Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013… What a Year!

It's hard to believe that tonight will put an end to 2013 and we'll be ringing in 2014. Looking back, it has been a very exciting year for Rare Dirndl.

Some of the great highlights include our participation in the Münchener Trachtentage


The Sunflower Dirndl being featured in the Nickelodeon Original Movie Swindle


And seeing Lisa Mateo in the Warm Night Dirndl on NYC's PIX 11 during the Oktoberfest season!


Here is a quick video that features other exciting things that happened this year!



All of this excitement would not have been possible without your support and there are seriously no words to describe how grateful I am, I can't wait to see what 2014 brings for Rare Dirndl. 


Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? 
Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here  

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Rare Dirndl Customer Spotlight: Jen Stolze

Jen Stolze - Cinncinnati, OH




I am obsessed with the color yellow, the brighter the better!! It’s pretty safe to say that yellow is my all-time favorite color. So 2 years ago when I saw the Sunflower Dirndl hanging on the rack I knew I just had to have it!! Since then, I’ve worn it as many times as possible!! I always wear it during our Labor Day trips, my home Oktoberfest, or anytime I feel the need to show my German pride!! I love that I can “dress up” my dirndl by wearing a black blouse, my white blouse with the Edelweiss sleeves, my white or gray blouses. I also love that I can wear different color aprons! The fit of the Dirndl is perfect! It makes me look and feel great. I am able to take the Sunflower Dirndl and make it my own!!  The dirndls look great with my Rare Lederhosen Messenger bag too! 
                
My favorite thing about Rare Dirndls is that I can show my heritage and show tradition, but add a modern twist. I love going to different events and being able to check out the latest dirndls, blouses, and aprons. 


Every time I wear a Rare Dirndl, I get stopped. People are drawn to my bright yellow dirndl, but they are also drawn to the Messenger Bag. The messenger bag looks great with everything!!

















Do you want to be next month's Rare Dirndl Customer Spotlight? As the winner you will recieve a $50 Coupon Code for any online purchase, a feature on the Rare Dirndl website and blog, and a gift package worth approx $100!! Click here to get all the details!



Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? 
Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here  


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

3 Best German Inspired Gifts Under $100 (2013)

This time of year is all about family and friends! I love it when I find the perfect gift for the people on my list and a lot of those people would be super excited about these great German gifts that I found/made. So here are my top pics for this year!

#1- Let's Get Cookin!


DIY German Cookie Mix in a Jar
Everyone loves to eat Oma's cookies and a great way to share them is by making a DIY cookie mix and put it in a decorative mason jar. Take a great oma cookie recipe and collect all the dry ingredients and put them into the jar. Then create quick instructions telling them how to bake the cookies and what wet ingredients they will need to add. Its a great personal gift that will only cost $5-$20 depending on the ingredients and how you decorate the jar! Here is a link for recipes for cookie mixes as well.

German Cook Book
If the do-it-yourself option isn't for you, a great cookie cookbook is another perfect option! I love the cookbook that the American Aid Society's Kindergruppe put together called "Was Gibt's zum Essen?". It's a fabulous collection of German and American recipes. They are $12 each and e-mail erikaneumayer@mac.com to get more details.

#2- Bag it up!


A Perfect Purse
A great way to complete your dirndl look is with a great purse. I love this suede 'Andrea' purse from Bavarian Specialities. It has subtle details with the piping and the edelweiss broach and is imported from Germany. It makes a great gift at $49.90 and is available in 3 colors






Classic Tote
From dance shoes to groceries, school books to toys, the Rare Dirndl Logo Tote is a great gift that is super versatile and one of my favorite new things. This classic canvas tote has the custom designed Rare Edelweiss logo screen printed on it and has already proved super useful for me and is only $10!








#3- Baby It's Cold Outside… Stay Warm!

Hats, and Scarves, and Warmth… OH MY! 
I don't know about other people, but during this crazy cold time of year… I've gotta have a warm scarf! I've got a favorite right now and so does by boyfriend. He loves the Swiss füssball scarf I bought for him last year and he highly recommends it! Whether it's Deutschland, or Die Schweiz, its a great buy for the man in your life. You can find them all for $20-$30 online.





Last but not least, I made this quick video to show you my top 5 Rare Dirndl items (all under $100)






BONUS!!!
So I can't end this blog without mentioning this book. The book by Elizabeth B. Walter is one of my favorite books. Having participated in the Kirchweih Fest for both the Karlsdorfer Verein and the American Aid Society, it is a tradition that should never be lost. This amazing book is tells the story of the celebration of Kirchweih from Banat to America. All the artwork was also done my "Tante Elsa". They are etchings! Its a very tedious process involving metal, acid, and a boat load of talent. I helped her with the page layout for the book, but I honestly LOVE love love this book. I have a copy on my bookshelf and am selling the book on my site for Tante Elsa. Click here to buy it or see more sneak peeks of the inside of the great story and fabulous artwork.


If you think any of this info would be helpful to your friends, I would be honored if you would send them to this blog post so they can get some fresh holiday ideas. I hope this helps you with your Christmas shopping for those crazy-fun Germans on your list. I know my list is full of them… and I love them all!! Merry Christmas to your family from ours!



Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? 
Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here  

Friday, December 6, 2013

Open Studio Weekend!

I'm so excited to announce our next open studio weekend! We'll kick off the weekend on Friday night from 7pm-9pm with free Jagertee provided by Glunz Beers and yummy appetizers like cheesy bread balls, spicy homemade ranch crackers and an assortment of sausages.




Then we will have the doors open from 1pm-5pm both Saturday and Sunday with 10% items on display in the studio including all the new winter items, 2013 fall/winter dirndls and menswear, as well as the new bavarian style hats!

Come grab those perfect gifts and enter to win a prize package worth $100!





I look forward to seeing you!!!


Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? 
Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here