The "Dirndl"
Dating back to the Renaissance, the Dirndl is one of the few regional costumes still worn extensively in Austria, southern Germany and Switzerland. The complete Dirndl consists of a close fittting sleeveless bodice with attached full skirt over an abbreviated white blouse finished with a contrasting apron. Dirndl dress for the gals and Lederhosen for the guys are folk-style clothes and as such are costumes; they are city folks' image of simple country life.
dirndl n.
from Dirndl "dirndl; girl": a woman's dress with a close-fitting bodice and full skirt, commonly of colorful and strikingly patterned material, fashioned after Tyrolean or Alpine peasant wear; a full, gathered skirt attached to a waistband or hip yoke; any skirt with gathers at the waistband. [German short for Dirndlkleid "traditional dress" < Bavarian and Austrian German dialect Dirndl "girl", diminutive of Dirne "girl" < Middle High German dierne < Old High German diorna, thiorna + Kleid "dress".]
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Photographs (c) 2001 Radim and Lisa Kolarsky
Last updated October 28, 2001