Where to get Oktoberfest costumes

So you’ve decided to go to the Oktoberfest – and you’ve decided  not only to wear Bavarian costume, but to forget the cruddy pretend lederhosen and all-in-one dirndls and go for the real deal. Good for you! Now all you need to do is know where and how to get your hands on proper lederhosen and dirndls.

That’s easier said than done, because there are very few high street shops outside of Southern Germany that sell what’s known as “Tracht”, and a lot of poor quality, imitation Oktoberfest costumes on the web. Our tip is to find a trustworthy online shop based in the UK specialising in Bavarian clothing and Oktoberfest costumes – and here’s why we think this is the only way forward.

Buying in Munich

At first glance, this is both the simplest way to go about things and the highest-risk method. It’s simple because, once in Munich, you’ll have a huge choice of shops selling traditional Bavarian costumes at whatever price level you want, and you’ll be able to try on your gear before you buy it.

In terms of shops in Munich, there’s everything from C&A (yes, that cheap shop that died in the UK in the early 90s) selling very basic lederhosen and dirndl for €80 a pop through to exclusive outfitters like Angermaier dealing in exclusive dirndls that start around the €500 mark. There are also dedicated shops catering to tourists who offer end-of-collection leftovers or even second-hand produce at good value prices.

Your risk factors are multiple, though. If you’re arriving on a Saturday evening and wanting to sport your new gear on the following day, for example, you could be stymied by Munich’s very Catholic shop opening hours: almost everything will be closed from six in the evening on, and Sunday opening is forbidden. Also, you shouldn’t underestimate the time needed to look for, try on, and find dirndls and lederhosen that fit well: you need to get to the “Wiesn”, as Munich people call the Oktoberfest, nice and early to get into a tent, so you’re essentially sacrificing a day to buy your costume. Finally: it is easy to underestimate the weight of proper Bavarian clothing, so if you’re flying back, your new outfit could end up costing you €20 to €100 more than the original price-tag.

Buying on the web

The risks are different if you’re buying on the internet. For a start, there’s plenty of trashy stuff out there that’s been well photographed – just search E-Bay for proof of that. Everyone’s favourite auction site does have some gems, of course, but they’re limited in number and come with their own difficulties: sizing is tricky – especially with lederhosen, which can be too baggy or too tight in odd places even if they fit your waistline – and, most importantly, you’ve still got to get the rest of your stuff. Even If you find a three-piece dirndl on E-Bay, you’ll still be looking for shoes and a matching handbag somewhere else. Also, you’ve got not guarantee on delivery time and on returns if your stuff doesn’t fit or doesn’t live up to expectations (and sending back a 20lb-pair of lederhosen could set you back a pretty penny). As always, you’ve got to read the small-print.

If you do a Google search for “Oktoberfest costumes”, you’ll find some absolutely shocking stuff. The word “costume” means that you’ll get all kinds of fancy dress warehouses selling the kind of thing that might be okay for a stag-do, but just won’t cut the mustard if you really want to be authentic: forget any online shops with “fancy dress”, “party”, or “costume” in the URL – you’ll only be disappointed. Shops selling real gear will have the words dirndl or lederhosen in the title; if they’re from Germany, you might find the word “Tracht”, too, which is German for traditional costume.

In recognition of the growing popularity of Oktoberfest clothing in Britain, one German store has even set up a UK online lederhosn and dirndl shop, giving you all the advantages of in-country shopping: competent English-language size and fitting advice, service hotlines, and good delivery conditions.