Trends in 2014 – Jeans and denim dirndls

You could already see it at the Starkbierfest: the trend in Bavarian fashion this year is denim. There are jeans that look like lederhosen, lederhosen that look like jeans, and denim dirndls. And whatever you make of the idea, never let it be said that denim and the Oktoberfest can never be reconciled. After all, Bavarian costume comes from a tradition of hardwearing work clothes for farmers and craftsmen – as do jeans. And just as jeans have become ever more a fashion item, so too have lederhosen and dirndls become less and less functional and more and more fashionable. So an alliance between the two was really only a matter of time.

So, whether you’re shaping up to be a fan or not, here’s an overview of how this trend is affecting Tracht this year.

Denim dirndl

German calls them “Jeansdirndl” because jeans is the toto pro pars extension of the word for jeans to cover denim fabric: but whatever you call them precisely, dirndls with denim details are set to be big this summer. You might catch denim on the border of the bodice, or see a denim apron. Or you might immediately be confronted with entire bodice-and-skirt combinations made of denim. Either way, the denim used is light blue, stonewashed – so think old jeans instead of brand new Levi’s. Denim dirndls tend to either include, or be worn with, red and white check patterns – yet another thing both Bavarian costume and cowboy clothing have in common…

And as these things always happen, denim is conquering the dirndls from the short end of the segment upwards. So while this year’s denim dirndls are mini and midi length, it will probably take another season for “jeans dirndls” to percolate down to longer models.

Jeans in lederhosen look

This, of course, is actually where the whole denim thing starts: denim was developed as a fabric for hard-wearing trousers, and so a pair of jeans which look like lederhosen is actually not as odd as it might sound.

This season has bought us a whole range of lederhosen-style jeans, both for her and for him. They look like lederhosen – with the typical “trapdoor” at the front, lots of ornamental sewing, and buttons made of horn – but brother, they ain’t lederhosen. The colours attest to this: while there are some models in “lederhosen camouflage” colours such as moor and tobacco, there are plenty of far more adventurous versions out there, too, such as mint green and sky blue for boys or loud pink shades like Campari for the girls.

This trend towards brighter shades for lederhosen jeans doesn’t surprise us. After all, if you’re looking to try out new colours on your trousers, it makes far more sense to do so on a €100 pair of jeans than on a €400 pair of leather breeches – especially if it’s not even certain which colour is going to come to define the season yet – and for how long!

Denim tops

In recent years, we’ve seen an exponential increase in lederhosen for ladies; and the denim trend in Bavarian costume certainly plays into the hands of girls who own their own leather shorts, which really go well with a jeansy top. Two big styles this summer will be denim shirts with short, puffy blouse-style arms, and a more daring look altogether: bodices with lace-up fronts, usually featuring details in this season’s trending colour, red, such as borders around the décolleté. Paired with short shorts, these pieces are sure to be the attention-grabbing pieces at the Oktoberfest this year.