What to Wear to Oktoberfest
Last September, I attended Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! If you’ve been reading CCCH for a while, you probably saw one or more of my Germany posts that I wrote following our big family trip to celebrate a milestone birthday for my dad. The whole trip was built around Oktoberfest. The very first thing we did for the trip was book our Munich hotels as soon as my dad picked the dates he wanted to go. After that, he requested tables at a couple of beer tents. Almost a year later, off we went!
Oktoberfest is more than just a beer festival. It’s a true celebration and one Germans fully embrace. Half the fun of attending Oktoberfest is dressing up in traditional German trachten (dirndls for women, lederhosen for men). Even though I saw a mix of outfits at the festival, I highly recommend dressing as traditional as possible. Below, I shared ALL of our outfits from Oktoberfest and tips for putting together your own Oktoberfest outfit, whether you’re attending a celebration in Germany or locally!
READ NEXT: Oktoberfest Events in Boise, Idaho
What to Wear to Oktoberfest
Figuring out our Oktoberfest outfits was of the most fun yet stressful parts of the entire trip! I was the only one to fly to Germany without any part of my outfit (besides my ankle boots), as I was planning to buy my outfit there. A traditional Oktoberfest outfit is the perfect souvenir! (Luckily, I was able to stuff everything I bought into my suitcase for the flights home.)
The vast majority of women wear dirndls to Oktoberfest, and the vast majority of men wear lederhosen. Those are considered “trachten” or traditional Bavarian outfits. There is no official dress code if you are planning to attend Oktoberfest in Munich; just don’t wear a costume. I was honestly surprised at the number of people I saw wearing regular street clothes. Half the fun is dressing up for Oktoberfest!
Below, I shared all of my family’s outfits for Oktoberfest to inspire your own along with tips for what to wear and where to find the pieces to complete your look. There were four of us women that dressed up and eight men. I booked a photographer, Marina of Hey Bella Photo, to memorialize the occasion, and I highly recommend you also book a photographer to capture your Oktoberfest memories! It’s so fun to have these photos.
What Is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is the famous German beer festival held annually for two weeks from around mid-September to early October. There are Oktoberfest celebrations held all over Germany and the world, but the true, original Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany, on the festival grounds at Theresienwiese.
When you walk onto the Oktoberfest grounds, you enter into another world! There are countless beer “tents” (all different breweries who serve only their beer) and your traditional carnival rides, including a large Riesenrad (Ferris wheel). There is also at least one wine tent! Most folks reserve tables at beer tents at least months ahead of time, and the reservations are valid for a short period of time on one day. You can also walk in and hope there is an open table for your party.
The beer tents are chaos inside, and they get more chaotic the longer the day goes (so if you want less chaos, go at lunchtime…and if you want more, visit the beer tents at the end of the day). Everyone inside is crammed into tables, eating, drinking liters of beer, talking loudly, singing along to traditional tunes (including some songs you may recognize as an American), and dancing on tables. It can feel overstimulating for introverts like me! Prepare yourself. 😆
12 Oktoberfest Outfits
Outfits 1 and 2: Korri and me!
Where to Purchase Trachten in Germany
Like I mentioned above, I didn’t purchase my Oktoberfest dirndl ahead of time and instead bought it in Germany! I did this mostly because my weight was fluctuating and I wasn’t sure what size I would be, so it was just easier to wait. I also didn’t find any options I really loved online.
I knew there would be a ton of shops selling trachten in Bavaria, and I ended up purchasing my outfit in Füssen (we visited Füssen prior to Munich). We shopped at Trachten Wolf and Trachten-Werner, and the latter offered us a bottle of apple juice or beer while we shopped!
If you opt to do the same, be prepared to pay a little more than you might if you ordered something online in the states. Of course, I fell in love with one of the most expensive dirndls, lol. I believe it was around 300 Euros or so. I’m excited to (hopefully) wear mine for years to come!
Want to purchase your outfit ahead of time? My step mom and brother’s girlfriend purchases their Oktoberfest dirndls from this Etsy store.
Outfits 3 and 4: My brother and his girlfriend
How to Coordinate Oktoberfest Outfits
If you’re attending Oktoberfest with a significant other, you might be trying to coordinate your outfits. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it is fun, especially if you’re planning to photograph your experience!
