I'm so excited to be a part of Martyrs' 2nd Annual Krampus Fest! This is a FREE EVENT at Martyrs' near Lincoln Square (3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60613) Rare Dirndl will be one of the local vendors at the Artisan Holiday Market 11am - 4pm and then there is a Krampus Parade 4:30pm and Live Music 5:30pm
It should be a great family friendly event to shop, eat, drink, stomp, chant in celebration of Krampus, St. Nick's dark partner. Wicked good fun!
Last year was the first Krampus fest and it's a day long event paying homage to St. Nick's dark partner, Krampus, because sometimes it's hard to be good! This is a family-friendly fest, so no Krampus beatings. (sorry!)
We will have table at the Holiday Arts Market from 11am-4pm along with other local artisans, crafters, bakers and purveyors of beautiful handmade and homemade gifts. Super cool background mixtapes from DJ LowFi. There will also be delectable sweet and savory edibles: cakes, chocolates, German sausages, potato pancakes, a terrific housemade Glogg and of course, hot cocoa!
Take a picture with Krampus! or St. Nick! Are you feeling naughty or nice? Chillax, we get it! Most days we're both, too! Krampus Parade at 4:30!! Wicked. Cool. Fun
Can't wait to see you there!! But first I need to decide what to wear! I feel like any of these dirndls could fit a Krampus theme, so come to Martyrs' tomorrow so visit my little booth (see which dirndl I chose), meet Krampus and enjoy a truly unique holiday tradition!
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This weekend is the Lincoln Square Art Walk and it's the first time that the Rare Dirndl Designs Studio is participating in the event! As a venue, I worked closely with local artist, Daniel Cleary and will have his artwork displayed in the design studio windows all weekend!
Daniel Cleary was born in Tipperary Town, Ireland. Having developed a passion for painting at an early age, Daniel went to art school in London. From there, he moved to America, became a citizen and has been living in Chicago for the past 30 years.
"My art depends very much on what I take in through my eyes. In seeing, I try to get to the heart of my subject. I am stimulated by what I see and held in thrall by it -- as Delacroix has described it, 'as a snake by a snake charmer'. The artists I have tried to learn from have all had their original stimulus from nature: Cezanne, Van Gogh and Matisse, even Mondrian who talked about plastic values which I understand as a kind of tactile presence. I try to make the subjects I paint or draw immediate to the senses."
To decide which paintings he would display in the windows, he stopped by and took a look at my work and thought that the portraits and still life paintings featuring flowers would compliment the Rare Dirndls nicely. Also in the window is the Love Dirndl.
I designed this dirndl in 2010 after the world lost a beautiful member of the German Community. Fellow Donauschawben dancer and friend, Katie Buchert, lost her battle with breast cancer inspired the Strength in Pink Collection. The love dirndl is still available and the proceeds from that collection benefit the Young Survival Coalition. We have already donated over $800 in Katie's name and can't wait to give more. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we hope to support a great cause and local artists this month with our window display.
Although the studio will not be open this weekend, if you are in the Lincoln Square area, please take a wander around the neighborhood and check out all the local artist's work and the small businesses.
This weekend is full of fun events to accompany the German-American Days here in Lincoln Square!
First is Thursday's event, Vintage Deutsch! The DANK Haus - German American Cultural Center is staging an upscale fashion and wine event celebrating the emergence of Berlin as a "City of Design" and the panoply of German wines. Guests will enjoy mingling with fashion and accessory designers, glass in hand in the gilded Skyline Lounge. Sommeliers from Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe will enlighten guests on the broad spectrum of German wines. Ingrid Kaltenbach, longtime fashion importer with a discerning eye for quality, will exhibit an array of Old World fabrics and trims while I finish up the show with Rare Dirndls that "turns traditional dress into a Saturday night option" Jewelry designer Kristin Hunger offers finishing touches and twists to the Rare Dirndls and all three of us will have a space set up where you can check out the clothes up close! Space is limited, reserve today. So Click HERE to get your tickets today!
