This time of the year is the busiest because so many Rare Dirndl customers are preparing to leave for the Oktoberfest in Munich in the coming weeks! Many local Chicagoans come to my studio looking for a dirndl to wear and often ask, “What do I wear with it? Socks? What shoes? I've never worn a dirndl before… What is traditional?" To that I usually respond, "well, I'm not the 'stick to the rules kind of gal' I think you can wear whatever you want." But there are a few things that are stand out trends for 2014 so I've put together my top 5 tips to help you Rock your Dirndl this Oktoberfest season!
1. Motorcycle Boots and Dirndl Socks: The traditional dirndl sock is a great way to keep your legs warm (since it is fall and could get chilly) and then, pair them with motorcycle boots instead of mary-janes! This look is so unexpected and mixes hard rocker edge with a soft traditional look that I think is so new and fresh. It also helps keep any beer from spilling on your socks ;-) The best dirndl socks (in my opinion) come from Ernst Licht, here is the link - http://www.ernstlicht.com/12-ladies-clothing/105-ladies-socks/trachten-kneesocks.html
The Look: Motorcycle Boots
Jackie and her daughters rocking the Look!
2. Trachtenhüte: A decorated trachten hat with feathers, ribbon, flowers and pins is very on trend for 2014 and it takes every dirndl to the next level. The hats are so popular this year that we only have 2 Bavarian style hats left! One red and one green, so get yours before they're gone! Click here to see view them in the Rare Dirndl Online Store.
The Look: Trachtenhüte
Jill rocking the Look!
3. Floral Crowns: If you’re not into hats, a floral crown is super on trend this year! (design assistant Samantha says "that's what all the cool kids are wearing these days" - good enough for me!) For my latest collection I featured very large, over the top, avant-garde floral crowns, but a simple (not cheesy) crown is gorgeous for Okotberfest! There are lots of tutorials on YouTube to make your own, that way it can match your dirndl perfectly.
The Look: Floral Crown
Bride Mary-Claire rocking the Look
4. The Proper Undergarments: Underneath every great dirndl is a great foundation. I did a blog post a while back on the proper undies to wear with your dirndl, because there is not a woman on earth that can pull off a dirndl with a sports bra! Set yourself up for dirndl success and get your push-up bra and bloomers ready because wearing a dirndl is meant to accentuate only the best a woman’s body has to offer.
The Look: Proper Undergarments
Karen rocking the Look!
5. And last but not least…Bright Lipstick to Accent that Smile! No one likes a German girl with a frown and there is no better way to accent a gorgeous smile then with bright lipstick. I don’t listen to trends when it comes to lipstick color… play off of the colors in your dirndl and go with it. Hot Pink, Blush, Bright Red, Dark Plum – any color that accentuates your dirndl is the color to choose.
The Look: Bright Lipstick
Kat rocking the Look!
Those are my 5 ways to Rock the Dirndl this Oktoberfest Season. All season long we are going to be posting pics on Instagram (follow me at @raredirndl) featuring ladies that are rockin it! Like Megan!
She wore her custom Burberry inspired dirndl to the opening night of Oktoberfest at the Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas and she rocked her dirndl all the way down the aisles of the restaurant with Sigfried & Roy!! Use #RareDirndl and #RockTheDirndl all season long and maybe you'll see your pic on our account too!
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I met Scott at the Grand Opening of the Hofrbräuhaus Chicago in Rosemont, IL. We chatted briefly before he mentioned that his passion for Oktoberfest led him to create the website Backyard Oktoberfest which is a comprehensive guide to all things Okotberfest in America. I asked him to write a guest post for the Rare Dirndl blog because I think what he is doing is fabulous! So here is a quick story from Scott:
"Of all the ideas men toss around while throwing back a few beers, most are fairly inconsequential. But what happens when one idle thought turns into a mission? What happens when one man’s simple wish to attend a beer festival morphs into getting beer at Oktoberfest in Germany? That’s a life-changing idea. And that is exactly what happened to me.