The easiest way to coordinate is by picking a button-down shirt that matches a color in the dirndl like my brother did here. It really doesn’t need to be more complicated than that! Korri and I also coordinated (my dirndl was blue, my apron had blue and green, and his shirt was blue and green). Scroll down for more examples of outfit coordination!
Honestly, men should wait to coordinate their outfit until after their significant other has decided on their dirndl (unless your significant other is also wearing lederhosen, in which case it’s easier to coordinate shirts!). Dirndls come in lots of different colors and patterns, and if your S.O. is waiting to buy a dirndl in Germany, bring a couple of shirt options or plan to buy one there.
Outfits 5 and 6: My step mom and her friend
What Women Wear to Oktoberfest
Dirndls are the traditional Bavarian outfits women wear to Oktoberfest. Dirndls are made up of three pieces: a blouse, a dress, and an apron. Your outfit is incomplete if it is missing any of these elements. Stay away from dirndls marketed as Halloween costumes. They look cheap and everyone will know it’s a costume from a mile away.
The dirndl dress is the most fun piece! There are so many colors, patterns, and fabrics you can choose from. Step into any trachten store and you’ll be overwhelmed by the variety! The dresses close by lacing up the front (with a ribbon), with buttons, or with a zipper. Lengths vary but most women opt for dresses that hit at or below the knee. The traditional dresses are designed to cover your bust; don’t buy any dirndl dress that hits under your bust.
A blouse is worn under the dress, and you’ll find them available in white (most common) and black in a variety of styles. These are not your typical blouse; they basically cover the bust and that’s it. Blouses come in different necklines (lower is what most people go for so they can show off cleavage) and sleeve lengths (from sleeveless to long sleeve and everything in between, including off-the-shoulder). They come in cotton blends or lace. Try on a bunch to see which best suits your style and dirndl dress!
Dirndl dresses come with aprons already paired with them, so all you need to add to finish the look is the blouse. (You could always purchase another apron if you want to mix and match.) The apron is usually not functional (no pockets) but adds a nice accent color or pattern. Where you tie the apron DOES matter. Tie it on the right if you’re taken, on the left if you’re single, in the middle if you’re a virgin (and want to share that), or in the back if you’re a widow.
If dirndls aren’t your thing or you just want to mix it up, you can find lederhosen for women. They look just like the men’s version except the shorts are much shorter. Be careful not to buy lederhosen that look too much like a Halloween costume!
Outfits 7 and 8: My younger brothers
What Men Wear to Oktoberfest
Lederhosen is traditional Bavarian wear and what most men who attend Oktoberfest will be wearing. Lederhosen consists of leather pants, leather suspenders, and a cross plate across the chest. The only way into and out of the lederhosen is via buttons, so make sure that your pants are the correct size (slightly loose is better than slightly tight) and that the buttons can be easily undone so you aren’t scrambling in the bathroom.
I gave all of the men in my family (including Korri) lederhosen as their Christmas gift prior to Oktoberfest! It was super fun for me to hand them all the boxes and have them open them at the same time. After opening gifts, they all tried them on to make sure the sizes were right. I purposefully ordered both the light brown and dark brown lederhosen because I knew those colors would look good together, and no one ended up switching out the color I had picked for them.
I ordered lederhosen from Amazon from an authentic trachten seller (I read lots of reviews to make sure they were legitimate), and they really do feel high quality. The leather was thick and had some weight to it! Shop the light brown lederhosen and the dark brown lederhosen, or browse all of the color options (I really love the green too).
Under their lederhosen, men wear button-down (or button-up) shirts that are fully tucked in. A gingham (in red, green, or navy blue) is the classic Oktoberfest pattern, but a solid color like white or light blue is another great option. I recommend wearing a long-sleeved shirt and rolling up the sleeves to the elbow.
Outfits 9 and 10: My brother’s friends
Oktoberfest Accessories
In addition to your dirndl or lederhosen, you may want to add some accessories to give your Oktoberfest outfit some personality! All of the guys had their base outfits prior to the trip and then purchased the extras at the trachten stores to finish the looks. Vests come in a variety of colors, fabrics, and textures. Look for vests like these with the buttons, high neck, pockets, and rounded hem.
