My custom dirndl is off to be sewn! Check out the amazing butterfly-print fabric Erika found for the lining!
Sartorial Saturday…on a Wednesday–The Custom Dirndl Experience: Part Four
dirndl
Oktoberfest 2024
It’s time for a look back at all of the Oktoberfest fun we’ve enjoyed over the last month or so!
We started close to home toward the end of September, with Belleville Oktoberfest, which begins even before the big celebration in Munich. It’s not my favorite Oktoberfest, but it’s easy to attend, and I love any reason to wear a dirndl!
Next up was my favorite area Oktoberfest, in St. Charles, MO. This year’s event was interesting because it was super muddy, but still a lot of fun, with music, dancing, food, and shopping.
We went back to Zootoberfest at the St. Louis Zoo…they still have the best pretzels!
New to us this year was Soulard’s Oktoberfest in St. Louis. There was more good music with the added bonus of a stroll through the Soulard Market.
And finally, our family Oktoberfest, once all of the other area celebrations had wrapped up. We started with an Oktoberfest Eve meal of brats and sauerkraut, plus German tater tots inspired by the ones we tried in Soulard, and apple strudel made by Ladybug for dessert.
Of course I had to put together one more look featuring Rare Dirndl, and it was also a bit of a Disney Bound, as a nod to the Disney Princess with my favorite fashion sense, Rapunzel!
We made pretzels, and instead of fondue, I made Obatzda, a German cheese spread that’s great on the pretzels.
For dinner we had all of my German favorites…Schweineschnitzel, spaetzle, and rotkohl….all homemade, too!
Every good holiday deserves a special drink…I made an apple pie mocktail with apple cider, caramel syrup, cinnamon, and ginger beer. It tasted like fall in a glass, and I even learned how to make an apple fan for a garnish!
And for dessert, one of our family’s all-time favorites–Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte!
I’m kind of sad that Oktoberfest season is over already…it’s become something I really look forward to every year!
Sartorial Saturday…on a Wednesday–The Custom Dirndl Experience: Part Three
Erika followed up on the sketches she made for my custom dirndl very quickly, and I had the swatches in the mail yesterday!
It was so exciting to see the fabric and trim bits she had chosen, and just like the sketches, they were exactly what I had in mind, from the bold yellow for the bodice to the sheer green of the apron, which will allow the pattern to peek through. I also love that she included two options for the pink trim…it’s so nice to have choices! I’m so excited to see it all come together!!!
Sartorial Saturday…on a Sunday–The Custom Dirndl Experience: Part Two
This weekend I have a bonus Sartorial Saturday (on a Sunday), because I’m so excited to already have an update on my custom dirndl experience with Rare Dirndl!
Less than a week after she received the Mary Blair dress I sent her, Erika put together three sketches of potential transformations based on the conversation we had:
I was expecting there to be some back and forth to hammer out the details, but when I looked at the very first sketch she sent me, I realized that was going to be unnecessary, because she had drawn EXACTLY what I wanted. I actually cried, it’s so perfect. Some details were things we had discussed…I had mentioned an interest in a yellow bodice for the dress, and a somewhat sheer fabric for the apron so that the butterfly print would still be visually present. But she picked precisely the shade of green for the apron I had imagined, and added some pink braid trim to the bodice, which I also had in mind. I hadn’t brought up all of these small details, because I couldn’t actually picture how they would look in my mind, and I wanted to see what Erika would come up with because I really trust her fashion and design instincts. As it turns out, she understands the vision I have for this project just as well, if not better, than I do!
Next Erika is going to be sourcing fabrics and trim and sending me swatches…I hope what she finds is as gorgeous as the sketches she drew!
Sartorial Saturday–The Custom Dirndl Experience: Part One
Did you know Rare Dirndl makes custom dirndls? In addition to bridal dirndls, Erika will create a completely new look for you that represents something important in your life, or she’ll transform an old dirndl that is no longer in style into something more modern, or a regular (or not-so-regular) dress with sentimental meaning into a new creation. I’ve been mulling this over for a couple of years, and then spent some time on the waitlist (you have to fill out a form, and if your project is accepted, wait for your turn to come up), and today I had my custom dirndl kick-off meeting with Erika on Zoom!
I’ve spent a lot of time considering what kind of custom dirndl would best reflect me. As I pondered this while saving my money (custom fashion isn’t cheap!), I knew that it would have to be something truly special, and for a long time, I couldn’t actually think of anything that would be worth the time, money, and effort. And then in the early spring (actually, during Mary Blair March), it hit me! I could have an old dress with a style that I never really liked that features illustrations by Mary Blair that I absolutely love turned into the dirndl of my dreams! What better way to honor my favorite artist who is famous for designing “It’s a Small World” than by having a dress with her art turned into national dress like you might see on the ride?!?
The one thing about the dress that I actually do like is the twirl of the skirt. It’s a bit too long for my liking, but it has a spin like no other. That was one of the primary things I was hoping to carry forward into the project, and Erika said that she should be able to make that work for me! While I love my dirndl collection, I’m really excited about having one special one with a full skirt like my retro wardrobe, brining my love of two different types of fashion together in one piece.
