Who doesn’t dream sitting on a beer bench at the Oktoberfest sipping an ice cold beer and a beautiful girl dressed in a Dirndl beside him!!!
But this will only work if you have the right Lederhosen.
The right Lederhosen accentuates the well formed Male butt and all the girls will look at the well toned calfs.
The Lederhosen buying guide
1. Lenght
There are two kinds of Lederhosen, one is called “Kniebund” which finishes below thee knee.
The other is called “Plattler” and finishes just before the knee (short)
Choosing the length of the Lederhosen depends on your preference, if you have nice calfs and want to show them off then the “Plattler” is your Lederhosen. If you have long slender legs the maybe you want to go with the “Kniebund”. It really all depends what you feel more comfortable in.
2. Leather
The most important thing about a Lederhosen is the leather. You can buy cheap Lederhosen, but they will be very uncomfortable, they don’t breath, they are sticky and just ugly.
The perfect leather for a Lederhosen is chamois tanned deerskin. It feels like a second skin, breathes well and is absorbent. However these are quite expensive, about Euro 1,000 + and hard to come by.
Then there is ‘Wildbock’ (wild buck) Leather which is easy to come by and most good modern Lederhosen are made from. You can also get cowhide and goatskin Lederhosen. But if you want the more authentic one that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, that breathes well, absorbs well and also feels like a second skin get a Wildbock Lederhosen.
3. Lederhosen Colour
Lederhosen come in many different colours, varying from black to dark brown, light brown and golden brown.
4. Embelishment
If you want the traditional look then don’t dare and experiment. When it comes to the embellishing of traditional Lederhosen stick with traditional motives such as calibrate or vine leaves and classic colours such as light green, moss green or yellow.
However if you want to break out of the norm and feel like embracing the New Range of 2015 do all but the above :)
5. Accessorising your Lederhosen
In the knife pocked you would usually place a ‘Nicker’, a hunting knife with a handle made out chamois or deer/stag antler. However when going to the Oktoberfest these are best left at home.
The braces are not a must. If you prefer to wear you Lederhosen without the braces you can definitely add a leather belt with a nice big buckle - this is a 2015 Range must.
To finish your Plattler Lederhosen outfit you have to wear the matching Lederhosen socks, which are called “Loferl”. They only cover the calves and come in white/green, white/brown and other modern colours. Stick with the White/Green and White/Brown for the 100% authentic Bavarian look.
6. Looking after your Lederhosen
Looking after your Lederhosen is easy, wear them regularly! Lederhosen are meant to get patina! It is important for many Lederhosen enthusiasts and proofs that one often and gladly wears his Lederhosen. The greasy shine makes the Lederhosen perfect.
However here a few tips:
- Air them regularly!
- If you put them in storage until next years Oktoberfest make sure it is in a place where they can breathe and don’t fold them!
- Never take them to the dry cleaners but rather spot treat them when necessary with a damp cloth.
7. What to look out for when buying your perfect Lederhosen
Lederhosen are meant to sit snug; it is wise to do the sitting test to see if you are comfortable. They will loosen once you wear them for a few hours, as your body heat will stretch them slightly, up to 3cm.
Keep in mind it is not advisable to buy them super snug so that you can’t sit down in the Biergarten drinking your beer and eating that pork knuckle.
FAQs
Formerly, lederhosen were worn for pheasant work among men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Bavaria, Austria, the Allgäu, Switzerland, the autonomous Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (formerly part of Austria-Hungary) and Alpine area of today's Slovenia.
Why are lederhosen so expensive? ›
The most expensive lederhosen are made of deerskin: this is the softest and the most aesthetically pleasing leather, and it ages well.
What does the bow on lederhosen mean? ›
Meaning of the dirndl bow: Dirndl bow tied on the left: The wearer is single. Dirndl bow tied on the right: The wearer is already taken, engaged or married. Dirndl bow tied in the center back: The wearer is a waitress or widowed.
Why are people wearing lederhosen today? ›
Men in the Alps wore these trousers to work for centuries, decorating them with nature motifs that reflected their surroundings in the Alps. Today, Lederhosen are mostly reserved for festivities such as weddings and festivals -- but more on that later!
Why don't you wash lederhosen? ›
So whether it's slightly out-of-control dirt or a couple of bad stains you've noticed, your lederhosen needs a bit of care and attention. That doesn't mean cleaning them, though, as you might expect, but washing them in water. Sounds wrong, right? As mentioned above, water can be damaging to leather.
What are female lederhosen called? ›
Called Tracht in German, this distinctive form of dress was once worn day in, day out by men, women, and children in the Alpine regions of Bavaria and Austria. For men, the most recognisable element is, of course, the lederhosen; for women, the dirndl is the most typical piece.
Do you wear anything under lederhosen? ›
Worn with a linen or cotton shirt, woolly socks, and sturdy shoes, these leather breeches are an iconic item of clothing with a high recognition factor worldwide. There isn't only one single type of lederhosen, though.
Should lederhosen be tight or loose? ›
A pair of lederhosen fits perfectly when it is tight, but doesn't pinch anywhere. To make sure you get this flush fit, you need to know your exact measurements – both waist and hips, at their widest point.
What are the rules for lederhosen? ›
Lederhosen Code:
They're knee-length pants traditional attire, but don't make the mistake of pairing it with your white tube socks and a dirty fraternity t-shirt. Make sure you have nice shoes (not necessarily dress shoes... you can wear your Doc Martins), but be sure to have the right socks (wool socks work!).
What is the small pocket on lederhosen for? ›
Some lederhosen, especially those for young boys, are held up by decorated suspenders. And many lederhosen have a right-side pocket where you can stash a knife.
Secondly, it's about comfort inasmuch as, while lederhosen braces may be the best way to hold up leather breeches as they get wider and looser with wear, they can end up feeling constricting and may even chafe shoulders or nipples through thinner tops.
What is the German word for lederhosen? ›
The term Lederhosen (/ˈleɪdərˌhoʊzən/; German pronunciation: [ˈleːdɐˌhoːzn̩], singular in German usage: Lederhose, German: [ˈleːdɐˌhoːzə]; lit. "Leather Pants") is used in English to refer specifically to the traditional leather breeches worn by men in Austria, Bavaria (namely Upper Bavaria), South Tyrol and Slovenia.
Can you go to Oktoberfest without lederhosen? ›
Today, most Oktoberfest visitors wear some kind of costume, which resemble traditional alpine Bavarian clothing to a certain degree. For all those, who want to know more, we wrote an article on “What is a Tracht?”. You really don't need to buy a pair of cheap Lederhosen or a trashy Dirndl imitation just to fit in.
Is it okay to wear lederhosen? ›
No, Lederhosen are a specifically Bavarian thing (South of Germany) and nobody cares if a tourist wears them. No, the typical Bavarian Lederhosen are worn by actual Bavarians mostly for tourist shows but also for real use, but nobody would be offended if anybody else would wear them. ...
How often do Germans wear lederhosen? ›
Lederhosen has been around since the 18th century, but to many, it may cross the question, “Do people in Germany wear lederhosen?” The answer is simply “YES.” But it is not worn by all Germans and isn't worn every day. Lederhosen is mostly embraced in southern Germany, especially in Bavaria.
