edelweiss

Sartorial Saturday–Everyday Red

I already shared how I styled my newest Everyday Dirndl from Rare Dirndl in honor of the Austrian flag…now it’s time to take a look at the Everyday Dirndl as it was designed, with its matching red apron.

I kept my accessories fairly simple…a black edelweiss bracelet, a red and white necklace, and an edelweiss hair clip:

I also added a new accessory for the first time. I’ve been looking at adding a charivari chain to my wardrobe for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I could have had a chain lace-up sewn onto the Everyday Dirndl for an added fee (that’s another one of the personalizations Rare Dirndl offers like the “Surprise Me” apron), but I decided that with a charivari I would have more options, because I can wear it with my other dirndls. I love the charms on it, and it adds such a nice touch to the bodice of the dress!

I decided to wear my black lace blouse this time…black and red together is such a classic look. I almost wish I had a black petticoat to were instead of the grey one I usually wear!

I just can’t resist frolicking like I’m in the Sound of Music in a dirndl!

The Everyday Dirndl is such a great choice because there are so many different things you can do with it!

I still have quite a few other ideas for styling this dirndl, but the one I’m most excited about is wearing it for Christmas with the newest apron I ordered…stay tuned!

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!

Mani Monday

Today is the first of a series of three very special Mani Mondays featuring looks that represent the flags of my heritage. I’m beginning with the one closet to me, the red and white flag of Austria, the birthplace of my grandfather. I alternated Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red” with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Get Mod” to create the stripes, and of course I couldn’t leave out the edelweiss!

Sartorial Saturday–Colorful Harlequin

Late last winter, Rare Dirndl announced a new collection that they were offering in a new way. The Zirkus collection, which was introduced with five dirndls plus a dirndl vest, was crowdfunded before it was put into a production…like a Kickstarter without the middle man. The full collection was funded fairly quickly, including my favorite piece, the Harlequin!

This beautiful dirndl, which was “inspired by the playful and colorful world of harlequins…is full of energy, fun, and whimsy.” As soon as I saw it, I fell in love, because I had been dreaming of a harlequin print dirndl which would reflect not only my love of German national dress but also vintage patterns. It’s even more beautiful in person than in the sketches, with a bodice featuring shades of green and orange, a lovely copper-colored skirt, and a pretty, sheer apron. It was designed with a mini skirt, but Erika at Rare Dirndl kindly offered to make mine in my regular mid-length, instead!

I accessorized, as I so often do, with lots of edelweiss:

I also added my first-ever Rare Dirndl brooch, which is a fun pin with, you guessed it, more edelweiss and a charm in the perfect shade to go with the dress!

To start, I paired it with a black lace sparkle dirndl blouse…I think the darker color adds a bit of elegance, and is also great for fall (if fall ever gets here!).

It also looks great with an ivory blouse!

This may be my prettiest dirndl yet…it’s definitely the most colorful!!!

I can’t wait to see what Rare Dirndl comes up with next!

Sartorial Saturday…On a Sunday–A New Apron for Easter

I had such a fun time wearing “Heiligen Tracht” for Easter last year, I decided to do it again! I knew I wanted to wear my “Everyday Dirndl” from Rare Dirndl, because it’s such a beautiful shade of blue for spring, and when I saw that Rare Dirndl started offering their Embroidered Rosette Apron in a new medium length in addition to the mini version they already sold, I knew that I had to pair the magenta apron with the dirndl!

It’s an amazingly vibrant color, especially with the blue shining through, and the embroidery makes it feel extra fancy:

I feel like a beautifully colored Easter egg!

Of course I had to wear my flower crown again:

In addition to my standard edelweiss accessories (I even borrowed Bunny’s pink wrap bracelet), I also added an Erstwilder Pysanky egg brooch…I think it’s the first time I’ve worn a brooch with a dirndl, and it’s perfect both for the holiday and for my color scheme!

I’m so happy with how the whole look turned out!

I’m already planning on the next way I’m going to wear this apron…luckily, it will go well with two of my other dirndls!

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–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!

Sartorial Saturday…On a Sunday–Heiligen Tracht For Easter

This Easter, I decided to go with something completely different, fashion-wise!

As I understand it, the Tyrol region of Austria has a tradition of “Heiligen Tracht,” holy folk-costume, which is traditional dress like this dirndl that is worn only for church holidays, not secular drinking days. As I have worn this dirndl almost exclusively to church, and never to a drinking festival, I thought it fit the bill perfectly for Easter!

Instead of my traditional “Easter bonnet,” I paired it with a flower crown, as well as an edelweiss necklace and wrap bracelet. All these flowers are perfect for spring!

I love how the whole look came together…the lace dirndl blouse is perfect for spring!

I’ve now worn a dirndl for Christmas and Easter…which holiday will be my next dirndl holiday?