Happy Oktoberfest!

Willkommen!

For those who don’t know, I was born and raised in Kohler, Wisconsin. It’s located near Sheboygan, WI, home of the legendary Johnsonville brat and Sargento Cheese Company. You really can’t get more German than that. While I currently reside in Kansas City and my older sister in Nashville, neither of us would ever pass up an opportunity to let our German roots ring true and shine through.

Behold, Oktoberfest.

I was lucky enough to celebrate the season twice this Oktober – first at the Westport Oktoberfest in Kansas City and then at a weekend-long Oktoberfest extravaganza in Nashville’s quant little neighborhood of Germantown.

Wiener dog races, giant turkey legs, hammer schwingen, schnitzel, and polka. Does life get any better than that? Steins were clinked. Beer was drank. Pretzels were devoured.

The Dirndl

My sister talked me into buying an authentic dirndl straight from Germany. Her justification was that every Wisconsin woman needs one in her wardrobe. And that one day we’d travel to Munich for the mother of all Oktoberfests. Can’t argue with that.

When it arrived, I was shocked at the quality. It was intricately crafted and fit like a dream. I ordered a Kruger dirndl ordered from Dirndl.com, specifically the Dirndl Gray Heaven in a size 32. According to my sister’s research, this is one of the only sites that will ship to the United States. You do have to navigate the site using a translator, because the entire site is in German. Authentic, right?

I received compliments all weekend on my lovely little dirndl. This dress was a dusty gray, almost periwinkle color with rose and blush accents. The apron was embroidered lace, with a big iridescent bow. And the neckline was very attractive, a sweetheart of sorts. I was in love.

The Do

As for the hairdo, I surprised myself a bit. I can’t remember which middle school sleepover I woke up from miraculously knowing how to french braid, but this ‘do is as simple as that. Two french braids – overlapped and pinned with bobby pins. My hair is a little longer than shoulder length, which, turns out, is the perfect length for this style.

For the Not-So-Committed

So you might be wondering,

“What if I don’t want to buy an expensive hand-crafted dirndl shipped straight from Germany?”

I get it. You have a point. For those who want to dress the part without overcommitting, boy you are in for a treat. When I went to Oktoberfest in Kansas City, I wore a blouse and a skirt I already owned. The objective? Look German as all heck, without breaking the bank or overcommitting to unwanted stares.

This brown pleated polka dot skirt has been my saving grace this fall. I wear it with sweaters, t-shirts – you name it. But it looks pretty peasant-esque when you style it right. I like to think the rich brown color compliments beer, brats and pretzels. But that might be taking it a step too far.

As for the white blouse, I actually bought it from Forever 21. It originally came with a halter tie, but I snipped it off with a pair of fabrics scissors. With the strap gone, I didn’t notice a difference in support and still felt like I maintained the integrity of the top. I ended up wearing this poofy sleeved blouse under my actual dirndl because I liked the look so much.

I’ve linked a ton of substitute options below.