We have made it to the final step of the Rare Dirndl custom dirndl experience!
On Monday (which just happened to be the 113th anniversary of my Austrian grandfather’s birth!), I opened the custom dirndl shipping box for the last time:
It has been about 11 months since I first inquired about having a custom dirndl made, and almost five months since the kick-off call that really began the process. It was so exciting to see the project come together, and a total thrill to see the finished product!
Since I last saw it (and since the post office tried to lose it!), the final elements were added, including the hooks (a new style for me!), and the lacing. I also got to see the second apron I requested (which has a really cool, new-to-me buckle!), for the first time. No detail was overlooked, including the “Hidden Mickey” I asked Erika to include somewhere on the dress:
Stay tuned for the first of two stylings of my new dirndl on Saturday!
If you’ve been looking closely at my dirndl photos for the last few months, you may have noticed that I added a pair of dirndl socks to my wardrobe:
I have been interested in dirndl socks pretty much since I started wearing Trachten, but I was worried about how knee-high socks would fit my plus-size calves.
Last year, Rare Dirndl imported a few options from designer Luise Steiner, and when I noticed that they came in three sizes, including XXL, which fit shoe sizes 10-14, I figured it was finally time to give them a try. I went with the grey pair, because I thought they would go with most of my dresses (they do!).
They also look great with a wide variety of shoes, including my dirndl-style Mary Janes and also ankle boots, Docs and Adidas.
The fit is fantastic…they’re not too tight at all. The cable knit pattern is really pretty. And they’re a nice, heavy material, which is great for keeping my legs warm in the colder months!
Now that I’ve discovered that I can indeed wear dirndl socks, I may add some other colors to my wardrobe!
Today I’m looking at one of my favorite dirndl accessories…the lederhosen handbag!
When Rare Dirndl imported a batch of these, I knew it would make the perfect addition to my wardrobe. I didn’t really have a bag that went well with my dirndl looks. I love that it’s a nice, neutral olive shade, because it goes with most of my pieces.
There is no mistaking that it’s designed after lederhosen!
The details on the bag are amazing. I especially love the beautiful, detailed buckle on the removable shoulder strap:
It’s the perfect size to hold all my essentials.
I really love that it’s from an Austrian company!
As you can see from the handful of the looks I shared here, it’s very easy to style, and it walks the line between whimsical and practical perfectly!
Rare Dirndl is scheduled to get another shipment of these bags next month, and they always go fast, so if you’re interested, make sure you don’t wait!
It’s been a while since I shared a custom dirndl update!
I received my dress sans apron this week for another fitting. For the most part, the uneven skirt length issues have been sorted out, and I was able to get a feel for how short the skirt actually is. My number one concern was that I wouldn’t be able to wear it with my favorite petticoat, but as you can see here, it works just fine! (It’s a good thing I always let my petticoat show a bit, though!)
The twirl factor is still good, too!
I’ll be sending it back for what I assume will be the final touches…I can’t wait to see how the whole ensemble looks together!
Time for a look back at 2024’s outfits of the day!
I was very intentional about putting together outfits this whole year. I wanted to really wear my wardrobe, so I put together looks for trips to the library and Target and anywhere else I went (except Walmart, because Walmart doesn’t deserve my best except at Christmas when I try to spread a little holiday cheer wherever I go). I think there are over 250 unique looks here, so obviously I didn’t wear something notable every day, but it was the vast majority!
I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep a record like this again in 2025, but it really helps me pay attention to what I’ve worn (and what I’ve neglected), and how I’ve styled things differently, which I really enjoy!
It’s that time of year again…a new Christmas apron from Rare Dirndl has been added to my wardrobe!
This is a newer tradition that I really look forward…once fall hits, I start wondering what this year’s apron will look like. I was super excited to see this green velvet variety with holly-print ties (it was also offered with plaid and Santa-print ties)…velvet just screams “Christmas” to me!
It’s so luxurious, and is such a great match for my elegant brocade dirndl!
I accessorized with a tiny pair of wreath earrings, an Erstwilder brooch worn as a necklace, and a stack of Splendette duchess bangles:
I love wearing a festive dirndl to the Christkindlmarkt in downtown Belleville!
I bought a new pair of ankle boots to go with some of my Miss Candyfloss dresses, but I discovered that they are also a perfect match for my Magician dirndl!
This is such a fun way to dress for Christmas!
What festive fashion are you planning this season?
It’s only been a week, but I already have my Rare Dirndl custom dirndl in hand for a fitting, so here’s an early look at how it’s coming along!
It definitely needs some tweaks…the skirt on the dress I’m having it made from wasn’t straight (which wasn’t entirely a surprise to me in retrospect), so that’s going to need to be adjusted, and may end up being shorter than the dirndls I normally wear, so I’ll have to decide if I’m comfortable with that or if I want to add a border to it. The colors Erika picked are gorgeous, and the apron is especially lovely…I wanted something sheer enough to let the butterfly pattern of the dress show through, and she found just what I had in mind!
I’ll be sending it back so she can work on it some more…stay tuned for the next update!
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!