Then Saturday and Sunday, I'll have the studio doors open and you can come on in and shop the newest styles, fresh accessories and snatch up the last of our Bavarian Style Hats!
Plus you'll save 10% when you buy a dirndl and a blouse!
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What an AHmazing world cup! Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my best friends and some of the biggest Germany Fussball fans I know. Watching the game with them was so much fun and celebrating the big Germany win was even better! Schnapps all around!!!
But one of my favorite things about this world cup is that I was able to track Germany's trip to the top with the In Bloom Dirndl in the Design Studio windows! Check out how the In Bloom Dirndl was able to represent so many countries in 1 month as well as be the last one standing!
Start out with the Group of Death!
Game 1- Germany vs Portugal: 4-0 WIN
Game 2 - Germany vs Ghana: 2-2 TIED
Game 3 - Germany vs USA: 1-0 WIN
Game 4 - Germany vs Algeria: 2-1 WIN
Game 5 - Germany vs France: 1-0 WIN
Game 6/Semi-finals- Germany vs Brazil
(we all remember this score): 7-1 WIN!
Game 7/FINALS - Germany vs Argentina: 1-0 WIN!
It was an incredible thing to watch and last night (Sunday) my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with things like this:
Sooo much Germany love going around and I intend to help continue to spread it with the current window display! Not only are the In Bloom Dirndl and In Bloom Vest in the window but also the Limited Edition "Weltmeister" Dirndl!
I'm in love with the Bright Yellow/Gold Dirndl (like the World Cup itself) with the German Flag screen printed cotton apron and red and black ribbon lace up bodice. For the window display, I paired with a black off-the-shoulder blouse with gathers but it can be worn with just about any blouse, including the new Blouslette on hot summer days!
While I'm sad that I don't get to stream anymore Germany games in the studio while I work, I couldn't be more proud of my heritage and the team that is putting that 4th star on the jersey!
YAY! Deutschland!
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Well…. last week, it was brought to my attention by Debra from Trachten-Quelle in Canada, that there is a Rare Dirndl Impostor out there!
I guess I've really made it big because a Pakistani manufacturer is copying my designs. I was quite upset about the whole thing, not because they were copying my designs (it's bound to happen in this industry) but because they are so blatantly using my photograph!
I had fire running through my veins! What if people start thinking that Rare Dirndls come from a sweatshop in Pakistan?! Debra also did a little investigating for me and asked for pricing on my designs, and at the price that they are offering, there is no way that the quality can be there! It's impossible… their wholesale cost is less than the cost of just the fabrics! (not to mention that fabric is sold out… so it must be a "similar fabric") Anywooooo… before I get all riled up again about this, let's get to the good stuff!
I want to show you some details that go into a Rare Dirndl that you can't see and I'm sure that the Pakistani manufacturer is not including in their dirndls. The details that we put inside Rare Dirndls is just as important as what is on the outside. Without the inner structure: extra fusible, boning, and pressings… the dirndls wouldn't last very long, look as nice, or fit as well.
All of the dirndls have an extra layer of fabric that is fused to the center front to make it more durable. This way, when we add the extra weight of the hardware, hooks, spikes, chain etc… the center of your dirndl doesn't start tearing, ripping, or buckling under the pressure!
Another SUPER important detail that we include in our dirndls is the boning (or stays) at the center front. Along the front zipper is a type of boning that is stitched to the inside and keeps the front from collapsing.
This particular style of boning is expensive, (probably why you don't find it in cheaper dirndls) but this boning is my favorite. Sometimes after lots of wear and tear, small pieces of it may start to poke out the top, but a quick trim with scissors or filing with a nail file can fix the problem. Cheaper boning can poke out completely and once it breaks through the fabric, it creates a hole that is very difficult, if not impossible to fix.
Rare Dirndls are also pressed frequently throughout the sewing process. This is more time consuming, but really makes the final product look much more polished and more likely to stay looking fresh.
