As the 4th of July approaches, we are reminded that the Summer is in full swing. We're feeling hot, hot, hot! With this in mind, the past 3 custom dirndl clients I've had were very adamant about having a dirndl that they can wear without a blouse. However, I only have a few dirndl styles that can be worn without a blouse. For the most part, Rare Dirndl styles are meant to be worn with a blouse, why? Simple… I love the look of a blouse! I think the addition of a blouse can change the entire look of a dirndl in seconds. Here is a quick overview of some of our best blouses and how & why they can make a dirndl take on a whole new look.
The Off-the-Shoulder Blouse (our most popular blouse) is a classic dirndl look and is the perfect blouse for an Oktoberfest! Whether it is gathered in the center or ungathered, it is a great choice for pretty much any dirndl. Pop on some comfortable little heels and your ready to go to Okotberfest. And… if you're worried about the Off-the-Shoulder Blouse annoyingly popping up onto your shoulders, Forgetaboutit!! This blouse is designed to stay off the shoulder and this video proves it!
For a more elegant look, I have two favorites… the Sweetheart Blouse with Draped Sleeves, or the Sparkle Organza Blouse. Both have a flattering adjustable sweetheart neckline and sleeves that are classy and unique. This past weekend I was at a wedding, and I wore the Sweetheart Blouse with Draped Sleeves with my dirndl, some fancy high heels, elegant jewelry and I certainly didn't feel underdressed!
The last blouse I'm going to mention that can totally change the look of a dirndl is the newest blouse in the Rare Dirndl collection, the Blouslette! This is a sleeveless blouse that is not only comfortable, but can give you the feeling of not wearing a blouse without showing off your bra ;-) Pair the Blouslette with your dirndl, some flip flops and you're ready for an outdoor festival or picnic. This blouse is great in all 4 colors and I think it is a must have for the summer months.
So just with these blouses, you can give your dirndl an Oktoberfest look, Elegant and Classy look, or a Casual Summer look! Hence why I love blouses!! A dirndl worn with a blouse gives you the opportunity to mix it up and design it to fit any event. If I still haven't convinced you that dirndls and blouses go together like spätzle and gravy, then check out these styles that can be worn without a blouse. If you need to add another blouse to your collection… use Coupon Code: JULY4th this weekend and save 10% on your entire order! Click Here to shop this sale!
For the new Spring/Summer Collection, Day at the Lake, one of the elements I knew I needed to incorporate was denim. I wanted to use it as subtle details, as well as use it to make Denim Lederhosen Style Shorts. Creating a distressed look with fabric proved to be difficult, but creating a frayed edge was simply a nightmare!
For the Outdoor Adventure Dirndl (one of my favorites), I loved the striped cotton and I thought that accents of the denim fabric would be a perfect way to make the dirndl go from plain to a fabulous Rare Dirndl! In addition to using the denim as piping, I wanted to do a pleated trim around the neckline, a ruffle at the hemline and apron ties. I wanted the denim to have frayed edges and the best way to achieve this look was to rip the pieces, wash & dry them, and then create the trim. Sounds easy enough...
So, I did exactly that… for the neckline trim I ripped 1.5 inch strips of the denim and put them into the washing machine along with the 2.5 inch strips for the hemline and apron ties. About an hour later… this is what I pulled out of the dryer - a big messy ball of denim strips! I knew it was going to be a bit messy… but I honestly didn't expect the frayed stray strings to create this much of a nightmare!
However after about 2 hours of cutting threads, cleaning up the edges and pressing the pieces, the final result was perfect! Exactly the look I wanted. I used every scrap of the striped fabric to make inventory of the Outdoor Adventure Dirndl, so what is available now is all that will ever be made.
This is good news for me because that means I will never have to detangle another crazy denim mess like that again! (Unless someone orders a custom dirndl with frayed edge denim accents.)
What do you think about the denim accents on the Outdoor Adventure Dirndl? Was it worth all the time to create the frayed look? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter and be sure check out some of the close up shots of the denim details on the Outdoor Adventure Dirndl on our online store by clicking here.
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