We talked about styles, like whether I’d prefer the bodice to have a square or sweetheart neckline, colors (especially important because color styling was arguably the thing for which Mary Blair was best known), and small details like trim and lacing. Once we had all the preliminary ideas hammered out, I dropped the dress in the mail, and I’m looking forward to seeing sketches and receiving swatches of fabric that will be part of my new dress.
This will be an ongoing project that will last several months, and I can’t wait to share the next step of the custom dirndl process…stay tuned!
Sartorial Saturday–A Floral Apron for Summer
After missing out on last year’s summer apron from Rare Dirndl, I knew for sure that I wanted to add this year’s model to my wardrobe.
I absolutely love the vibrant color palette…the pops of green are especially pretty! I love the lines of flowers, too!
I was originally planning on pairing this apron with “Die Heimat” dirndl, but as I was looking at the colors in the apron, I realized that one of the magenta-colored stripes is almost the exact same color as the “Magician” dirndl, so I went with that, adding a matching turquoise ribbon to lace up the front to tie it all together. I can’t believe how beautifully the colors paired!
I went with bright blues for my accessories, too, with an edelweiss wrap bracelet from Rare Dirndl and a pair of hair flowers. I also added an edelweiss necklace and the edelweiss earrings the Fab Five gave me for my birthday…they’re so pretty!
It’s rather a bold color combination, but that just makes me love it more!
I also took some bonus pictures in Lafayette Park, and the park is too pretty not to share them!
I’m loving this summery apron, but is it too early to start thinking about what kind of Christmas aprons Rare Dirndl might offer this year?
Sartorial Saturday–Fusion Fashion
The Fourth of July is quickly approaching, and I have an outfit that reflects the red, white, & blue of America while honoring my Austrian heritage!
I paired a white lace dirndl blouse, the dress from “Die Heimat” dirndl with red lacings, and the solid red apron from my Everyday Dirndl for this look:
I added lots of red accessories, including an edelweiss bracelet, a beaded necklace, and a floral crown:
Here’ s a closer look at the lacing and the pretzel zipper charm, which is something that appeals to all cultures!
I think it’s the perfect fashion for the Fourth!
How do you mix your cultural heritage with your present-day life?
Sartorial Saturday–The 2024 Charity Apron
Following the lemon apron of 2022 and the sunflower apron of 2023, Rare Dirndl is back with another charity apron…this time, they’re supporting the Clean Air Task Force, whose mission is “to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.” In keeping with the earthy theme, the print on the apron features mushrooms, flowers, and foliage in natural colors, with grey denim ties.
I accessorized with a floral crown, my stag statement necklace, and an edelweiss wrap bracelet and clip, which I wore as a brooch:
I felt like my Herbology dirndl and Birkenstocks were the perfect folksy pieces for this look!
This was the outfit I chose for Maifest at Grant’s Farm…I got tons of compliments (and was also mistaken for one of the dancers!)!
Here’s a closer look at the print and lovely bow:
I love that Rare Dirndl supports charities, and also that I get introduced to new charities I hadn’t heard of before!
I’m already looking forward to seeing who they’ll support next year!
17 (Going on 18)
Today is Ladybug’s 17th birthday! She got up extra early this morning so we could get a start on celebrating, especially opening presents, before Moose left for school!
I was so excited about our gift to her…she received her first dirndl!
A lot of her birthday ended up being Lilo and Stitch themed (with a good helping of Tron Legacy and Star Wars: The Bad Batch thrown in).
She asked for pineapple salsa from the Lilo and Stitch Cookbook for lunch:
She picked dinner recipes from cookbooks that reflect her various interests…honey lemonade from The Ultimate Final Fantasy XIV Online Cookbook, spinach salad with shallot vinaigrette from Destiny: The Official Cookbook, and 626 Experimental Fried Rice from the Lilo and Stitch Cookbook.
Her birthday cake, a guava celebration cake, was also from the Lilo and Stitch Cookbook:
We had a really fun day, and I loved having a chance to celebrate another year of this beautiful life for my daughter!
Sartorial Saturday–A Touch of Magic
Did you ever think the word “luxurious” could be applied to a dirndl?
To be honest, it’s not a word I would have associated with my favorite form of national dress, either, but here we are. When Rare Dirndl offered a 50% off sale last month, I knew that it was (possibly my only) chance to add another piece from the “Zirkus” collection to my wardrobe…this time, the Magician dirndl. I had been admiring it since it first came out, and at half off, how could I resist?!?
I accessorized with an edelweiss necklace and bracelet, and a comb from Vixen by Micheline Pitt that is the perfect elegant hair accessory for this look:
I love the deep color of the dress and apron:
The fabric of the dress is so pretty, and catches the light so well!
Here’s a close-up look at the luxury. The beautiful jacquard dress, the sumptuous velvet apron, and the hooks, ribbon trim, and even bodice lining all scream opulence:
I love how it looks with my black lace dirndl blouse, but I’m already thinking about other ways to style it, too!
I can’t wait to see what Rare Dirndl comes up with next!