A dirndl is a class of traditional dress worn in southern Germany, Liechtenstein, & Austria Italian South Tirol, based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants. Dresses that are loosely based on the dirndl are known as Landhausmode. The dirndl consists of a bodice, blouse, full skirt & apron. While appearing to be simple & plain, a properly made modern dirndl may be quite expensive as it is tailored and sometimes cut from costly hand-printed or silk fabrics.
In the South German dialects (bairisch), dirndl originally referred to a young woman / a girl, and dirndlkleid to the dress. Nowadays, dirndl may similarly refer to either a young woman or to the dress. The winter style dirndl has heavy, warm skirts & aprons made of thick cotton, linen, velvet or wool & long sleeves. The colors are frequently rich and dark.
The summer style is lighter & more frivolous, has short sleeves, and is often made of lightweight cotton, silk or satin. Accessories may include a long apron tied round the waist, a waistcoat or a wool shawl. In many regions, vibrantly-colored, hand-printed, especially the Ausseerland, silk scarfs and silk aprons are worn. As far as jewelry is concerned, women often sport necklaces, earrings & brooches made of silver, the antlers of deer or even animals' teeth. For colder weather there are heavy dirndl coats in the same cut as the dresses, with a high neck & front buttons, thick mittens and wool hats.