What do Bavarians wear in the winter?

Everyone knows what men wear at the Oktoberfest: lederhosen with matching shirts, shoes, and woolly socks. You might see the odd satin waistcoat or a knitted jacket, too, but what do wear when temperatures are heading towards zero and Munich’s Theresienwiese is empty and cold?

Last week, we took a look at the options women in Bavaria have and pointed out how great traditional Bavarian clothing is for the winter: it’s no surprise that a mountainous farming region uses so much leather, loden, and wool. Here’s are guide on how to keep the cold out and still look sharp.

Classic

As surprising as this might be, a classic Bavarian outfit for winter doesn’t actually differ much from summer clothing: the typical pair of leather breaches, for example, is short but offers excellent protection against the cold for the thighs; the lower legs are covered by the same big chunky socks that are worn in summer – all you need to do is pull them up! And the leather shoes – Haferlschuhe – to go with lederhosen are real all-weather footwear featuring a rugged, grip sole that can handle ice and snow as well as Oktoberfest beer bottles. Up top, a classic winter outfit for guys might look a little different, with long-sleeved woollen cardigans replacing the waistcoats and full loden or deerskin leather overcoats to keep cold winds and rain at bay – all crowned with knitted woolly hats or proper felt headgear.

Rustical

Besides traditional clothing, Bavarian country style offers a range of pieces that are just made for winter, like long leather trousers, for example. Although the traditional Tracht lederhosen are knee-length or shorter, even the hardest Bavarians there are won’t turn down a pair that go all the way down the ankles if the temperatures stay below zero for too long. Combine with a leather waistcoat as a body-warmer or a woollen cardigan to keep things soft and comfy.

Fasionable

Last but not least, a lot of the more recent trends in Bavarian fashion are perfect for winter, too. Why not try a standard pair of jeans and a chilled-out long-sleeve top with alpine design elements, finished with one of the trendy new cardigans and a pair of sturdy boots? Or denim jackets with a Bavarian twist, the next big thing for 2015? Worn over a cardigan, they’ll keep you warm and keep you looking up-to-date, too. But, as all Bavarians know, nothing beats a really good quality leather jacket – that’s the main element in all the best winter outfits.