Traditional Costume Accessories

Traditional Costume Accessories at Dirndl.com – over 557 items for the complete traditional look

A Dirndl without accessories is like an evening gown without jewellery. It works, but something is missing. Dirndl accessories are not a minor detail – they are the step that turns a decent traditional outfit into something truly complete. Knowing the details makes it much easier to put a look together.

With over 557 items in the accessories category, we offer one of the largest traditional costume accessory selections in German-speaking online retail. Trachten jewellery, necklaces, hair accessories, bags, belts, pins, brooches, hats – everything coordinated to match the major brands such as Krüger, Stockerpoint and Alpentrachten.

The complete guide to everything related to Dirndl accessories can be found in our style guide: Dirndl Accessories: The Ultimate Guide for Your Perfect Look. Here are the essentials in organised form.

Traditional jewellery – the most important Dirndl accessory

If there is one accessory that immediately elevates a traditional look, it is the right jewellery. Traditional jewellery is not an imitation of regular fashion jewellery – it has its own shapes, its own motifs and its own history. Edelweiss, gentian, heart, cross, acorn, fir tree – these motifs appear again and again because they are firmly rooted in Bavarian and Austrian traditional costume culture.

When buying traditional jewellery, one simple rule applies: less is more. A beautiful traditional necklace plus simple earrings – that is enough. Someone wearing a multi-strand pearl necklace does not need striking earrings. Someone wearing a Charivari skips a large necklace. The Dirndl should shine, not the jewellery.

Dirndl jewellery by category

• Traditional necklaces: The centrepiece of Dirndl jewellery. Multi-strand pearl necklaces in white or cream with a pendant, edelweiss necklaces in silver, simple cords with a traditional motif. Each of these options is legitimate and beautiful.
• Traditional brooches: Small brooches with gentian, edelweiss or traditional motifs at the bodice neckline or collar ribbon. They are understated and look very polished. Well suited for more formal occasions.
• Earrings: Small hoops, studs or drop earrings in gold or silver. The basic rule: the more striking the necklace, the more understated the earrings.
• Bracelets: Traditional vine patterns in silver, pearl bracelets, traditional cross bracelets. Well combined with a simple necklace, not together with an elaborate multi-strand piece.

Traditional necklaces and Charivari – two worlds, one tradition

Traditional necklaces and Charivari are related but different. Both belong to the traditional costume tradition, but they carry it in different ways.

A traditional necklace is classic neck jewellery: one or more strands of pearls in white or cream, often combined with a cross, heart or gentian pendant. It is worn around the neck and rests either directly on the décolletage or hangs a little lower, depending on the neckline of the bodice. Silver suits blue, green and white Dirndln better. Gold harmonises with red, brown and berry tones.

A Charivari, on the other hand, is a decorative pendant worn on the fly of the Lederhose or on the bodice of the Dirndl. It consists of coins, small charms, teeth, claws or objects with personal significance. In Bavarian traditional costume culture, the Charivari was originally a status symbol – it showed what someone had experienced, which hunts they had taken part in, which places they had visited. Today there are also modern versions with plain metal plates, which work very well for anyone who does not own a genuine collector's Charivari. More history and meaning is explained in our article: Charivari: Traditional Jewellery with Meaning.

Hair accessories – flower crowns, clips and ribbons

Hair is not a side note in a traditional look. The right hair accessories make a clear difference in photos between a complete and a half-finished look. And in everyday life they are just as noticeable.

At Oktoberfest and the spring festival, the flower crown is the most popular hair accessory. It can be made from real flowers or artificial flowers – artificial flowers stay fresh all day and are often available in coordinated traditional costume colours. Wearing a flower crown already makes the strongest hair statement; no further accessories are needed.

Those who prefer a more understated look choose a hairband or hair clip in a matching traditional colour. Ribbon hair ties in silk or bow fabric in green, blue or bordeaux go with all classic Dirndl colours. For updos there are hairbands with small traditional flowers or pearl trim.

A nice guide for making your own hair accessories can be found in our blog: Making your own hairband: 4 instructions for your Dirndl.

Hair accessories by hairstyle type

• Loose hair: Flower crown or wide hairband that keeps hair away from the face. Or a beautiful hair clip on one side.
• Ponytail or braid: Hairband or bow at the end of the ponytail. Small floral hairpins along the braid look very beautiful.
• Updo: Hairband or hairpins with traditional motif. For more elaborate styles, a small floral accessory at the side.
• Short hair: Hair clip with bow or small traditional ornament. A small flower crown or hairband still works well, even with shorter hair.