Four years ago, I was talking with a buddy who jokingly suggested that we should go to Beerfest, like the guys in the 2006 movie of the same name. I told him Beerfest wasn’t real, but Oktoberfest was. We both agreed that it sounded like an awesome idea. At the time, I thought it was a passing thought, just one of the many intangible things that we have talked about over the years. But the next day he presented me with a full itinerary outlining our trip to the 200thanniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich, and my life has never been the same.
From the moment we arrived at the Wiesn in 2010, I knew I was experiencing something special. This was not a simple festival. It was the Six Flags of beer. The “tents” were massive structures, there was a midway that seemed to run for miles, and they even had rides like roller coasters, a log flume, and a Ferris wheel. The sights, sounds, and smells were familiar, but Oktoberfest wasn’t like anything I have ever experienced in America. Sitting in the Schottenhamel biergarten and the Paulaner Festzelt just felt right. Inside the tents, it's just you and your closest 10,000 friends drinking beer, dancing, and singing along with the band. Despite language barriers and different nationalities, Oktoberfest brings everyone together.
On a post-vacation high and nostalgic for the wonder I just experienced at the Wiesn, I sought out Oktoberfest events stateside. I was disappointed to find that most local celebrations were missing that Munich magic. Sure, they all had pretzels, bratwursts, and beer aplenty. Some had German bands that played the sweet sounds of Ein Prosit. There were even a few local enthusiasts sporting lederhosen and dirndls. But overall, I found myself missing the more authentic touches like beer from the top Munich breweries, elaborately decorated tents, and the welcoming laughter of thousands of my new best friends as they climbed on top of the beer hall benches to raise their glass Maß in song.
That’s when I knew I had to throw my own authentic Oktoberfest party, and thus, Backyard Oktoberfest was born.
Backyard Oktoberfest is a website designed to help Oktoberfest enthusiasts like you and me replicate the Wiesn in our own backyards. We strive to be the most comprehensive resource for all of your Oktoberfest needs. While we provide some information about the official Oktoberfest in Munich, the site is geared toward giving you the inspiration and assistance you'll need to host your own Oktoberfest. It also offers reviews of local Oktoberfest events and Oktoberfest beers. Visitors to the site, including you, are encouraged to add your own expertise to our database by writing reviews and providing feedback that will help others have the best Oktoberfest season possible. We may not be able to share a bier in the Paulaner Festzelt ever year, but Backyard Oktoberfest will help you feel like you're there. Prost!"
With the Oktoberfest Season upon us, I thought this would be the perfect time to share some information that people request all the time... and that is: How to Tie the Perfect Apron Bow!
I made a quick video to demonstrate the tricks I use to make a perfect little bow. But keep in mind, I tie a lot of bows... and you know what they say, "practice makes perfect." So don't be frustrated if it takes you a few times to get it just right, but like I said, there are a few tricks that will help and I explain them all here!
I hope you like the video and you find it helpful! And on a side note, 'tis the season for dirndls... so the Rare Dirndl Design Studio will be open for a few hours on the weekends in September and October. This weekend I'll be here on Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 10-1. If you want to come by another time, simply reply to the e-mail and request to make an appointment, or call anytime and we can set something up that works with your busy schedule.
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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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I first met Tom, when he sponsored me to bring my dirndls down to Atlanta, GA for a Rare Dirndl Fashion Show, TV appearance and to be a vendor at the Atlanta Beerfest. Since then he has been busy with his newest business venture- Fannin Brewing Company.
The Rare Dirndl Team and Tom on Better Mornings Atlanta in 2011
When we met he was heading up German Kino Plus, a cable network targeted to Germans living in the United States. He travelled to Germany frequently to buy movies. He was wise enough to plan some of those trips in October, so he could spend his evenings in Munich's biergartens. While do this he was growing grapes to make his own wine.
With the wine aging in bottles, he now sat at the communal table in the Augustiner BierGarten. Lifting his stein and listening to the oompah bands, he daydreamed - "What else can I sell to Germans in the US?" Pickles. Bread. Beer! The seeds for Fannin Brewing Company were formed.
Tom chose Fannin County in GA to start his business for two simple reasons: Fresh air and fresh water make for fresh beer. He hooked up with Pat Walker at Blue Ridge Brewery, who was also planning to produce his own brews. Tom bought the equipment, Pat built the space, and they began selling their first beers in October 2012.
