Working at an Oktoberfest event? What to wear

If you’re going to be working as a waiter or waitress at an Oktoberfest event, then you’ll probably be required to dress the part. After all, most of the guests will be there in dirndls and lederhosen, so you’re going to need a suitably Bavarian style; at the same time, though, you need make sure you are visible as a member of staff and instantly recognisable to people wanting beer – even at more, ahem, advanced stages of the evening. And on top of all of that, you need to stay professional.

It’s a tough one to pull off, so if you’re looking for advice on what to wear as an Oktoberfest waiter or waitress, then look no further. Unless your employer has an official uniform, then it’s down to you to get it right – and we’re here to help with a few outfit suggestions for working at Oktoberfest events. We base our looks on what professional full-timers in Munich and Bavaria wear at the Oktoberfest and similar fairs, and in the region’s famous beer halls and beer gardens.

The good news? Dirndls and lederhosen were made for hardworking country folk, so they’re pretty robust and can stand up to a fair degree of punishment. The downside? You can’t be quite as creative and have quite as much fun as the guests.

Dirndl-lang-Stockerpoint-Amber-schwarz-SC195tanne5887ac3d24ac5lkFeY6W71oNdVBavarian waitress outfit

The most important thing for girls serving at Oktoberfests is to wear a dirndl; the second most important thing is to make sure that they remain clearly distinguishable from all the other dirndl-wearers among paying guests. The best way to achieve this is to opt for a more serious, longer style of dirndl in darker colours and without too many decorative elements.

Short-short dirndls are a no-go, as are bright colours – not only for standing out from the crowds, but also to help you feel confident and competent when dealing with tables of gents not necessarily used to beer in large measures. Opt for a minimum skirt-length of 70cm and complement the look with elbow-length sleeves on the blouse; swap shiny, festive aprons for washable cotton pinafores (yes, you will need to wash them).

We offer a wide range of traditional, long black dirndls at over 90cm and around €75; to go with these single-piece dresses, we also stock a full range of dirndl blouses and a full selection of aprons in plain colours such as forest, berry, and dark blue which are perfect for Oktoberfest work. All of these traditional dirndls and accessories are made of cotton and polyester, making them easily washable; price-wise, there’s nothing to stop you buying two or three sets so that you’ve got a change of uniform just in case.

Trachtenweste-Stockerpoint-Ricardo-braun-DYpq7wpjUquZTfBavarian waiter outfit

Munich waiters tend to wear lederhosen paired up with shirts and, most importantly, a waistcoat. In fact, at the Oktoberfest, you are more likely to see a waiter in normal trousers than one without a waistcoat. So join them and get that professional look with one of our traditional Bavarian waistcoats. The great thing about our wide range is that you can match the colour to the event if required, and we offer everything from leather vests through to satin-look smart waistcoats, allowing you to tone the look to just the kind of Oktoberfest event in question. Go for a standard gingham check shirt under the waistcoat to make yourself unmistakably Bavarian; avoid t-shirts and, for practical reasons (i.e. spills, sweat), white shirts.

In terms of lederhosen, we’d recommend knee-length breeches; these are the most traditional and will keep your knees and thighs out of sight from your customers at table-height – and protected from the inevitable spillage when carrying large amounts of beer. On that note, our last tip is not strictly about your uniform: remember to do some work on your upper-body and core strength prior to starting…

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Ein herzliches Willkommen sagt Ihnen Alpenclassics e.K. Tracht- & Landhausmode – schön, dass Sie den Weg zu uns gefunden haben. Dafür, dass er sich gelohnt hat, garantieren die edlen Materialien, strahlenden Farben sowie attraktiven Schnitte unserer Trachtenlederhosen, Dirndl und anderen Schmuckstücke. Stockerpoint Trachtenmode von A-Z. Mit unserer Trachten- und Landhausmode sind Sie immer bestens gekleidet – auf dem nächsten Volksfest ebenso wie zu vielen anderen Anlässen.

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