Fraulein Barbie

I’ll admit it- I love dirndl dresses. When I booked my holiday to Vienna I knew I just had to make a dirndl for Barbie. We visited the magnificent Shoenbrunn Palace, what a location! It is such a stunning palace, so much to see and so much history, in fact Marie Antoinette was born and raised here. (hmmm, I think she may inspiration for a future dress too…watch this space.)

I’ve been fascinated with dirndl dresses since my college days when I worked my summers in Munich, it was quite common to see locals in ‘Tracht’ which are traditional garments in German speaking areas, like Bavaria and Austria. A dirndl traditionally involves the fitted bodice on a gathered skirt with a short sleeve blouse and finished off with an apron. A more modern take on it sees dirndls made in fabulous silks and wild colours, with shorter skirts and lower necklines. Apparently how the apron is tied is very important and can tell a lot: a bow on the left means you are single, a bow on the right means you are taken. Well, since Ken is Barbie’s beau she has her bow on the right!

This dirndl is made from vintage raw silk, it’s a dark gold colour, underneath the bodice is a tiny white gathered blouse with bow details and I finished the bodice with tiny silver buttons. I finished it off with a dusty pink apron.

I think she looks the part for Vienna!!

Auf Wiedersehen!

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