How a classic dirndl can become an elegant ball gown

Black skirt, red bodice and blue and white apron: This combination is a safe bet at the Upper Austrian ball on June 22nd. It corresponds to the traditional Upper Austrian dirndl. If you don’t have one of these in your closet or prefer to wear other colors, you can rest assured: “Any color is possible. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable,” says Anna Tostmann from the traditional costume shop of the same name in Seewalchen am Attersee. Visitors should choose their dress for the festive occasion. After all, it’s a ball, not a fair or Oktoberfest, Tostmann points out. But a formal costume is not a must: “A casual dirndl can easily be enhanced with a silk apron.”

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This not only saves space in the wardrobe, but also money. “I recommend, especially to younger customers with a smaller budget, to take a classic dirndl and find a matching apron for the occasion,” says Anita Rosner, owner of Gössl in Linz. If you like it even more extravagant, you can also find aprons with gold bonnet embroidery there. To give your ball wardrobe more shine, Eva Riepl from the Linz traditional costume shop Thalbauer also recommends a dirndl apron made of silk. This can be combined in many different ways, for example with high-quality linen.

“Lace is quite popular for blouses,” says Margarete Holzberger, senior manager of the Wichtlstube in Edt near Lambach. It is important that it does not look too kitschy. At the Upper Austrian Ball, she would “definitely wear a longer dirndl.” Her colleagues in the industry have a similar view – although not as strict. “I think a short dirndl is OK, but the knee should be covered,” says Anna Tostmann.

For a summer ball, you don’t necessarily have to wear a long dirndl. “You can also wear a shorter one,” says the Gössl boss. When it comes to shoes, she has a clear opinion: heels are a must, preferably high heels. “They make your legs look toned. Ballerinas are a no-go for me.” Especially for a ball, you should avoid rustic Haferl shoes, says Tostmann. “Please, if at all possible, at least a slight heel on the shoes,” she says. These should definitely be worn with a dress – rather than a suit consisting of a skirt and jacket. That would be “too plain” for the Upper Austrian ball.

From the archive: Time to dress up – how to cut a fine figure in traditional costume

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