Pass notesGermanyVisitors wearing ‘pornographic’ Alpine outfits at the Munich beer festival have been accused of tasteless cultural appropriation
Name: The Oktoberfest dirndl.
Age: It has its roots in Alpine peasant clothing and the uniform worn by Austrian domestic workers in the 19th century.
Appearance: Annually, at Oktoberfest in Munich.
Who goes to Oktoberfest? More than 6 million people from around the globe went last year.
And what about the appearance of the dirndl itself? Traditional and unsexy.
Personally, I think a dirndl can be very sexy. No, it can’t. The dirndl is a dowdy and chaste form of national dress. The “sexy” version you see tourists wearing at Oktoberfest is a travesty.
Are you sure you haven’t got that the wrong way round? Yes, I’m sure. The sexy dirndl is the worst sort of cultural appropriation.
Actually, I can think of several dozen worse sorts. I doubt it. Many Germans are appalled by what they see as a pornographic take on traditional dress, worn by British and Australian women visiting Oktoberfest.
Pornographic how? The fake versions are generally low-cut, with skirts above the knee. They have nothing to do with Bavarian or Austrian cultural identity.The Germans have a similar issue with misappropriation of the traditional male costume, lederhosen.
There’s no such thing as sexy lederhosen. I suppose that depends on who’s wearing them.
I think you’ll find it doesn’t. Real lederhosen are made from deerskin or goatskin. The colourful, elaborately embroidered costumes worn by tourists are a sort of comedy version frowned upon by traditional outfitters.
To be honest, I’m finding it hard to work up much in the way of outrage about this. You’re not alone. Michael Ritter from the Bavarian regional heritage society points out that styles have changed since the 19th century, when the aristocracy first decided that peasant wear was fashionable.
So the national costume can be a little bit sexy? Actually, the idea of asserting cultural identity with national dress has only recently resurged. In the 1980s and 90s, most people went to Oktoberfest in regular clothes.
Still, I can see how a bunch of tourists in fancy dress can alter the true meaning of a historical festival, which is supposed to be about how drunk everyone can get. Exactly – it’s about cultural sensitivity.
Do say: “It’s just a sexy dirndl. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
Don’t say: “What knickers?”
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