Today let’s take a look at a pair of shoes that bring me back to high school…Dr. Martens 8065 Crazy Horse Mary Janes!
I’ve been wanting to get these shoes for well over a year, especially once I saw that they were available in brown. I had a pair very much like them when I was in high school that I loved (although back then, I wasn’t wearing name brand!), and I’ve been thinking about how great they would look with overalls, wide leg jeans, and especially dirndls, which is how I first styled them:
I know they say if you remember wearing a trend when you were younger, you should pass on it when it comes back around, but that’s the brilliant thing about a time-tested company like Dr. Martens…they never went out of style in the first place, and a timeless piece is always appropriate!
It might be autumn, but I am absolutely falling in love with the Frühling dirndl from Rare Dirndl!
I’m actually a little late to the party with this one. Rare Dirndl released a new collection celebrating the four seasons, Jahreszeiten, earlier this year. The four-piece collection ranges from a summery mini dirndl to a longer-length dirndl for autumn as well as a glittery green for winter. The dirndl that caught my eye, however, was the one inspired by spring. The dress is a lovely shade of grey, with a small print on the bodice and a solid skirt. The apron included with the dirndl upon release was a pretty coral, grey, and white floral print, but what really convinced me that I needed to add this dirndl to my wardrobe was the lilac, mint, and white apron that was added as an option when the other fabric sold out. The coral was beautiful, but this is absolutely stunning!
I went with my standard accessories…edelweiss earrings, necklace, and wrap bracelet with a pop of color, plus a floral crown in keeping with the spring theme:
Speaking of accessories, the dirndl came with a lovely edelweiss zipper pull:
The cool grey of the dirndl is so beautiful with the lilac and mint of the apron, but it’s also a nice neutral backdrop that will look fantastic with many of my aprons!
I have gotten so much use out of this lederhosen handbag this Oktoberfest season!
My Docs plus my grey dirndl socks were great accompaniments to this look:
It might be fall, but it was a warm day when I wore the dirndl, and the lightweight fabric was very much appreciated!
Here’s a closer look at the stunning apron…I especially love the tiny print on the tie! And of course the dress has pockets!
I had a lot of fun wearing it for the first time to Oktoberfest in Soulard, St. Louis, MO!
The regal high collar neckline is a little different from my other dirndls, and I really love the fit.
I’m already looking forward to seeing what kind of collection Rare Dirndl might introduce next year!
I know I said yesterday that I was sharing my last “Top Five” photos list of the year, but those were photos I took…today I’m sharing my favorite dirndl looks that I wore this year, which are photos take of me, not by me!
I’m starting back in May, when we went to Maifest at Grant’s Farm. I really love the pops of pink of the apron and ribbon against the darker background of the dress, and I also really love the setting of the picture!
My second Everyday Dirndl was purchased specifically with paying homage to the Austrian flag in mind, and the full look is even better than I hoped. I love the white “Surprise Me” apron Erika created for me, and I think my accessories, which featured lots of edelweiss and pops of white and red, are the perfect accompaniment!
Next up is the look I wore to Belleville Oktoberfest. I borrowed an apron from another dirndl to go with my purple dress, and added my iridescent Docs and some purple accessories to complete the look.
Speaking of borrowing an apron, this is the dress that goes with the apron in the previous photo. This time, I added a fancy, sheer floral apron to my harlequin print dirndl for St. Charles Oktoberfest…I love the autumnal color scheme!
And finally, a look featuring my new Christmas apron. Not the look I wore on Christmas Day (which I also love), but the one I wore to the Belleville Christkindlmarkt, adding a green ribbon and red accessories for a festive look.
I really love finding new ways to mix and match my pieces, and I can’t wait to see what I come up with next!
I don’t always wear retro clothes…sometimes I want to go more casual. And when I do, I often look like it’s still the 90s (so still retro, I guess, and now I feel old)! I have always loved super wide-leg jeans, and I’m really excited that they’re “in” again (this pair is from Lane Bryant, and they’re perfect)! I know, I know…they say if you wore a trend the first time around, you shouldn’t repeat it, but I am (obviously) not one to care about fashion rules!
Just because I go more casual from time to time doesn’t mean I don’t accessorize when I do. And what says 90s more than a bucket hat? I also added a stack of Homes Bracelets (that represent where I was in the 90s), and a RockLove Jewelry necklace from one of my favorite childhood Disney movies…The Little Mermaid.
I added a Disney tank and hoodie to complete the look…I love the color combination!
And my iridescent Docs:
I think I’ve captured the 90s in a pretty fresh way!
Maybe I’ll feature another casual look in the future!
Let’s get straight to the point…the perfect shoes to pair (if you’ll pardon the pun) with your dirndl are the ones you’re comfortable in! Even going to relatively small Oktoberfest and Maifest celebrations, not to mentioning visiting a fairly small Christkindlmarkt, I know there is going to be a lot of walking when I wear a dirndl, so having supportive shoes that you’re comfortable in is super important! But so is style…
When I first ventured into the land of dirndl-wearing, I wanted to wear traditional-looking shoes…typically, black, low-heeled Mary-Jane style shoes. I found a pair from LifeStride that are quite comfortable and easy to wear, and I love the way they look with all of my dresses!
But of course I wasn’t going to stop there. Next I tried a pair of short black boots, which are especially nice with tights in the winter:
Speaking of boots, my iridescent Docs are perfect with my Everyday Dirndl for a kind of punk princess look:
I also like ankle boots, especially in the fall:
And sometimes, when I’m feeling fancy (Hello, Christmas!), I wear sparkly silver t-straps. They are the only pair of shoes that I wear with a dirndl that aren’t comfortable to walk any great distance in, which is why they’re special occasion shoes. (The rest featured here, however, are all great for walking around places like Grant’s Farm and Oktoberfest!)
Speaking of comfort, most recently, I’ve paired my faithful old Birks for summer style!
I still haven’t worn traditional heels with a dirndl, but I have an idea that I may try out eventually…what footwear do you like to wear with a dirndl?
I just got my first pair of Dr. Martens! I’ve been looking at these boots for months, and when they showed up on clearance at Nordstrom Rack, I couldn’t resist!
I don’t do anything by half-measure, so while I did go with the classic 1460 style, I went all-out with the color…iridescent purple! How gorgeous is it?!? And it shifts in the light, so sometimes they look blue, and sometimes almost green!
I love the detail of the star eyelets:
How am I planning on styling these, you may ask? With my overalls, so I can relive the 90s, apparently, and with my dirndls. And any other way I choose!
I’m really excited to add such an iconic and funky item to my wardrobe!
