What to Wear for Oktoberfest?

If you have the opportunity to come to Germany in late September or early October, don't miss the Munich Oktoberfest! Even if you are not a beer lover, you can still fully experience the festival atmosphere at that time.

If you are not German or have never been to Germany, you may not know what Oktoberfest is. Is it a festival or an event? Even if you have heard of it, you may not know much about the dressing code and taboos of Oktoberfest. In any case, if you want to participate in this event, you should always know something in advance. And our blog today is just to introduce you to Oktoberfest and its related dressing codes and suggestions. If you are interested in this topic, keep reading!

What Is Oktoberfest?

Although not plenty of people are very familiar with the Munich Oktoberfest, there are probably not plenty of people who have never heard of it either. After all, it is known as one of the three most famous beer festivals in the world, along with the London Beer Festival in the UK and the Denver Beer Festival in the United States. Moreover, among these three, the Munich Oktoberfest is the oldest, the largest, and has the longest time span, so it is very worthwhile to participate to a large extent.

The Munich Oktoberfest originated in 1810 and is now usually held in late September or early October for about two weeks. Except for a few years' suspension during the wars and the pandemics, this grand festival seems to come as scheduled every year, adding a touch of fun to the boring and ordinary life.

The Oktoberfest originated from the royal wedding in 1810. In the spirit of sharing happiness with the people, the king set up four places in Munich to provide free meals and drinks to the public. After Napoleon abdicated and was exiled in 1814, Munich, which was no longer threatened by foreign invasions, resumed the Oktoberfest, and in addition to food, it also added sports activities such as horse racing and bowling, and the scale was also further expanded.

Since the Munich government took over the Oktoberfest in 1819, it has gradually evolved into a stable tradition. At the end of the 19th century, the duration of the Oktoberfest was further extended to the half-month we know today. In 1910, the 100th anniversary of the Oktoberfest, 1.2 million liters of beer were drunk in the enthusiastic crowd. In 2013, this figure even hit a new high of 7.7 million liters.

Today's Munich Oktoberfest is even more colorful and has become a carnival for the entire nation. On the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest every year, people wear national costumes or dress themselves up as ancient characters in the parade. Usually, there are many amusement rides at the Oktoberfest, such as carousels, etc. Sometimes, art groups are also invited to perform snake charmers, etc. In addition to beer, you can also taste authentic German sausages and roast chicken here. Today, more than 6 million people attend the Munich Oktoberfest every year. This grand festival has become one of the pillars of Munich's local economic growth, as various industries such as catering and services are driven by this festival. This festival also provides an opportunity for people from all over the world to interact with each other and further learn about the German culture.

However, as the public security problems caused by drinking intensified, the organizers of the event proposed the concept of a “quiet beer festival” in 2005. Since then, beer hall operators can only play traditional music with a volume not exceeding 85 decibels during the day and pop music only after 6 pm. So, if you want to participate in the Munich Oktoberfest, please be sure to drink moderately and pay attention to your own safety.

Dressing Codes of Oktoberfest

Generally speaking, there are no very strict dressing codes in such a national carnival festival, but the traditional Bavarian costumes are one of the highlights of the event. You’ll notice that even the waitresses serving drinks through the wine sheds are dressed in Bavarian-style dresses. If you are interested in the local traditional costumes or longing for a more immersive experience, you might as well try a Bavarian-style costume! To speak more specifically, Bavarian clothing for women consists of the following elements:

🍻The core element is a dress. However, unlike the loose or fitted dresses that women often wear today, this type of dress is made up of a tight bodice and a wide skirt, which is more like a suspender dress and can better highlight the curves of a woman's figure. In addition, there are often lace or embroidery decorations at the neckline, which adds a sense of refinement and elegance to the overall look. In addition, the bodice and the skirt are not necessarily in the same color. Darker colors such as black and dark green are often used for the bodice, while the skirt are often more colorful.

🍻An apron is usually worn over the dress. This apron, usually made of silk or cotton, may served a practical purpose hundreds of years ago, but today it is more decorative than practical. The color of the apron can form a contrast with that of the dress and can have a variety of patterns on it, such as plaid or florals.

🍻You also need to wear a shirt under the overall dress. In order not to let the shirt dominate the dress, we recommend that you choose a shirt in white or other light colors. A shirt in this kind of color is also more versatile and can be matched with dresses in many different colors.

🍻In addition, you can also choose some accessories, such as a traditional silver necklace. Unmarried girls like to wear flowers on their heads as hair accessories, while married women need to tie their hair up and can wear gems as hair accessories.

If you don't want to try on traditional Bavarian clothing, that's no problem. You can also wear any style you like to the festival. Whether it is casual style, retro style or hip-hop style, it will not look out of place here. In addition, there are some other items that you need to pay attention to for a better experience:

The Oktoberfest is crowded, so it’s better to choose some breathable clothes. Secondly, in addition to tasting beer, you may also want to play some amusement facilities, so loose-fitting clothes that provide convenience to your movement will be more suitable.

Moreover, September and October are already autumn in Munich, so the weather may be a bit cold. Therefore, don't just focus on fashion and beauty, but also take a thick coat and a scarf to keep warm.

Outfit Tips for the Oktoberfest

If you're wondering how to combine different styled clothing and accessories to create a look suitable for attending Munich Oktoberfest, we will provide you with more specific suggestions in this section for your reference.

🍻The traditional and classic style: a white shirt + a floral printed suspender dress in light purple + a straw hat + a pair of Mary Janes

This look is equivalent to a modified version of traditional Bavarian women's clothing. Traditional Bavarian women's clothing consists of a shirt, a suspender dress and an apron, which provides it a rich sense of layering. However, in the crowded Oktoberfest, such a layered look can be very stuffy and airless. So, remove the apron and choose an idyllic floral dress. The light purple is reminiscent of the rich fragrance of lavender. Add a straw hat and a pair of Mary Jane shoes to make your look both classic and casual.

🍻The energetic sporty style: a hoodie + a pair of elastic sweatpants + a pair of sneakers

This style will not only facilitate your various activities, but also bring you energetic and youthful dynamism. To complete this look, you can wear a baseball cap on your head and wear a sports bracelet.

🍻The trendy street style: a leather jacket + a pair of ripped jeans + a pair of ankle boots

If you are a loyal fan of street style but don’t have the chance to wear your ripped jeans and leather jacket at work on weekdays, now here is your chance! At a time when everyone is celebrating together, you won't look out of place even if you dress a little more flashy.

🍻The retro style: a batwing sleeve top + a maxi corduroy skirt + a pair of leather shoes

Of course, the Bavarian-style women's clothing we mentioned above is also a retro style outfit. But if you are not interested in this kind of clothing with regional characteristics, you might as well try some other retro elements, such as corduroy, bat sleeves, etc. In the end, do not forget a pair of leather shoes to complete the perfect outfit.