We are headed to Oktoberfest this year and it will be our first time there (and for some of us our first time to Germany). I look at the Oktoberfest web site and see everyone dressed up. So I have decided to dress up myself. I bought my husband lederhosen online, and I am making my self a dirndl. Are we going to look like total fools? I think it sounds like tons of fun. I have read that dressing up went out of style in the 80's but its coming back in style again. Please reassure me that we will have fun and not look like stupid Americans!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19093 posts
Last October, on the final Saturday night of Octoberfest, I rode the regional train in from the Starnbergersee/Ammersee region to Munich Pasing, and it was loaded with people in Trachten, tradional dress of the area, Lederhosen and Dirndls, going into the last night of Octoberfest. So, that kind of dress would not be inappropriate. However, realize also that these people are all wearing the traditional dress of their town - the patterns and even the stitching have been preserved for centuries. I don't know that there is such a thing as a generic Tracht. Maybe you need a sign that says "tourist". Tell them it is the Des Moines Tracht. Hey, the only reason people go to Oktoberfest anyway is to act like fools (drink lots of beer and do crazy things). Join the crowd and have fun. Prost!
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
The locals do dress up and look great in their traditional outfits.
Tourists dressing up won't look any sillier than Chevy Chase in European Vacation. Maybe they'll ask your husband to join in a slap dance (although as I recall those were Austrian clothes and dances)!
Many young local men do a neo-traditional dress that I'm tempted to emulate. Essentially various length cargo shorts and hiking boots with traditional over the calf socks and a pair of suspenders. Add a beer themed t-shirt and a traditional hat and you're ready for the party.