am a Dirndl-loving artist based in England and originally from Bavaria, and sewed myself a fantastic Dirndl (in my opinion!) a few years ago, made up the pattern and made the skirt and upper part from antique, indigo died & patterned Hungarian linen - a dream! Your fabulous video reminds me to get it out and wear it again. Without the apron and just wearing a t-shirt underneath, it's pleasantly dressed down and many people will complement. Lots of love from near Cambridge! xxx

[@pinupplaytime300]

I'm so glad I found this video! I live close to many German cities in the US (Texas) and am Bavarian in Heritage as well. I am so interested in these beautiful outfits and I learned a lot with your video! Thank you! You gave me the idea of making my own dirndls and making up details to represent my own region, which is across the ocean and nothing like Europe!

[@kleineroteHex]

reminds me much of what was worn in the northern European countries known as kirtl? However, Bavaria kept a tight hold of this garment despite lots of variations over time.

[@KOHbXNTPOHOl-NY]

Dank deinem Video wurde ich wieder dran erinnert wie schön und stylisch die Trachten waren/sind. Danke, ich mag deinen Kanal sehr

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Ich bin froh, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat. 😊

[@alexandracoffin696]

I am a new subscriber, but really wanted to thank you for your wonderfully researched videos, and detailed editing. I love the whimsical text calling out specific historical words or phrases, but more than anything, I appreciate that your subtitles aren't auto-generated. I am a little hard of hearing, so I almost always have CC turned on, but the auto-generated subs can be infuriatingly inaccurate, especially when it comes to foreign words and/or proper names. Without accurate subtitles (and your adorable text) I don't think it would be possible for me to look up points of interest from your videos and dive deeper into the history. Thank you again for such beautiful and informative content.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Thank you so much for your comment, it gives me so much happiness and strength to keep working on adding subtitles to all my videos. 🥰

[@elskaaina]

Wow! Thank you for this very thorough and informative exploration 💕 those designers you highlighted at the end have some really stunning creations 🤩 can’t wait to see what you create!

[@patriciakellyadams134]

I look forward to your new series!

[@kjtherrick4031]

Thank you for sharing your research. I look forward to the next segment of this journey.

[@dellunn7026]

Thanx for the history vid i’m form the uk, wanting to come over to ocktoberfest next year with my girly mates, so trying to learn as much as i can so we can before coming to munich knowing what we are all looking for when we get there, so this has been extra helpful thankyou as we want to buy some really good gear when we do because i’m sure we will make it a yearly thing i seen the prices of the very good stuff so don’t want to get it wrong haha, next will be learning some german a few months before arriving

[@lovelyisabelle2028]

The silver chain with the 'coins' is called Charivari and they show your social status and regional heritage. The origin and thus the forerunner of the charivari chain are the watch chains that were attached to the buttonhole of the traditional waistcoat in the 19th century. These were also hung with small trophies. Later, men used the charivari to refine their Lederhosn. It was regarded as a sign and talisman that was supposed to bring luck, especially on a hunt. However, not every man was allowed to wear a charivari; only wealthy peasants and landowners wore a charivari as a status symbol (like I said before). Moreover, it could not be acquired in a simple way, but was traditionally passed on in families. They attached horns, claws, paws and money coins or precious stones to the chain. In this way, the pendants were supposed to transfer the strength, speed and courage of the slain animals to the hunter. Initially, only the nobility and the sovereigns had the right to wear a charivari as a trophy, but over the years the normal population was also allowed to hunt and consequently to wear the trophies.

[@claudiaaugusta8453]

That was so interesting! I live in Germany (but not Bavaria) and knew that the regional Trachts existed, but not why they disappeared when the dirndl didn't.

[@matanadragonlin]

Me too. 😳 (Hätte man ahnen können. Moderne Dirndl sind nicht sehr "katholisch" 😂)

[@LixiaWinter]

Yasss I loved Amalia costume so much, this one should be a blast for sure!

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, I hope this one will be just as fun ;)

[@nacht-eil]

Honest to god this was so professionally produced and easy to watch ❤❤ Loved it ❤❤

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Thank you 🥰

[@hafiezarosidi9598]

Love the information videos that you made. Cannot wait for the next vid on what my ancestor wore series!

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Thank you 😊

[@rainfire632]

I'm so excited for this new installment in the series! I have loved your other videos so far [: I have just recently been researching this topic myself! I'm so happy you came out with such an informative and well researched video. [I also liked the editing] I have been wanting to make something in a Dirndl style or something similar but am concerned about being offensive to the culture as I don't know what my heritage is other than a large majority from Norway. I live in the US so I don't want to cause discomfort to anyone. I was so excited to see all the designers and especially the ones who were using African fabrics [I use to live in Africa so I miss it a lot]. Thank you so much for making this video and sharing it with us! [:

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Dirndl has become a very international thing, even back in the thirties everyone was wearing them in America :) There's a definite "don't wear the cheap dollar store dirndl" sentiment, but as far as I can see, Bavarians and Austrians welcome everyone to wear Dirndls.

