Austria Tempts Visitors with Dirndl Fashion

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Living Tradition at Lake Grundlsee in Austria's Salzkammergut

(PRWEB) June 20, 2012

Austria’s Dirndl Ambassadors have arrived and, over the next three months, will descend on New York City 25 at a time. They’ll be hard to miss as they take on Central Park enjoying Tchaikovsky and a picnic on the lawn, or struttin’ their stuff at a PS1 Warm Up dance party, or swirling around Lincoln Center at a Midsummer Night Swing performance.

“Join the fun,” urges Michael Gigl, Director-North America for the Austrian Tourist Office. “Stop, flirt, take photos—and engage on the page.” Visitors to http://www.facebook.com/austriatravelinfo can learn more about the Dirndl Ambassadors, watch videos of their adventures, vote on favorites, and choose where in NYC they should make their next appearance. They can also win prizes for sharing videos and photos of their own Dirndl experiences.

Fun, feminine and flirty, the Dirndl convinced British designer Vivienne Westwood that “there would be no ugliness in the world if every woman wore a Dirndl.” Wise words from a talented woman. Many know the Dirndl from the Sound of Music and, though the film played fast and loose with traditional costume, the real Maria von Trapp indeed wore a Dirndl throughout her life. On each return to her native Salzburg, she ordered new outfits from her favorite tailor.

From its humble beginnings as the work garb of peasants, the Dirndl has certainly evolved. In the 19th century, when the emperor began wearing Lederhosen on his trips to the countryside, the Dirndl became popular with Austria’s high society. More recently, the Dirndl and traditional costumes in general have experienced a popular revival. For many Austrians today the Dirndl is a fashion statement. Styles range from the very traditional in which color and cut reflect the wearer’s region to the more playful and edgy that incorporate modern fabrics, cross-cultural influences and punk elements. No matter the style, every Dirndl has a wide skirt attached to a Leiberl, or fitted bodice, an apron and a blouse.

At http://www.facebook.com/austriatravelinfo visitors will see where the Dirndl comes from and, more important, where to find their own. If they Like the page they’ll be eligible to enter a sweepstakes. The grand prize? Their choice of a Dirndl or Lederhosen on a spectacular trip for two to Salzburg and the Lake District, where traditional costumes are an essential part of every wardrobe. Winners will be announced at the end of the event series in September. “By then,” adds Gigl, “We think New Yorkers will be as smitten with the Dirndl as so many others already are.”

The Austrian Tourist Office is the official Destination Management Organization for the country of Austria. For more information go to http://www.austria.info.

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