Everyday Dirndl

Sartorial Saturday–Valentinstag

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Or, if you’re German, Valentinstag. From what I understand, it’s pretty 50/50 whether or not you celebrate this holiday in Germany, but even if it’s not a popular holiday there, I still wanted to use my red Everyday Dirndl from Rare Dirndl as the basis of a themed outfit! I added a bright pink apron, plus flowers and hearts to celebrate the day:

Here’s a closer look at my accessories, including both a heart edelweiss necklace and an edelweiss wrap bracelet turned necklace with a red cord. I also added a touch of retro with my pink and red stack of Splendette Duchess Bangles and an Erstwilder brooch:

I love a good twirl!

When I was younger, I always thought you couldn’t wear pink and red together, but in retrospect, I have no idea why, because I really like the combination!

You can’t have Valentine’s Day without flowers, so I added my red floral crown:

I love a bright and cheerful outfit, especially in the middle of winter!

Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day!

Sartorial Saturday–Inspired by Cinderella

Last year (how weird is that?!?), I shared a costume-y dirndl look for Halloween, using my purple dirndl as the base for an “Evil Queen”-inspired outfit…now here’s a look at a dirndl “Disney Bound” that I would (and have) actually wear out and about on a normal day: Cinderella style!

I used my periwinkle Everyday Dirndl as the base for my look, and added the silver apron from my harlequin dirndl to capture the Cinderella vibe:

For accessories, I wore an edelweiss wrap bracelet as a choker, and added a blue ribbon with a sparkly hair clip to my hair, and sparkly silver (but not glass!) shoes. For a little extra bling, I also added my charivari chain.

Just for fun, I also created a “before transformation” look for Cinderella using a dirndl, too…I’d wear this one just about anywhere as well! The apron is the same, but I wore it with my herbology dirndl, a less fancy blouse, and added a bandana to my hair:

It’s really fun to combine my love of Disney with my love of my heritage!

Sartorial Saturday–The Top Five Dirndl Looks of 2023

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!

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!

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 Rare Dirndl Design Studio

Last week, Bunny and I got to visit Erika Neumayer’s Rare Dirndl Design Studio in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago!

It’s a small studio, which is why you need an appointment to visit, but they pack a lot of great items into the space, including jewelry and other accessories, dirndls, blouses, and even their denim lederhosen! You also get a look at the design space, plus some of the special items they’re working on.

While we were there, Erika showed me a poster she had on display at German Fest in Milwaukee at the end of July. You can imagine how tickled I was to see myself featured front and center!

Bunny was searching for a necklace to go with her dirndl (she found a great one that’s just her style!), but I didn’t have anything too specific I was shopping for. I did have something in mind that I wanted but I wasn’t even sure it existed…a fancy zipper pull to add a little extra bling to my dirndls. I was thrilled to discover Rare Dirndl had just what I had imagined! I picked up a beautiful heart and flower design that I can add to any of my dirndls (but I especially like the way it looks with my periwinkle Everyday Dirndl!):

It was so great to tour the studio (we even got to peek in the basement!), do a little shopping, learn about more about the design process, and especially meet Erika, her adorable children who were helping out that day, and Maria, the studio manager, who kindly took our picture:

I’m so glad we got to stop at the studio when we were in the city!

Sartorial Saturday–The Everyday Dirndl

I’ve already shared my experiences with shopping for unique and beautiful dirndls with Rare Dirndl…now it’s time for a look at something a little more subtle from their shop, but still a form of National Dress that reflects my heritage!

Rare Dirndl offers an “Everyday Dirndl,” which has the same great structure and design as all of their dresses, but in a a solid color palette, where the apron matches the dress. There are also no hooks or ribbons on the front of the dress (although there is an option to add those for an additional fee), so at first glance, anyone who sees you out and about in your dirndl will think it’s a simple sundress…perfect for the first-time dirndl wearer!

I kept my accessories simple for this look, with some Homes Bracelets and a RockLove Nightmare Before Christmas necklace.

Oh, and my Docs, which are the perfect footwear for this dress!

I clearly have no qualms about wearing a full dirndl in public, but I had to get this more simple one because it’s my very favorite color, Pantone’s Color of the Year, periwinkle. The Everyday Dirndl is also available in a multitude of other colors, too, which vary by season.

Because the Everyday Dirndl is made in an easy-to-care-for fabric, you don’t have to worry as much about getting it dirty, since you can throw it in the washing machine!

The Everyday Dirndl is a made-to-order item, which means you have to be patient while it’s created, but that also means that it’s customizable which makes it feel even more one-of-a-kind! I’m looking forward to seeing what colors are available in the future, because you never know when you just need to add another dirndl to your closet!