Bavarian knitwear: traditional and creative

Now that it’s getting chilly again, Bavarian dress can start playing the role it always did – long before its new incarnation as Oktoberfest fashion: protecting its wearer from the cold. To do so, traditional Bavarian clothing goes way beyond the leather with which it is most often associated, though: although it might keep the wind off, leather coats don’t sit snugly enough to really warm you up.

The material Bavarian Trachten outfits have always used to warm through icy Alpine winters is wool, whether as long socks or body warmers, whether in the form of woolly hats or cardigans. These kinds of woollen pieces look traditional – and that is because they are. After all, Bavarian shepherds once knitted their own socks and jumpers during their long periods up on the pastures, while their wives at home sat by the fireside, needles in hand. As a cosy layer on the upper body, nothing keeps its wearer toasty like traditional Bavarian knitwear. And that explains why it is still popular in today’s more fashion-orientated collections.

While the scope of Trachten knitted tops in traditional outfits is narrowly defined – natural-coloured wool as a long-sleeve cardigan for the ladies and as a waistcoat-style body warmer for the gents – today’s fashion experimenting with wool, sparking a veritable explosion in styles and colours. So much so that Bavarian knitwear is now an area of fashion in its own right.

What are the new knitted looks?

For the girls, the variety in sweaters and cardigans is getting ever broader, from the traditional grainy knits in new tones right through to creative new patterns featuring holes, drawstring waists, and flattering along the seams.

This winter, the really popular pieces are chunkier, however, featuring plait and moss knits that were once the preserve of men’s sweaters and cardigans due to their thickness and habit of hiding away rather than showing off curves and lines… But while this was once considered unwomanly, today, this kind of style is the perfect counterpart to ladies’ lederhosen. With their zip-up fronts, this new approach to Bavarian cardigan design places the emphasis on comfort and practicality, while appealing details such as floral applications make sure that these are still pieces for girls with an eye for feminine style.

Nevertheless, practicality beats femininity with the new breed of full-on Bavarian hoodies we’ve seen around for this winter 2015/16 season: sporty, with hoods and zips and big pockets, these woollen fleeces anchor the traditional Trachten look in everyday life like no item of Bavarian knitwear before them.

But don’t worry: for you girls who will never be caught putting practicality before aesthetics and who will never, ever, ever wear hoodys or anoraks, there’s a counter-trend to pretty and delicate cardigans for dirndls, too. Some of the best pieces this season are stunning, figure-hugging numbers in red with wrap-dress-style ties at the waist and all sorts of feminine details on the collar, seams, and sleeves. Colours such as red, black, and blue-grey make them both attractive and broadly compatible – and their wearers, too!

This kind of cardigan does exactly what good ladies’ knitwear should: protecting and covering up, without hiding everything behind a shapeless curtain.