Hemlines are higher at this year's Octoberfest - modification of traditional dirndls dress in Munich

Modern Brewery Age, Oct 14, 2002

Reporters at this year's Octoberfest noticed the onset of a style war, instigated by young German women who favor ultra-short dirndls and skintight lederhosen.

According to published 19th century style guidelines, the traditional dirndl should "amp1ify the bosom but discretely trail along the floor, and, if not, fully cover the knees."

However, traditionalists have been horrified to see dirndls rising ever higher above the knee-line.

"I find this new look horrible," declared Munich's tourism chief Gabriele Weishaeupl, adding: "Those being sported this year are, to my tastes, far, far too short."

"Dirndl alarm! Is the Wiesn too sexy?" asked the Munich Abendzeitung in a front page headline - the Wiesn being the city recreation grounds given over to the fest each year. "The traditional dresses are shorter than ever!"

In one paper, it was reported that Clara Kroll, 19, a Munich secretary, sported a mini-dirndl that landed her in a spat with a middle-aged woman wearing the more sober variety.

"This old crow said I looked like a tart and I told her she looked like the Kaiser's mother," said Clara. "I bought my dirndl second hand for 50 and altered it myself. I don't want to pay 300 for a new one that makes me look frumpy."

Cost, say dirndl enthusiasts, is part of the problem; new ones are expensive and there is a big second-hand market "It takes very little to alter one to show off one's legs," said dirndl designer Lola Paltinger. "I am on the traditionalist side myself," she added. "I think it should at least cover the knees."

The Munich Oktoberfest is the biggest public festival in the world. This year marks the 169th time it has been held. Attended by about six million visitors, who drink around five million litres of beer and consume 400,000 pork sausages, the dress question is, for most, secondary to the drinking.

Matthias Krapnick, a Berliner, said: "I have to say that looking at pretty girl's legs through the bottom of an upturned beer glass is pretty much close to paradise."