Germany

German cap avaIn the 18th-19th century, German ladies – both peasants and high-status women – traditionally covered their hair with various headdresses. And tight-fitting caps richly adorned with decorations were among the most popular items. These headpieces kept the hair in place, gave a woman the appropriate appearance, and looked beautiful. There were even so-called “gold caps” that were so densely embroidered with metallic threads that they shone like the sun.

lederhosen avaIf you’re studying fashion history or simply are a folk costume lover, Germany is the country you definitely should visit. There are so many costume museums in Germany! And you can not only learn a lot about German traditional and historical clothing but find costumes and textiles from all over Europe and even all over the world. This country is a real Mecca for tourists interested in these areas. So, here is a useful list of folk costume museums in Germany.

Hats avaThis collection of truly sophisticated and charming hats is from The Deutsches Technikmuseum (German Museum of Technology). German dames preferred to wear such headdresses when going to the public at the beginning of the 20th century. The shapes, styles, materials, and sizes of these hats are different, some of them even look quite weird and not very appealing at first glance. But that’s the idea – every woman could be unique, could find headwear that suited her taste, mood, and appearance. Sometimes I miss small ladies’ hats of strange design that were so popular in their time.

German Renaissance avaThere are so many articles and videos about the aristocratic outfits from the 16th century in England, France, Italy, etc. But what about Germany? What clothing did German men wear in the 1500s? And did it differ much from English high-class costumes? Let’s find out. In this material, we’ll unveil some curious facts about European 16th-century male clothes, show you a nice modern reproduction of that period’s attire, and introduce you to the secrets of German Renaissance men’s clothing, with all its peculiarities.

lederhosen avaBavaria is one of those areas where old clothing traditions are still preserved and estimated. The local folk costume – dirndl for women and lederhosen for men – are worn not only for festivals and folk events but in daily life. Even today, in the 21st century. Moreover, these traditional articles of clothing are very fashionable today. Many famous designers make modern handmade dirndls and lederhosen and sell them for thousands of euros.

Dirndl dress avaA lot of people think that German traditional women’s dress is very pretty and even kind of sexy. Well, it definitely is feminine and it’s cut so that it visually improves a female figure and highlights her natural curves. The dirndl suits most of the women, regardless of the body type. But there is much more to it than just a deep decollete and puffy sleeves. Let’s look at the German dirndl a little bit closer and talk about its details.

Dirndl knot avaGuys, do you want to know for sure, which local girls are up for a flirt at the Oktoberfest? There’s one indication only Germans and Austrians know about. Just look at their Dirndl dress (female national costume of Germany and Austria): the knot on the apron shows the marital status of a woman. The knowledge will help you to avoid a fight with an enraged husband.

lederhosen avaShort breeches with suspenders made from leather and decorated with embroidery may look a little bit odd on a grown-up man. But go try to tell it to Germans or Austrians! It’s their traditional garment which is being used for centuries. Even today, you’ll see dozens of males wearing lederhosen – that’s how such trousers are called – on the streets of Austria and Germany, particularly Bavaria.

family avaBavaria (or the Free State of Bavaria) is the biggest state of Germany. And it is a unique territory which differs from other parts of Germany. People in Bavaria continue to keep their traditions (which are rather long-standing) even today, in the 21st century. Bavarian traditional costume is called "Tracht": "dirndl dresses" for women and "lederhosen" for men. And local people wear them with great proud.