Oktoberfest accessories also include alpine hats made from felted wool (a bunch of the guys bought these, including Korri—you can pin any Oktoberfest pins you buy or trade with others to the hat!) and the Loferl socks (ankle socks paired with calf warmers). You could opt for knee-length socks like Korri did if you prefer. Both types of socks are to only be worn with the short lederhosen that hits just above the knee.
Once you’re in the beer tents, there will be lots of ladies walking around trying to sell you things like pins, hats, flower crowns, etc. My brother and his girlfriend got me a flower crown to complete my Oktoberfest outfit (scroll down to see it in action)! Other accessories for women include themed jewelry, nail polish that coordinates with your outfit, fun makeup, etc. And don’t forget sunglasses if you’re out in the daylight!
Outfit 11: My dad
Shoes to Wear at Oktoberfest
Look at my cute parents! This is another great example of coordinating Oktoberfest outfits. My step mom purchased her dirndl prior to the trip, so my dad could easily coordinate his outfit to match. The blue and dark brown color combo looks great! I also love this combination because they coordinated shoes, too.
Shoes can be the stickiest part of your Oktoberfest outfit, especially if you are traveling light and don’t want to pack an extra pair of shoes just for one or two days. Whatever you opt for, make sure they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time (maybe consider insoles) and easy to walk in! I also recommend closed-toe shoes for lots of reasons but mainly to keep your feet protected.
Here are some options for shoes to wear:
Ankle boots (I wore Blondo boots, and my step mom wore an old pair and left them behind to make room for souvenirs)
Sneakers (lots of people wore white sneakers)
Clogs (what my brother’s girlfriend wore)
Oxford shoes
Ballet flats
Loafers
Pumps (I DID see women wearing pumps!)
Most of the guys wore sneakers. Korri lives in Nike sneakers, so that’s what he wore. I know he wishes he had something more traditional, but he didn’t have room in his bag to buy a pair. My dad’s and youngest brother’s shoe choices were the closest to traditional Oktoberfest shoes for men.
I will say, your shoes are probably the least important part of your outfit; most people will not see them and only the diehards would even notice if you’re not wearing traditional Oktoberfest shoes.
Outfit 12: My brother’s friend (on the left)
How to Layer for Oktoberfest
The weather in Munich (or wherever you are attending an Oktoberfest celebration) can vary quite a bit at the end of September and beginning of October. It can be anywhere from 70s-80s (Fahrenheit) and sun to 40s-50s and rain and everything in between. Luckily, you’ll probably be toasty warm among other bodies inside the beer tents, but you’ll feel the chill (and any precipitation) once you step outside.
I definitely recommend at least packing a top layer that goes with your Oktoberfest outfit. If you’re wearing a dirndl, add a lightweight sweater, cardigan, or a thin jacket (jean jacket, trench, etc.). If you’re wearing lederhosen, opt for a long-sleeved shirt, a vest, and maybe a lightweight jacket if it’s really chilly out.
I also recommend packing leggings, tights (to wear under a dirndl), or long socks (to wear with lederhosen). I packed tights but didn’t have to wear mine, thank goodness! I brought beige tights along with me because I was planning on buying a white blouse and thought black tights would look too harsh. You could also consider fleece-lined tights if it looks to be freezing.
What to Bring to Oktoberfest
Even though it is free to enter and walk around Oktoberfest (you need to pay for everything once inside), there is still an entrance where they will make sure you aren’t walking in with too much stuff. Carry as much on your person as you can; this is definitely easier for the men wearing lederhosen with pockets!
Dirndls aren’t known for their pockets, so you’ll probably want a bag. Bring a small crossbody bag with only the essentials: phone, portable charger, wallet (with cash or debit card to use at an ATM), hand sanitizer, sunglasses, hotel key, etc. This is the bag I brought with me.
Have fun!
I hope these tips helped you put together Oktoberfest outfits you LOVE! I also rounded up a bunch of fun Oktoberfest-themed tops below. I recommend NOT wearing these to the actual Oktoberfest in Munich but they’re fine for other celebrations here in the states. 😉 Prost!
Photography by Hey Bella Photo