Fresh pastel tones like dusty pink, sage, soft lilac, lavender and muted yellow suit the spring mood perfectly and look lively in daylight. Bright blues and petrol work just as well. Classics like dark blue, forest green or wine red always work too. Avoid very heavy velvet dirndls and fully black combinations – they look too wintery in April and May.

Main difference: lightness. For the spring festival we recommend lighter fabrics, brighter colours and summery-elegant cuts. A pure Oktoberfest dirndl in heavy fabric and dark colour can feel too bulky in spring. The other way round: a good spring dirndl often works at the Wiesn in autumn too, if you combine it with the right apron and blouse.

Yes, especially in warm weather. But keep in mind: weather in southern Germany in April and May is unpredictable, and with a short dirndl you depend on warm evenings. A midi dirndl gives you more flexibility – you can wear a light cardigan during the day without hurting the look, and you won't freeze so fast in the evening.

No, there's no official dress code at the Munich or Stuttgart spring festival. Traditional dress is very welcome but not mandatory. Many visitors wear dirndls because they suit the mood and make for better photos. If you choose to wear a dirndl, you have noticeably more freedom with colour than at a wedding – and a bit more than at Oktoberfest in autumn.

Yes, absolutely. A good midi dirndl in a fresh colour works at the spring festival, the May festival, Tollwood in Munich, summer parties, garden weddings and later at the Wiesn too. With a different blouse and a different apron the dress looks different every time. That's exactly the advantage of a high-quality dirndl over a cheap fast-fashion piece.