Traditional bags – practical and stylish

At Oktoberfest you need your phone, keys, some cash and maybe a lipstick. That has to go somewhere without ruining the look. A traditional bag solves this problem elegantly.

The basic rule: small bag, structured shape. No large shopper, no backpack, no sports bag. A festive Dirndl calls for a compact bag that complements rather than dominates. What goes with a Dirndl and what does not is explained in our styling guide: Which Bag Goes with a Dirndl – Styling Guide 2026.

Traditional bag types at a glance

• Leather pouch: The classic traditional pouch in leather with drawstring or flap. Goes with almost all Dirndl styles and is very robust for long festival days.
• Small crossbody bag: Crossbody style in leather or fabric, with a narrow strap. Very practical, as it stays securely on the body even when the tent gets crowded.
• Clutch: For more formal occasions such as weddings and balls. No strap, carried in the hand or under the arm. Very elegant in leather or with pearl embroidery.
• Knitted pouch in traditional colours: For mountain festival parties and more relaxed traditional occasions. Green, beige or brown are the typical colours.

Colour rule for traditional bags: the bag does not have to match the Dirndl exactly, but it should not clash with it. Brown and beige are neutral colours that go with almost everything. A black bag pairs well with dark Dirndln. A red bag is a deliberate accent – only use it if that is the intention.

Traditional belts and braces

The traditional belt is often an underrated accessory for women. Anyone wearing a Dirndl without an apron, or a women's Lederhose, cannot do without a good belt. Leather belts in brown or black with a traditional buckle give the look structure and definition.

For men, the belt with Lederhose is essential. A buckle with engraving – edelweiss, stag, coat of arms – is a detail that catches the eye immediately and reveals a great deal about personal traditional costume style. Plain buckles look modern, elaborately engraved ones very traditional. Both are correct, depending on the occasion and personal style.

Braces usually come attached to the Lederhose. Anyone buying them separately makes sure they match the Lederhose and the shirt in colour. Wide leather braces look more rustic, narrow elasticated braces in red or green look more modern.

Pins and brooches – small details with a big impact

Pins and brooches are the most frequently underestimated Dirndl accessories. Yet a single well-placed pin on the bodice or collar ribbon of the blouse makes an immediate difference.

Typical motifs: edelweiss (the most classic traditional costume motif of all), gentian, fir tree, stag, heart, cloverleaf, Bavarian lozenges. Materials: pewter, silver, gilded metal, bone, mother-of-pearl. Many of these pieces are still made by hand and have genuine collector's value.

When wearing them, the rule is: one pin or brooch per outfit. Several at once looks cluttered. Placement on the Dirndl: classically upper left on the bodice, just below the neckline. On the blouse: at the collar or on the side of the neckline. On the jacket: on the lapel.

Traditional hats – for a traditional appearance

A traditional hat is not an everyday accessory, but when it fits, it fits perfectly. The classic felt hat in green or grey with a chamois beard, an edelweiss or a loden hatband is a strong traditional signal.

For women there are traditional hats in feminine cuts – often with a smaller brim and a softer shape than the men's version. They are particularly well suited to long Dirndln and traditional costume processions. Wearing a hat at Oktoberfest makes a clear statement: this is genuine traditional costume, not a fancy dress outfit.

For men, the traditional hat is the finishing touch to a knee-length outfit. At Oktoberfest it is worn less frequently – but at traditional festivals, alpine cattle drives and processions it is very much at home. The chamois beard as hat decoration is a Bavarian speciality with a long history.

Dirndl bras and underwear as Dirndl accessories

One point that is often forgotten but very important: the right Dirndl bra is also a Dirndl accessory. A regular bra with a visible back strap under the bodice ruins the look from behind. A bra with cups that extend above the bodice is a problem from the front.

A Dirndl bra has a flat back without disruptive straps, often transparent shoulder straps, and is specifically designed for the Dirndl neckline. Anyone who already owns one knows how much difference it makes. Anyone who does not yet have one should change that before the next folk festival.