Another thing that is very important to me is that anyone who is working for Rare Dirndl, whether it be the seamstresses, the pattern makers or the window washer, is paid properly. Rare dirndls, menswear, blouses etc are all created in ethical conditions, NOT in sweatshops! (I mean the studio does get hot in the summer, but that doesn't count ;-) haha!)
The details that are inside Rare Dirndls that you can't see are what make them really great. Also, they are sewn with care! If I don't sew them myself, they are made by a local Chicago manufacturer (5 miles from the Rare Dirndl Design Studio) and these ladies are awesome! They can sew circles around me and their attention to detail is beyond impressive… that's why they're the only people I trust to make Rare Dirndls!
So there you have it, what makes a Rare Dirndl… well… RARE! If you ever have any questions about Rare Dirndls, feel free to send an e-mail or give the studio a call and we'll answer your questions as best we can. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get an inside look at the daily goings on!
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This past weekend was one of Chicago's most beloved street festivals, the Maifest in Lincoln Square. I also had the Rare Dirndl Design Studio doors open for anyone who wanted to stop by and shop! It was a lot of fun and as usual… when people find out that I design a line of fashion forward dirndls for a living, the questions start rolling! It got me thinking that after 5 years of doing this there are pretty much 5 most common questions so I decided to answer them for you via video!
Watch this video to learn the answers to the most common questions I get asked. The very last one is the best one (and I was only asked that once, but it's probably my favorite question ever!!)
Do you have a question that I didn't answer? Feel free to write it in the comments and I'll be sure to answer it for you. Have a fabulous week!
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One of the first things I learned about my boyfriend Jim was that he had a “huge group of dancing German friends.” While he expected me to be a little scared of that, I wasn’t and actually, having a German heritage myself, I was pretty intrigued. About a year after we began dating, we finally went to a German event together… Labor Day event (the Donauschwaben Landestreffen) in Canada.
I remember asking him what I should plan to wear since I would not be dressed in the “proper” attire, but didn’t want to stick out too obviously. He grinned and teased that he could always get me a dirndl. While I wasn’t so into that idea at first, but then Jim took me over to the Rare Dirndl pop-up shop at the event and asked me to just look through racks. So many colors and patterns to choose from, but I found one that was definitely a potential: the Cheshire Cat dirndl, my favorite colors and long enough for my taste. I felt so awkward putting that dirndl on for the first time that I strongly considered giving up on the idea, but man, the smile on Jim’s face after seeing me in the Rare Dirndl for the first time: priceless. All those awkward feelings were put to rest with that smile. He did confess that he always found dirndls awfully sexy and this one on me took the cake!
Now, I can’t wait for the next German event to wear one of my (now) two Rare dirndls and see that smile that I love so much. If only Labor Day weekends and Oktoberfests happened a few extra times in the year!! I find myself peeking at the Rare Dirndl website while I’m at work for new things to add to my Rare dirndl wardrobe. I love going to events and getting the chance to look through the racks and see all the possibilities for mixing and matching blouses, aprons, and skirts in person. My second Rare Dirndl, the In Bloom dirndl, is a stroke of genius because the possibilities are endless and that’s right up my alley. My favorite aspect of the designs is all the little details and I’m on a bit of a mission to collect different pieces with all those details!!
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Black Friday gets a lot of attention, but I'm more excited about Small Business Saturday and the fact that it coincides with our 1 year anniversary! (approximately) So, In honor of of that, I've put together a quick video featuring the evolution of the now Rare Dirndl Design Studio. See how it went from real drab to super fab in less than 5 minutes!
Ok… so the studio will be open on saturday, but my favorite part is that there will be a German style breakfast from 10-12… wurst, käse, semmel, eier …. omg yum (you should come early otherwise I might eat it all! I'm getting hungry just typing this!)
And there's more!! Starting on Black Friday (which i'm not particularly a fan of, but everyone keeps asking me if i'm doing something for it… so i'm going to start by calling is Schwarz Freitag… anyway) I'm giving away a Rare Tote bag packed full of goodies!