[@annikarossmanith]

Bavarian here :) I can say that you really don't have to be worried about being offensive. We love when other people wear our dirndl and lederhosen (the pants for men made from leather). The only thing most Bavarians cannot stand if people wear dirndl which are too short. Show all the cleavage you want but the skirt should hit right by the knee or even better cover the knees. Other than that feel free experimenting with colours and different fabrics, ornaments, lace, etc :)

[@rainfire632]

@@annikarossmanith thank you for commenting! I dress fairly modestly, my favourite length for skirts is just below the knee or any length longer than that. I hate my knees showing haha. I’m so glad it would be ok for me to wear this beautiful style :) I love full skirts and the blouse and vest/fitted bodice top is so so cute! I love the embroidery on some of the older styles with the higher neck lines too. It’s just so pretty to me.

[@rainfire632]

@@AspiringCostumeDesigner thank you so much for commenting! And thank you for the encouragement too. I can’t wait to see what your project will turn out like. You have such high quality outcomes :) good luck with making the new items! :)

[@_kmCarter]

Wonderful video! So happy to have found your channel.

[@erwin669]

I got a 23 and Me kit for Christmas in 2020 and I was expected that it would come back 99% Anglo-Irish. Well, it actually didn't and it turned out that I had a little bit of Bavarian in me. My mom remarked that she vaguely remembered that her great grandmother had a "German sounding" last night, so it probably came from her. I've been interested in either getting or making a drindle for a bit now, just need to get off my butt and start that project.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

How interesting! I wonder what was her story, how she ended up there? I love learning about these things.

[@infamoussphere7228]

This video is great! I've got a Bavarian grandparent (and a Hungarian one, heyyy) and I've been intending to make my own dirndl this year. It probably won't be super traditional looking and I'm not busty enough to get the whole...stereotypical look from it, but I'll do my best. I would love to buy one from a dirndl maker but I'm not at all a standard dress size so I'd probably need to have something custom fit, or at the very least try a whole bunch on, and that's not happening as I'm in Australia and I can't even travel to the closest state, let alone to Bavaria! So making one myself it is.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

What a coincidence! Same here, I just made mine not too long ago, and had to take in a bit from the front. But it ended up looking quite flattering even so, so I'm sure you'll be fine too :) Gonna edit that video soon too, so you'll be able to see for yourself:D

[@kbsongy]

There is no obligation to advertise the tatas imo. Tracht really doesn't have to be booby and I wish we moved away from that idea (in Germany). Raise that cleavage line or wear a blouse that covers the chest. Do as you wish. And if you really want the boobage, you can use prosthetics, padding / push-up etc. Do what makes you happy

[@kbsongy]

As for the stereotypical look, I suggest you look into children's dirndls. I grew up wearing those and I never want to go for the busty alternative in public. These dirndls exist for grown ups as well, but are harder to find than the deep cleavage ones. None of this is meant to sound slut-shamey by the way, I just hate the objectification that is rampant here and I hate strangers and men in general staring at my body. I love Tracht but it's another one oft those things where people ascribe the "traditional woman who will agree with my conservative / sexist values" Label to you just for wearing old-fashioned clothing. Noone exists to be ogled, but especially as a nonbinary person the looking at my chest, immediate labelling of "womanly" etc is horrible for me. Just know that this is my context. Like I said, if you want the booby look, there are numerable ways to achieve that, too, including makeup (contouring, essentially). Hope you have great fun with your Trachtenkleider 💕

[@CaterpillarFriend]

We have a lot in common, haha! My paternal grandparents and German and Hungarian, and I live in Australia. Jumping into an “ancestral journey” this year, trying to embrace my multi-cultural roots and learn as much as I can. Starting my adventure by sewing my own modern dirndl in which I intend to run errands.

[@ariannaswan9209]

Love this video! Thank you for your time and research!

[@fables4564]

My heritage/ ancestors were from Germany. I wanted to learn more about the history of Germany culture because nobody in my family talks about my ancestors. Besides the history of my grandparents, Nobody in my family knows the rest of our family history. I would love to know what part of Germany my ancestors were from; I guess I’ll never know. Thank you for making this video !

[@kbsongy]

Do you know where your grandparents were born or where they got married? If you have their names and some dates such as birthday, birthplace, marriage certificate, you could try city archives.

[@kbsongy]

Even the archive of the city someone died in might be helpful in finding documents.