Dirndl accessories by occasion – Oktoberfest and wedding

Not every accessory suits every occasion. An elaborate flower crown at a wedding as a guest can be too much. A simple necklace at Oktoberfest too little. Here is a quick overview:

Accessories for Oktoberfest

• Flower crown or hairband in the hair – very festival-appropriate and popular at Oktoberfest
• Traditional necklace in silver or gold, matched to the Dirndl colour
• Small earrings, not too striking (there is plenty going on in the tent anyway)
• Compact crossbody bag or leather pouch – practical and stylish
• Traditional stockings or Loferl, for a more traditional appearance

Accessories for a wedding as a guest

• No flower crowns (that is more of an Oktoberfest look, less suited to a wedding)
• A higher-quality necklace with a beautiful pendant – pearl necklace with cross or heart pendant is perfect
• Earrings can be a little more formal: small drop earrings or hoops in gold
• Brooch on the bodice or blouse for that special something
• Small clutch instead of a crossbody bag – looks more formal and festive
• Understated hair accessories: hairpins with pearls or a small hair flower

Men's accessories – Charivari, belt, hat

The accessories range for men is less extensive than for women, but by no means unimportant. In our men's accessories collection you will find everything that completes the men's traditional costume look.

• Belt with traditional buckle: Essential with Lederhose. Leather in brown or black, buckle with engraving or plain in brass. A good belt lasts decades.
• Charivari: Attached to the fly of the Lederhose. Traditionally filled with personal mementos, today also available in modern versions. A good Charivari turns a pair of Lederhose into an heirloom.
• Traditional hat: Felt hat in green or grey, with chamois beard or hatband. For traditional occasions the strongest accessory a men's traditional outfit can have.
• Traditional stockings and Loferl: Do not forget these. Regular sports socks with Lederhose are one of the most common and noticeable mistakes in men's traditional costume styling.

Care tips for traditional costume accessories

High-quality Dirndl accessories last a long time with the right care. A few simple rules:

Jewellery and necklaces

• Silver jewellery tarnishing? A silver polishing cloth is enough for minor dullness. Heavily tarnished silver can be cleaned in a silver bath.
• Never wash pearl necklaces in water – pearls and moisture do not mix well. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
• Always put jewellery on last and take it off first – perfume, hairspray and creams attack metals and stones.
• Store separately so pieces do not scratch each other. Best in a jewellery box with separate compartments.

Bags

• Treat leather bags with a leather care product once per season to keep the leather supple.
• Do not let wet bags dry in a closed position – stuff with newspaper to dry so the shape is preserved.
• Blot stains on leather immediately, do not rub.

Hair accessories

• Do not put artificial flowers and hairbands made from delicate material under water. Wipe with a slightly damp cloth.
• Store artificial flower crowns in a box between seasons so the flowers are not crushed.
• Real flowers should of course be discarded after the occasion and bought fresh – they will not last through two festivals.

Frequently asked questions about traditional costume accessories and Dirndl accessories

Which Dirndl accessories do I really need?

The three core Dirndl accessories are: a traditional necklace, matching earrings and hair accessories (hairband, flower crown or hair flower). These three elements create a complete, cohesive look. Everything else – brooch, bag, belt, Charivari – is Dirndl accessory that refines the look but is not strictly necessary.

Which colour traditional necklace goes with which Dirndl?

Silver suits blue, green and white Dirndln. Gold harmonises with red, brown, bordeaux and berry-toned Dirndln. Pearl necklaces in white or cream go with almost all Dirndl colours and are therefore the most versatile choice.

What is a Charivari?

A Charivari is a traditional decorative pendant from Bavarian traditional costume culture. It is attached to the fly of the Lederhose or to the bodice of the Dirndl and consists of coins, small charms, teeth, claws or personal mementos. Originally it was a status symbol. Today it is also available in modern versions with plain metal plates.

Can I wear regular earrings with a Dirndl?

Yes, as long as they are not too large or chunky. Small gold or silver studs and understated hoops work well. Anyone wearing a striking traditional necklace should opt for smaller earrings – jewellery should complement each other rather than compete.

Which bag goes with a Dirndl?

A small, structured bag – leather pouch, compact crossbody bag or clutch. No backpack, no large shopper, no sports bag. Brown and beige are neutral colours that go with almost any Dirndl. For more formal occasions a clutch is the most elegant choice.

Which Dirndl accessories go with a mini Dirndl?

With a mini Dirndl, less is more. A simple necklace, understated earrings and a basic hairband or small hair flower are more than enough. Elaborate jewellery or large bags weigh the look down more than it needs.

How do I care for traditional jewellery properly?

Clean silver with a polishing cloth or silver bath. Wipe pearl necklaces dry with a soft cloth – no water. Put jewellery on last and take it off first so perfume and creams do not attack the metals. Store pieces separately so they do not scratch each other.

Are there traditional costume accessories for men too?

Yes. The most important traditional costume accessories for men are: belt with traditional buckle (essential with Lederhose), Charivari on the fly, traditional stockings or Loferl and optionally a traditional hat. The men's accessories range is smaller than for women, but just as important for a complete look.