Inside the tote will be:
A Rare Dirndl Sticker
A Germany Scarf
An adorable Children's Beret
A New Lederhosen Bracelet
Thats a $60 value and it can be yours when you spend $100 with Rare Dirndl anytime between Schwarz Freitag and Cyber Montag (while supplies last)
So thats about it, so much going on… I better got to work making all the things I'm going to give away to you for free ;-)
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Fall is upon us and so are the fabulous fall fashions! What's new and fresh this year? I asked Grandma Rosina for her top 3 fashion trends for this season and here is what she said.
Maxi Skirts Whats your first favorite new trend Grandma?
"Long maxi skirts! I love long skirts... you know that! I always have, so I am so excited that they are back. I see them in every magazine and in every store. I hope they stay in style because I could wear my long skirts every day!"
Going Green
What is this fall's must have color?
"Green! Forest green, khaki green, olive green, kelly green... any kind of green. Whether it is a bag, shoes, or clothes; fall is all about green this year"
Long Chains and Spikes
What else have you been seeing a lot of?
"Long chain necklaces are very fashionable at the moment, so I can't wait to bring some of my old chains out and wear them.
Spikes are also in right now! But you know that... you have spikes and spiked fringe all over your new fall/winter collection and I love it!"
Thanks Grandma Rosina!!! Those are 3 great fall fashion trends that I will definitely keep in mind as the season progresses. Wanna see how I used spikes in my line? Check out "The Pit and The Pendulum" Dirndl and let you know what you think on Facebook!
Until next time!
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Inspired by the eerie nature of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, the Nevermore Collection is full of rich jewel tones, plenty of subtle detailing and fresh modern designs that you're used to seeing from Rare Dirndl. This collection is not one to miss and like always the pieces will be produced in small quantities of 3-10, maintaing the exclusivity that you've grown accustomed to.
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Dirndls have some details that are different from your everyday sundress, like piping. Many dirndls utilize piping as a subtle detail that adds a pop of color or an elegant touch. I create all my own piping in order to make each pieces unique and cohesive. The colors can match perfectly and brings the whole look together. Here's how it's made!
First I start with the fabric. I use scraps to save on fabric and create less waste. Piping must be cut on the bias, at a 45° angle. Using my ruler and rotary cutter to cut the fabric into strips.
The next step is to sew all the strips together on the straight grain. Sewing the strips on the grain (so another 45° angle) makes it less bulky and the seam a little less noticeable.
I take the extra time to press open every seam to ensure it looks clean and perfect.
Finally, I run it though the machine placing a bit of yarn in the center.
And thats it! Piping finished!
Although the process is rather simple, it is very time consuming. I make all my own, because buying it is a tricky thing. You can buy piping at your local fabric store. It comes in small packets, in a variety of popular colors. However, like I mentioned before, I like my piping to match perfectly to the rest of the dirndl. To buy custom piping you need to buy at least 500 yards and since it takes a maximum of 3 yards per dirndl, 500 is a bit much for me. So I make it myself. Its tedious and sometimes boring, but it makes the finished product that much more... Rare!
This dirndl is a great example of how piping can add a subtle detail, create a cohesive look and add a pop of color.
I'm so excited to be a part of Martyrs' 2nd Annual Krampus Fest! This is a FREE EVENT at Martyrs' near Lincoln Square (3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60613) Rare Dirndl will be one of the local vendors at the Artisan Holiday Market 11am - 4pm and then there is a Krampus Parade 4:30pm and Live Music 5:30pm
It should be a great family friendly event to shop, eat, drink, stomp, chant in celebration of Krampus, St. Nick's dark partner. Wicked good fun!
We will have table at the Holiday Arts Market from 11am-4pm along with other local artisans, crafters, bakers and purveyors of beautiful handmade and homemade gifts. Super cool background mixtapes from DJ LowFi. There will also be delectable sweet and savory edibles: cakes, chocolates, German sausages, potato pancakes, a terrific housemade Glogg and of course, hot cocoa!
