Should I buy a Dirndl before I go to Germany, or get it there?

So, you're going to Oktoberfest in Munich and you find yourself in need of a dirndl. Now the question is, do you buy before you go there or buy it in Munich? This is a question that I have seen asked many times in different online Oktoberfest Travel forums and the suggestions are mixed. 

While I’m a smidge biased (being the owner of an online dirndl shop n’ all) but here is my honest to goodness thoughts on this topic. 

There are pros and cons on both sides of this argument which I’ll outline shortly, but the down and dirty answer is: Will you have enough time to shop during your trip? 

If you’re going to be in Munich for 9 days and plan on going to the Wiesn for 3 days, then how cool is it to say you bought a dirndl in Germany. If you are only going to be in Munich for 2-3 days… do you really want to spend 1 of them shopping for a dirndl? 

“How long do you think I’ll be shopping? Good grief… it’ll only take me an hour or so!” 

Oh you think so? There are tons of dirndl shops in Munich banking on people wanting to buy dirndls for Oktoberfest. So you’ll have to sift through the cheapo ones, navigate past the floor length, traditional wool ones going for 1,000€ and up, plus find one that fits well and you like… so ya… it’s going to take a while.   

Ok, that being said here are the pros and cons of buying before your trip vs on your trip. 

Buying ahead of time: PROS

• You’re more than likely going to get a better price. (But warning… anything under $100… well let’s just say you get what you pay for.)
• Should you need alterations, you have time to get those done.
• The internet is FULL of options (including some sketchy ones… so again, you get what you pay for). 
• You’ll have less stress when you get to Munich.
• You can use that extra day planned for shopping on sightseeing or drinking more beer!

• As my Oktoberfest expert Ashley says, “Depending on where you buy it, there’s a chance the quality will be... eh... less than magnificent." (we're not talking Rare Dirndl here tho.)
• Also depending on where you get it, there is a good chance one of the millions of ladies at the Wiesn will be wearing the same thing. (cough*cough* Amazon *cough*cough)

Looking for a dirndl online that you WON’T find someone else in Munich wearing?

Buying in Germany: PROS

• You got it in Germany!!! How cool is that!
• Your experience will probably come with a good story about how the shopkeepers were brutally honest and “so German”.
• You’ll get to try it on before you buy it. 

• A nice dirndl in Germany are going to run you anywhere from 300-800€ + a blouse (you can do the conversions yourself). It’s not cheap (and if it’s a 79€ special… I’ll say it one last time. You get what you pay for + I 100% guarantee it was NOT made in Germany.)
• They don’t have unlimited dirndls… you might not find something you like in your size
• No time for alterations. 
• You will spend a lot of time shopping that you could be drinking, eating and singing at Oktoberfest, seeing the other amazing sights in Munich… literally anything else! 

So there you have it folks. Pros and cons of buying a dirndl online before your trip vs in Munich, Germany. (Oh… and really all the same bullet points are applicable for buying Lederhosen.)  

Want the best of both worlds? Order a Rare Dirndl ahead of time, try it on at home and if you don’t love it, send it back for FREE! That’s right. We offer FREE shipping over $100 and FREE returns everyday. Click here to shop our dirndls.

P.S. We’re a small team of women dedicated to your happiness, so if you have questions about anything dirndl related, call, email, or chat with us anytime and we’ll be happy to help!

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