One of the most iconic images of Germany’s Black Forest is a fresh faced woman wearing a hat covered with red Pom Poms, a Bollenhut; but what is a Bollenhut? This stiff straw hat covered in wool Pom Poms is an integral part of the area’s Tracht. But it’s not as common as advertising and media would have us think.…
Category: Traditional German Clothing
German Slippers and House Shoes for Kids and Babies
In every German household across the world, there are several common rallying cries from Moms and Omas….”es ZIEHT” (there’s a draft), “iss mal was” (eat something), and most important….”Du kriegst kalte Füße! Zie dir deine Hausschuhe an!!” It’s my understanding that Germans just don’t do bare feet, at least not in Winter. Thankfully, because of this, there is an AMAZING…
Find the BEST German Slippers and House Shoes for Men
It has taken a little convincing, but I finally convinced my American guy that he should be wearing German house shoes in the house… and not just socks. Growing up in a German house-hold, we always had house shoes that we slipped into when we came inside. These weren’t just slippers (although, he got slippers too)… House Shoes have a…
Traditional German Tracht Show at German Fest, Milwaukee
Many people think that the German Fest events, like the one in Milwaukee, are all about “Bavarian” attire. I’m happy to report that not only are other regions of Germany represented in food and culture, the Tracht from other parts of Germany are seen around the grounds…. and on Saturday, there is a special Traditional German Tracht Show to highlight…
Where to Buy Great Looking, High Quality German Sandals for Women
While I was growing up, my mother and my Oma always stressed the importance of having “good shoes”. You need a foot bed that gives you support! Then summer comes rolling around, and you want to wear sandals or slides, but how to keep giving your feet the support and comfort they need? Where can you find quality German Sandals…
What is a Charivari? Learn more about these Lederhosen Chains
When you are at a German Festival, and see people in Bavarian Tracht, you may notice that some men wear what looks like a chain of charms on their Lederhosen. What is the Lederhosen chain called? And what does it symbolize? Because I’m nosy as can be, I did some digging. The chain of trinkets or charms is called a…
Dirndl Jewelry- German Style Jewelry for German Fests or Everyday
We are headed into German Festival Season… Maifests, Germanfests… and the king of all German Festivals … OKTOBERFEST! Whether or not you wear a Dirndl, it’s always fun to wear Dirndl Jewelry. Necklaces, chokers, bracelets or earrings can help you express your personal style… and show off your love for Germany! There are simple styles, and more elaborate statement pieces…
Traditional Couture; Folkloric High Fashion in Germany
A few years ago I shared the story of how I bought my first “dirndl” or tracht. Because my family is not Bavarian, I didn’t want to buy a traditional Dirndl. Instead, I hoped to find something that would reflect the region my family came from in Germany, while still maintaining a recognizable German style. I looked at a LOT…
German Alpine Hat Pins – History & Collecting
Every time I go to a German Fest or Oktoberfest, I see large collections of German Alpine Hat Pins. So, of course I got curious… why? History of German Pin Collecting My degree in history means I can’t just leave things alone. I had to do a little digging. Most references for German Pin Collecting talk about Military Insignia Pins……
Buy A Rare Dirndl: My Fantastic Rare Dirndl Experience
As strange as it may sound to many of you, before this year, I never owned a Dirndl. Not even as a child. But… since I’m attending a lot more German Festivals these days, it was pointed out to me, that I would fit in better if I wore one. True enough. But I didn’t want something typically Bavarian (my…