Oktoberfest Costumes

Oktoberfest Fancy Dress

Oktoberfest is a German-born annual festival originating in the Bavaria state in Munich, Germany.  The festival traditionally lasts for sixteen days and is one of the most popular festivals in the city of Munich, drawing in around 6 million people every year. Oktoberfest is not only celebrated in Germany however, many other cities around the world also choose to celebrate the event. Oktoberfest began in 1810 to celebrate the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12^th October. This occasion was marked by horse races which became an annual tradition and this became Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest is also a popular attraction to various celebrities from around the world. In 2008, Cora Schumacher (The sister in law of legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher) attended the annual event alongside Katija Zickler. Celebrities from all backgrounds and careers attend the festival from the likes of Dutch soccer superstar Arjen Robben (A key player for the Netherlands in the recent 2014 Brazil World Cup), to Paris Hilton, American actress and entertainer.

Traditional beers sold at Oktoberfest are known as Oktoberfestbiers. These beers have been served since 1818, and are supplied by 6 popular breweries, famously known as the Big Six: Spaten, Löwenbräu, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr. Traditionally, Oktoberfestbiers were called Märzen, these were lagers of around 5.5 to 6% abv. This changed in 1872 when Josef Sedlmayr brewed an amber-red Vienna lager which soon became the favoured Oktoberfestbier.

For Women: Traditional clothing for ladies is a peasant-style blouse, known in Germany as a “Trachtenbluse”, a specific type of dress called a “Dirndl” which is made up of a full skirt, and a low sleeveless top, similar to overalls, an apron or “pinafore” to wear over the skirt, nylon stockings which match your skin tone, white knee-length socks as an addition to the stockings or as an alternative, and a comfortable pair of loafers, clogs, or Mary-Jane style black shoes. You can also top off the outfit with a traditional Bavarian hat if you like.

For Men: Traditional clothing for men at Oktoberfest is a plain or lightly chequered shirt, a pair of “Lederhosen” which are a type of traditional leather breaches, some suspenders, a pair of white, grey, light brown, hunter green, or oatmeal coloured socks, traditional footwear such as “Haferlschuh” or “Haferl” shoes. Like the female outfit, you may also want to add a Bavarian hat, known as “Don an Alpine hat”.

At allfancydress, we stock a variety of Oktoberfest costumes for men and women. For women we have several all in one Ladies Bavarian Dresses, a great and simple option for the occasion without the fuss of buying each part of the outfit separately and for men, we similarly have all in one Bavarian outfits for men, perfect for the sixteen day festival. We also sell various accessories such as Bavarian hats, beauty wigs, knee-length socks, and tights.

Glücklich Oktoberfest.