Officially only 2 weeks away from the Rare Dirndl Debut in Munich at the 1st Münchener Trachtentage and I'm putting together a list of what to pack and there are 4 accessories I know I have to bring to go with my dirndl. Wouldn't go without them!
1: Jewelry
My sister is currently obsessed with bracelets and for good reason; a fabulous bracelet is the perfect accessory for any outfit, including a dirndl. My fav at the moment is my DAVI bracelets. They are simple in design, but kickass in its use of stones, leather and beads. These little accessories bring a hard rocker edge to the flirty-ness of a dirndl, like with the Wicked Garden Dirndl!
2: Scarf
If your anything like me, during this time of year, I am always cold! However as long as my feet and chest are warm, I'm alright. Thats why my next must have is a scarf, but not just any scarf. I am loving the Alpenkult Trachten Loop! Using some traditional dirndl fabrics and some modern its the perfect way to keep warm and add to your dirndl look. Although the company is based in Austria, now worries... they ship to the US! My fav is the "Siberkuh". Paired with the Black Hole Sun dirndl... Perfection!
3: Purse
All Rare Dirndls have a pocket, which is sooooo great for the little things you carry around all the time, but some things are just too big! Thats where your purse comes in and there are two styles that are must haves. 1st is the Rare Lederhosen Purse. This bag is an instant attention grabber and just too cute to pass up! Its big enough to hold whatever you might need and then some and accents the German look perfectly.
2nd is Trachten Purse from Bergland Trachten. I choose this one because its small and has a shoulder strap. Perfect for festivals where your dancing, having it over your shoulder frees up your hands and its size forces you to only take what you really really need, so your not weighed down.
4: SHOES!
Unless your at the beach in your dirndl, your gunna need some shoesies! At the moment, I'm obsessed with my TOMS wedges. These are so comfortable and super easy to walk in. One word... LOVE. Mine are black, but at the moment they only have the chestnut color available. However, thats also a fab color for dirndls! I'm sure there are also other shoe brands that carry a similar style, but I'm telling ya... they are a great dirndl shoe!
So there you have it, the 4 things I know I'm going to be packing to take with me to Germany for the Münchener Trachtentage!
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This month is flying by and our trip to Germany is right around the corner! I've been working like crazy to get everything ready for the big debut of Rare Dirndl in Germany at the Münchener Trachtentage March 16 and 17!
One of the items I knew I had to bring back is the Lederhosen purses! As of early this week I'm all stocked up with all three of the styles we had around the holidays as well as the newest addition, the clutch!
All of the bags are made from genuine goat skin leather, fully lined and up-cycled from old pairs of un-worn lederhosen.
Along the same lines... I'm very excited to meet with the folks from Herzhirsch! They have got an über cute product that I absolutely love, the Hirschbandl! Its perfect for family gatherings when everyone has a beer stein and then 10 minutes later you don't know who's glass is who's. Each is handmade in Munich from traditional tanned deerskin and is such a fabulous way to make sure you don't drink any of ol' cousin Stefan's backwash! I'm pretty sure that each member of my family is going to need one of these.
T minus 26 days until the Rare Dirndl team boards a plane for Bavaria!
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Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but finding the perfect gift for those who love all things German might be difficult at times. I've got three great gifts ideas (under $100 from a variety of online stores) for just those people! And you might find something for yourself along the way...
#1. Jewelry- love a little Deutsches bling!
My 1st pick is from German Import House. The Edelweiss 3pc set includes a necklace, earrings and a bracelet and is $39.00. I love this set because it can be worn altogether or one piece at a time. The antique finish gives the pieces a vintage look and would look great with any outfit!
My 2nd pick is from the Schnitzel Shop. The German Flag glass pendant is a fun little gift with Sprechen Sie Deutsch on it. Only $12.00, it's a more casual necklace that would look great with a t-shirt and jeans.
#2. Leather- Not just about the lederhosen anymore
My 1st pick in this category is a Rare lederhosen bracelet! The Lederhosen Bracelet with Buckle is an adjustable leather cuff style bracelet that goes easily with any outfit. Made from lederhosen, this piece is soft, comfortable and only $20.00. It's the most popular of the lederhosen bracelets and I can see why!
My 2nd pick is the Square Lederhosen Purse. This purse is made from goat skin lederhosen and is a fabulous way to give a nod to your love for Germany with an accessory. At $94.00, this purse has a braided and buckle strap, button closure and functional outside pockets. Measuring approximately 15in x 12in and fully lined, this item is one of my all time favorites.
#3. Beer Stein- Classic gift for the man in your life!
My 1st pick in this category is this Stein depicting the Oktoberfest Clydesdale and Beer Wagon from Northcote Imports. I love this one because it has an antique look to it and trimming on the top includes edelweiss, pretzels and wurst! It holds 0.4 liters of beer and is $79.95.
My last pick is a different style glass mug from 1001 Beer Steins.com. The Glass Deutschland Beer Stein is $88.99 and features the fabulous colors of the German flag and pewter embossed appliqué depicting the German eagle. It holds 0.4 liters and is a really unique stein for anyone!
Lederhosen are a staple at Munich's Oktoberfest and a fashion symbol of Bavaria. Last year I received multiple requests for some of the iconic leather pants, so I did my research and brought some in! I ordered black Bundhosen (longer... just below the knee) and grey/olive Lederhosen. I thought I'd get the bundhosen in mens sizes and and the shorts in women's... but they came in more of a unisex size. The sizing wasn't European, and it wasn't really US sizing either. It was a bit of a mess... not gunna lie.
Lederhosen with Suspenders
Even with all the little issues, they were still very nice quality goat skin pants with detailed suspenders and fully lined. I had them with me on the road for a year and found that even though many people asked for them, not many were interested in buying them. I've had them for a year now, sold 1 pair, and I wasn't about to sit on 50 pairs for another year. So I repurposed them! Making them into fabulous items that can easily blend into mainstream society.
I'm so happy with the way the new Lederhosen purses turned out and from the response I had last weekend lots of other ladies are also digging the new look!
Even more popular are my little leather bracelets. These are a cute way to bring a little "German-ness" to any outfit. Their wrap style look goes well with the current layered look and are a super light weight and easy way to wear.
Always trying to keep up with trends, but also making sure that I stay in business by coming up with new ideas and creative ways to turn what I already have into something fabulous!
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