Posted by trachten in Bavaria | Comments Off on Bavarian winter clothing: knitwear
Bavarian winter clothing: knitwear
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be writing a mini-series about Bavarian winter clothing. After all, with its Alpine regions to the South, Bavaria is a part of the world that is used to dealing with harsh winter conditions, and they’ve developed the kind of comfortable, robust, but fashionable clothing that is just what we need when the cold days come and the long nights draw in.
For the ladies, delicate tailoring and detailed finishes
We thought we’d start with a classic of the genre, Bavarian knitwear, which you don’t have to be afraid to wear in everyday situations. In fact, in contrast to a pair of lederhosen or a dirndl, a good piece of Bavarian knitwear won’t look out of place as part of a stylish winter outfit.
What sets Bavarian knitted pieces apart from your average sweater or jumper is its combination of chunky purled knitting patterns with quiet, reserved, but noticeable elements from the repertoire of Tracht – the typical Bavarian costume. So you’ll find plenty of hunting motifs stitched into the work, as well as buttons made of buckhorn.
There are some lovely little cardigans out there for the girls, for example, with dancing deer patterns and pretty two-tone bordering. In terms of colours, lovely greys are available – both light and dark – as are more adventurous colours such as toffee or brick red.
For the gentlemen, chunky patterns in all-natural shades
Now, when it comes to Bavarian knitwear, the guys have even more choice than the girls – of what other area of fashion can you say that? After all, there are plenty of items of knitwear that don’t necessarily flatter the female form, but look absolutely great on guys, like chunky sleeveless cardigans (waistcoat or body-warmer cut) or weighty, full-sleeve-length pieces with attractive patterns. For guys, natural undyed wool is by far the most popular choice, but there also some beautiful items in mocha brown and deep anthracite doing the rounds.
As far as we’re concerned, the great thing is that Bavarian woollen cardigans and body-warmers are just as at home over a dirndl or lederhosen during a chilly evening in the Oktoberfest beer gardens as they are with a pair of jeans. So that’s all the more reason to give more than a passing thought to Bavarian fashion this winter – especially if it’s another cold one.
