apron

Sartorial Saturday–Inspired by Austria

I have shared quite a few looks featuring dirndls, aprons, and blouses (not to mention accessories!) from Rare Dirndl, but my new red Everyday Dirndl is extra special, because my inspiration for styling it came from the red and white Austrian flag, the flag of my grandfather’s birth country!

My accessories are also inspired by Austria, with a red flower crown, a pair of Rare Dirndl necklaces (one an edelweiss, and one inspired by the Austrian flag itself!), an edelweiss clip in place of a brooch, and a red edelweiss wrap bracelet. I’m also wearing edelweiss earrings, but you can’t really see them.

The Everyday Dirndl comes with an apron in the same color and fabric as the dress, but you have an option of adding a “Surprise Me” apron to your order, and Erika will choose something from her stock that she thinks will look great with your dirndl. This was my first experience with this apron, and I asked her if she’d be willing to find me something special in white to complete my Austrian flag-inspired look, and she obliged. I couldn’t have designed something more perfect myself!

The “Surprise Me” apron is so lovely…it has gorgeous flowers embroidered on it, lots of sparkle, and a tie that is red on one side and white on the other.

I feel like I could go frolicking in the Alps in this outfit!

I added a new white lace dirndl blouse to my wardrobe, as well. It has an absolutely gorgeous neckline!

This whole look is everything I dreamed it would be, and I like to thank my grandfather would be happy to see me in it!

I continue to be impressed with the quality of Rare Dirndl’s products, their fabulous customer service, and the way they help me honor my heritage in a fresh, modern, unique way!

Sartorial Saturday–A Simple Closet Hack

It’s not often that I have a closet hack to share that makes storage easier/more efficient, but today I’m taking a look at how I store my dirndl aprons:

If you’re thinking to yourself, “That looks like an over-the-door shoe organizer” you’re right! I have actually used this particular trick to store my collection of cropped cardigans for years, but recently, I thought about trying it out with my aprons, too…I had been hanging them over my dirndls, and the ties were trailing everywhere, plus it was hard to see what I had, because they were layered on top of each other. I used one of the larger pocket shoe organizers, because I didn’t want to roll the aprons so tightly that I’d have to worry about ironing them, and it worked out great…no more tripping over apron ties hanging down to the floor, and I can see my entire collection with one quick glance!

Do you have any tricks you use to make your closet more organized?

Sartorial Saturday–A Fancy Floral Apron

Recently, Erika at Rare Dirndl reached out to me and asked if she could send me an apron in return for some of my photos she’s used on her website. She even offered me a selection of choices that she knew would go well with the dirndls I already own, and as soon as I saw this beautiful embroidered floral mesh and lace apron (the same one that comes with the lovely new “Sweet Iris” dirndl, I believe), in a lovely taupe-y/silver-y/champagne-y color, I knew it was the one!

I’m a huge fan of sheer aprons, because of how well the color of the dress shows through them…it also means they take on a completely different look with each dirndl you pair them with! Here I’m wearing it with my beautiful periwinkle Everyday Dirndl:

I accessorized, as I often do, with flowers, including a floral crown, my edelweiss necklace and an edelweiss clip in place of a brooch, my edelweiss earrings (I promise they’re there!), plus some Homes bracelets:

This is such a pretty look for summer, but I think it will transition well throughout the seasons:

I do love experimenting with different dirndl/apron combinations!

I’m really looking forward to pairing this gorgeous apron with more of the dirndls in my wardrobe…stay tuned!

Sartorial Saturday–The Summer 2023 Charity Apron

Last summer, Rare Dirndl introduced a charity apron in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand…they’re back this year with a beautiful sunflower edition supporting Mercy Corps, an organization with a mission to “to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities.”

Mercy Corps is currently on the ground in Ukraine (thus the beautiful sunflower print with contrasting blue ribbon in the apron ties), as well as Romania and Poland, and they are working specifically to aid Ukrainian refugees by supporting organizations that provide medical supplies and food items.

I accessorized with (what else?), lots of flowers! I kind of wish I had a floral crown with sunflowers, but at least the blue flower in this one matches the ribbon on the apron, right? I also pinned my edelweiss clip to my dirndl in place of a brooch. I didn’t wear my edelweiss necklace this time, though…instead I went bold with my stag!

This is not just an apron with a conscience, it’s also perfect for summer! Since it is such a great look for warm weather, I swapped out the shoes I normally pair with dirndls for a pair of well-loved Birkenstocks, and I think they’re the perfect footwear for this dress and apron combo!

I really want to wear this to a sunflower field when they’re in full bloom!

Erika kindly gifted me this apron, so I didn’t have to make a purchase to help fund the charity’s effort. Instead, I made a donation directly to the organization, and I encourage you to find a charity to support this summer, too!

Sartorial Saturday–What a Difference an Apron Makes!

One of my favorite things about dirndl-wearing is how much you can change the look of the dress by adding a different apron (changing the color of the ribbon lacing also makes a difference)! While I love the pairings of my four dirndls with the aprons they were designed with, I also love experimenting with different looks…I have a total of 10 aprons now, so I have lots of options!

To begin, a look at my very first dirndl, the solid colored “Purple and Floral” dirndl. Not only do I wear it with the flower print apron it came with, but I’ve also styled it with both of my Christmas aprons, a lovely plaid, and my lemon print charity apron from last summer…which look is your favorite?