[@channahstark1270]

Oh my goshh... you are soo cool!!! I love genealogie aswell and my background goes back to the same region! In my case Backnang so I Will go there this summer to go back to my roots. Do you by coinsidance are related to the Starck, Wertwein or Oppenländer? Tree? Btw, I love your dress. That's where I came for 🤣

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

That's amazing! No, the oldest ancestor (from 1370) is a Bauer from Immenhausen, but that's so close! Our ancestors were basically neighbours :D

[@channahstark1270]

@@AspiringCostumeDesigner are u sure bauer is their Surname. At that time everyone was a farmer and having a surname isn't always that common. Bauer means farmer and on documents they typically write this behind their names. Which may make it look like a surname.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

@@channahstark1270 Oh I didn't know that, that's fascinating. I'll look up the rest of the names, from the top of my head we have Grimm, Schneider and Einwachter.

[@eiszapfenkobold]

Love the Biedermeier Tracht the most. Very romantic. (i am from north germany, hamburg)

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

I love it how they just adapted it to their fashion sense too 🥰 It's so interesting to see, and it's very reminiscence of what's happening with today's designers

[@crimsonanna1980]

I've just discovered your channel and immediately subscribed. Wonderful information! I'm especially intrigued by the deep cut armseyes style as that continued in Hungarian dress as well. Do you have any information on drafting the pattern of bodice and sleeves? I recreate 16th C. German and Hungarian outfits and am always seeking new information. Thank you for a wonderful video!

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Hi! Sorry for not getting back earlier, I was looking around, but I couldn't really find anything of the sort. Some of my books include basic folk style dress patterns (or more like just illustrations of patterns) but nothing more. If I ever come across a book that could be helpful, I'll get back to you!

[@crimsonanna1980]

@@AspiringCostumeDesigner thank you!

[@samanthabrown-4952]

Love your video!!! Thanks so much!! 😊

[@nevem5010]

So interesting and helpful, thank you!

[@astrasillage]

Ó, hogy magyar vagy! De jó! :D A vikinges videód miatt találtam rád, mert egy ismerősöm rábeszélt, hogy próbáljak ki egy viking LARP-ot. :D (Svédországban élek.) Innen is üdv :) (ahogy lassan megnézem az összes videódat...)

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Haha, igen, csak jól titkolom 🤭

[@brigidscaldron]

Now I need to know about my German ancestors’ regions!

[@kbsongy]

Did you learn anything about those yet?

[@terpinator24]

This is messy and inspiring! Thank you!

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

i'm writing a historical enquiry essay on german fashion under nazi rule and using the dirndl as a case study so thank you!!

[@erkschadeable]

Could you please list the books too? I found your video very interesting! Thank you!

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

They are listed under "bibliography" in the description

[@alainaweise]

Where is the dirndl you’re wearing in this video from? Did you make it and is there a pattern available? 😍

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

I bought it, from a vintage shop, unfortunately

[@alainaweise]

@@AspiringCostumeDesigner thanks for the info! do you know what kind of neckline that is, where it’s almost a reverse sweetheart? I love it!

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

I'm not sure, sorry

[@suzijw825]

Do you live in Germany?

[@LualaDy]

very interesting ^^

[@Veronica-pz4gw]

As someone who is Bavarian, thank you for saying the Dirndl Tracht is Bavarian. Everyone calls it German. It’s not.

[@aureyd2515]

What a great idea! But, that will quickly bog down for a lot of us :D Going by my DNA that would be Scandinavian, Irish, Central Europe (?), Italian, Basque.. And yeah, my family identifies as English, lol.

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

The German version of what we in Norway call Bunad.

[@skjaldulfr]

The origins of the dirndl are not that 17th century dress you showed. Look at the 16th century images of trossfrauen. Those are closer to dirndls than your 17th century dress.

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Thank you for your information. That dress was only illustration, showing how in general 17th century dresses looked like.

[@baharr8849]

Beautiful german culture

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Indeed 🥰

[@pazziejohanna2705]

Good video but you could do some pauses while speeking, it would be easier to listen too

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

Yeah, but I was already worried about the length of the video, imagine if I didn't cut the pauses out it would be twice as long

[@josefinebrannlund7297]

🍀

[@AspiringCostumeDesigner]

🍀🍀

[@t4t6cn4hoatay5]

I love your video So nice . Fvv

[@misssilvit]

😅Was ist ein Dirndl... ❤Greatings from Germany

[@nacht-eil]

The craziest part if this for me is I’m 60 percent germanic and we’ve been in America since the first boats 😂 (Don’t come for me, the Anabaptists aka Amish were being murdered for religious reasons. They had no other choice but to escape as far away as they could or end up drowned in the Rhine)

[@KarenFields-d2t]

Very informative and accurate information, but PLEASE pronounce Dirndl correctly. It is pronounced Deern dl, not Drn dl. I love your accent and was surprised that you mispronounced Dirndl the American way. Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed this video, despite that pronunciation hiccup!

[@junamunoz1857]

Your doing God's work

[@_jackdoll]

First thing first: You're beautiful, and with the dirndl, you're a thousand times more beautiful.