Consider attending the Oktoberfest festival in Munich. Everyone wears traditional Bavarian attire. If you wear traditional Lederhosen costumes, you’ll blend in with the Bavarians better and have much more fun wearing Lederhosen for Oktoberfest. However, more than 85% of Oktoberfest attendees understand Oktoberfest clothing in addition to beer, bratwurst, and football. Before jeans and T-shirts were made, Germans wore shirts and pants, the formal clothes of Europe. However, they changed and redesigned them to show off their culture.

Traditional Oktoberfest Clothing

Let’s explore the different parts of men’s German clothing.

1. Shirts

German-style shirts often have a collar, are formal, and might have long or short sleeves. T-shirts and V-neck shirts are not part of traditional German clothing, but pullovers and pleated shirts do have collars. Trachten, formal clothes, are usually white or cream-colored and worn to certain events and festivals. Checks and plaids are some more shirt colors. Some of the things that make these shirts look very German are the stag buttons, medallions, and stitched-on suspenders.

2. