Blog

2020 marked the 10 year anniversary of the creation of Rare Dirndl and as its founder, I, Erika Neumayer Ehrat was really proud, to hit that milestone. But, I might be even more proud to say that we’re still here after 2020! Since the start of Rare Dirndl in 2010, a lot has changed while much has also stayed the same.

If you are a parent of small children, then you probably have had one of these songs stuck in your head for hours… if not days (ask me how I know zis) 

• Sesame Street: “The Letter of the Day”
• Intro song to Paw Patrol
• Bubble Guppies: “It’s time for lunch”
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: “Hot Dog Song”

This post isn’t going to necessarily rid your mind of these unfortunately catchy tunes, but at least it’ll bring in a little more variety. 

At Oktoberfest you’ll hear Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit on repeat—it’s the beer tent anthem that gets everyone drinking, singing, and clinking together. Learn the lyrics, the meaning, and why you’ll also end up belting out John Denver, Robbie Williams, and even Neil Diamond between toasts.

Did you know that where you tie your bow on your apron can tell people about your relationship status? True story. According to tradition, a bow tied on the right means...

A look back at my Chicago winter wedding and how I brought German heritage into the day in a way that felt natural, personal, and wearable. From designing my own dress to turning it into a party dirndl for the reception, this is the honest story behind what I wore and why it mattered.

Rare Dirndl kicked off Chicago Fashion Week in a big way at the Dominican University Alumni Fashion Show. Featuring six stunning designs inspired by German folklore and fantasy, the collection brought bold, high-fashion energy to the runway. From the Dragon Rider Vest to the show-stopping Weaver of the Woods Dirndl, this show celebrated tradition, creativity, and the power of confident women.

When my husband and I were planning our wedding, one of the things we were passionate about was making sure that we incorporated our Donauschwaben and his Swiss heritage into our big day. Our culture is such a big part of our everyday lives, how could we not include it on our wedding day? From the little details to the major components, there are essentially 6 ways to bring your heritage into your wedding and I’ll use our wedding as an example. These ideas can also be applied to pretty much any culture! 

I love edelweiss and most women who are of German, Austrian or Swiss descent also have an affinity for this flower. But what is it and why do we love this seemingly fuzzy ugly flower so much? I mean we love it so much that we can't help buying anything with it on it... or we get it tattooed on our bodies... or we have it encased in glass and wear it around our necks! I mean... this is a strong love for flora here. 

When most people think of German braids and dirndls, they picture tight pigtails and Oktoberfest stereotypes. If you actually wear dirndls in real life, you know there are better options. From modern Dutch braids to crown twists and easy styles for short hair, these German braid hairstyles are wearable, current, and perfect with a dirndl.

Can you wear a traditional dirndl if you’re not German? This question comes up every Oktoberfest season and the answer isn’t as complicated as people make it. You don’t need German heritage to wear a dirndl, but you do need respect for the culture behind it. In this post, I break down the difference between appreciation and costume energy, when wearing a dirndl makes sense, and how to do it right without turning tradition into a joke.