The History of the Dirndl

From workwear to fashionable clothing

Munich, often described in the press as the capital of traditional costumes, is home to many smaller companies and designers who are constantly reinterpreting the traditional dirndl and introducing new cuts, colors and patterns. Every season, you are surprised by numerous new collections. Noh Nee Dirndl à l'Africaine has been actively involved since 2010.

But where does the dirndl actually come from?

The History of the Dirndl

The word Dirndl refers to Prostitute - the term for a young woman, often referring to a maid from the country. The forerunner of the Dirndl was the simple everyday and work clothing of the rural population in southern Germany and Austria. This work clothing gave rise to the traditional dress around 1870, which resembles today's Dirndl cut. At the end of the 19th century, it was finally discovered by the urban population and taken out of its original context. It was now considered chic to wear the dress on trips to the country or in your free time.

The dirndl gained international fame in the 1930s with the operetta “Im weissen Rößl”, which achieved cult status.

After a period of disinterest, a new trend for traditional costumes began to emerge in the 1990s: today, Oktoberfest is unthinkable without the diverse interpretations of dirndls and lederhosen, the counterpart for men. Dirndls are often combined with plain white blouses that end just below the chest. They come in various designs, made of cotton, with lace or flounces. Dirndls also often have a petticoat and are worn with an apron that is tied around the waist and reveals a lot about the wearer's marital status - more about this here .

The Dirndl today

Nowadays, a distinction must be made between popular fashion costumes and traditional costumes, with the dirndl being seen more as a fashionable item of clothing. Fashionable dirndls with shorter skirts are often worn at folk festivals such as the Oktoberfest and are now almost as popular with tourists and visitors as they are with the locals.

This cultural heritage is still maintained in traditional costume associations and, especially in rural areas, various regionally different traditional costumes can be found. In the past, for example, traditional clothing provided information about the socioeconomic status of the wearer, which could be seen from the number of buttons or pleats in the skirt. The origin can still be recognized today by looking at traditional costumes that are typical for a particular area. Additional accessories such as certain hoods, details or certain colors for the aprons are specified and provide information about the wearer.

The dirndls by Noh Nee consist of a tight-fitting bodice and a wide flared skirt; a dress inspired by the 50s that particularly flatters the female body with the emphasis on the waist and chest area.

Noh Nee loosens up the idea of ​​a more traditional dirndl ensemble: many of the dirndl cuts do not require a blouse underneath. The apron has been replaced by a waistband, the cummerbund, to match the self-image of a modern woman.