The Rare Dirndl Team and Tom after the Fashion Show at the Biergarten
And now he is brewing his first Oktoberfest beer! And he's calling Rare Helen. This brew is inspired by the very German town, Helen, Georgia and… you guessed it Rare Dirndl!
A snapshot of Helen, GA
Recently it was debuted at a Beer Disturber Show, and one restaurant GM said "I recently had the opportunity to taste your Octoberfest selection at Eagle Rock's tradeshow. I spoke with Jody, whom I have met before, and told her on-site that this is one of the BEST Octoberfest beers I have ever tasted...hands down the best. I love what you guys are doing and am excited about the wonderful beer you are brewing. I just wanted to relay that, as an avid beer enthusiast, this is exceptional beer. Thank you for the opportunity to taste it, I cant wait to bring this on-board in our restaurant." -Lindi
We are soooo excited for Tom and the Fannin Brewing Co. Check out their website and if you are in the area, be sure to stop into some of the restaurants and taste their brew's for yourself!
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The Discovery Channel has been celebrating Shark Week for 26 years and this is the first time Rare Dirndl is celebrating these awesome creatures with them. A new "Great White" Blouse Facebook Giveaway was launched yesterday, the Limited Edition Shark Week Apron has been added to the online store and... all spiky or sharky-like dirndls are on SALE! Use coupon code: SHARK to get 10% anything in the Shark Week Collection!
Head on over to Facebook to enter the "Great White" Blouse Giveaway! In 6 days we are giving away 1 Blouslette, 1 Off-the-Shoulder Blouse, and 1 Sweetheart Blouse with Lace! (S-XL) It's super duper easy to enter - Click HERE to for your chance and then easily share it with all your friends on social media, so they don't miss out!
So there you have it... SO MUCH Shark Week awesomeness going on this week, so be sure to take advantage of it all before its gone (like some of those fish I saw on Lair of the Mega Shark last night!)
TTFN ta ta for now!
Oh... and just thought we'd share how Hank, our resident Shark Pillow Pet celebrates his favorite time of year ;-)
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My first time at the Old German Beer Hall in Milwaukee WI, was a few years ago when I went with a few friends to get a beer after the German Fest and it was a blast. We drank delicious beer and took shots from the Shot Ski. This time, I went with my mom on the Thursday before German Fest since we had finished setting up the booth for the day and we were a bit hungry!
The ambiance was nice, it wasn't very busy when we first got there, but when we left the bar started filling up with the after-work beer drinkers. We didn't wear our Rare Dirndls because we knew that we were going to be wearing dirndls all day for the next 3 days… so we opted for something a bit more casual.
Thursday was 1/2 price liters, so if course we had to have a liter of beer. I had the Hofbräu Weißbier and my mom had the Hofbräu Original. Our server was Kaitlin and she was nice and her service was great (however I really, really wish she wasn't wearing a dirndl costume, but she did pull off the look better than most).
We ordered the Curry Wurst appetizer, the Schweineflügel -“Pig Wings” which were described as 3 Meaty Pork Petit Pork Shanks Served with Barbecue Mustard Dipping Sauce. We also had a side of Sauerkraut and Spätzle. We were a bit nervous that it was not going to be enough food, but it sure was!
The Curry Wurst was crispy and the sauce was absolutely delicious!!! I did however smell a bit like curry for the rest of the night, but if that's the only side effect I would order the curry wurst again in a heartbeat!
The Schweinflügel were also wonderful. Lovely pork flavor, with just enough fat and crispiness. The dipping sauce was super tasty… a unique blend of BBQ sauce and mustard flavors. I could have easily eaten an order by myself!
Unfortunately, the sides were less desirable then the appetizers. The sauerkraut tasted like it was fresh out of the can. The Spätzle was definitely home-made but the amount of butter was overwhelming… didn't stop me from finishing it, but it was simply too much butter.
Overall we had a lovely time, there was live music towards the end of our stay and like I mentioned the service was great. We would go again to try the other things on the menu and the beer specials are too good to pass up!
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