If I don’t want it to be obvious that I’m wearing a dirndl (who am I kidding…I always want it to be obvious!), I wear my “Everyday Dirndl” with its matching, solid apron, but I’ve also mixed it up with two different lace aprons and the lemon-print…what do you think?

My “Die Heimat” is my most versatile dirndl, as you can see from the fact that I’ve worn it with a total of six different aprons (and counting!). The stag print is the one that came with the dirndl, but I’ve also paired the dress with both of my Christmas aprons, my extra fancy crystal apron, the lemon print (again!), and most recently, my magenta lace apron, which is my new favorite look…what’s yours?

And finally, my “Herbology” dirndl, which came with a plaid apron and also a bonus lace apron, giving me two options right off the bat. I also love the way it looks with my crystal apron, the stag print from “Die Heimat” (very Sound of Music!) and my newest Christmas apron…which do you like best?

Stay tuned to see how I style my dirndls next!

Sartorial Saturday–A Year of Dirndl-Wearing

In 2021, I received my first (and second) dirndls. Throughout the course of the year, I added two more, and now in addition to the four dirndls, I have a total of nine aprons, four dirndl blouses, and a whole bunch of fun accessories. I didn’t get them to just have them hang in my closet, though, so I made a point of dirndl-ing up at least once a month this year. I’ve worn Heiligen Tracht for Easter and Christmas, I’ve traveled to Chicago in one, and I was able to wear a dirndl to Oktoberfest and Grant’s Farm for the first time (among other places). Here’s a look back at my year of dirndl-wearing.

And a closer look at some of my favorite dirndl accessories (including lots of edelweiss!):

I’m looking forward to wearing my dirndls to even more places this year!

Sartorial Saturday…On a Sunday–Festive Fashion in the Deep Freeze

Merry Christmas!

Time for a look at this year’s festive fashion, heavily influenced by the Arctic weather we’ve been having. The chill made warm clothing a must on Christmas Eve, so I added a cape and beret (and red tights), to my usual Christmas dress. I also added a Christmas Splendette stack, my favorite sparkly Christmas brooch, and equally sparkly silver shoes.

Even at home, I had to dress with the cold in mind, so I threw a cardigan on over my Miss Candyfloss dressing gown:

The faux fur collar on my cape is removable, so I changed up its look on Christmas Day. This time I wore a Rare Dirndl and my new Christmas apron, plus a flower crown that arrived just in time for Christmas. I accessorized with edelweiss, a brand-new Homes bracelet, and some Erstwilder brooches:

I kind of enjoyed having truly cold weather for Christmas, especially since it allowed me to dress a little differently this year!

Sartorial Saturday–Oktoberfest

For the first time, I had national dress to wear to Oktoberfest! I went with my newest piece from Rare Dirndl, the Herbology dirndl, and I dressed it up with my fanciest apron:

I planned my outfit carefully, including some lovely Edelweiss accessories and a not-quite-Alpine hat:

I even painted my nails in lovely fall colors for the occasion!

I decided to try something different when it came to footwear…I went with ankle boots, and I love how they went with the outfit!

I’m really happy with how this look came together!

Here’s a pair of photos from the event:

And some pictures of the event itself:

It was so much fun to be able to dress for the occasion!

Sartorial Saturday–My Favorite Things

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things.”

The Herbology Dirndl from Rare Dirndl is my fourth dress from them, and it’s the one that most makes me feel like I’ve stepped right out of a scene in The Sound of Music. There’s something about the blue and brown dirndl combined with the plaid apron that just screams frolicking through the Alps to me!

I love the foliage print apron ties!

I also love that this particular style takes some inspiration from Professor Sprout…that makes my Hufflepuff heart happy!

I accessorized with lots of edelweiss (hair clip, earrings, and necklace), plus some beaded bracelets:

I think this will be a great look for fall!

But wait there’s more! When I placed my order, Rare Dirndl was running a special that included a bonus lace apron. According to my middle daughter, this particular pairing makes me look like Cinderella!

There’s such a lovely elegance to a lace apron.

It has the same beautiful foliage print ties as the plaid apron:

But I couldn’t just leave it at that, right? As soon as I saw the colors of the dirndl in person, I knew I had to pair it with my deer print apron from “Die Heimat” dirndl:

That, of course, meant a slight change in accessories, because a deer print apron calls for a bold Hirsch necklace!

This look is just as great as the first two…I love having the ability to mix and match aprons (I have a total of eight of them for my four dirndls).

The best thing about this dirndl is how absolutely versatile it is, and I have yet another styling in mind that I’m planning on trying out for Oktoberfest!

Sartorial Saturday–An Apron with a Conscience

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

When I first saw the Rare Dirndl Lemonade Stand apron, I thought it was pretty. But when I learned that the proceeds from the aprons were going to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to benefit pediatric cancer research, I knew that it wasn’t just pretty, it was also a piece of clothing with a conscience!

I actually didn’t have my purple dirndl in mind when I ordered the apron…at least not for my first styling. But when I saw the lovely color in the flowers, a faint pinkish-purple, I knew that it would be perfect…and I really love purple and yellow together, too!

I went with lots of edelweiss accessories:

It’s such a summery look!

I’d love to see Rare Dirndl do more charity aprons in the future…it’s a great way for me to support both a small business and a good cause!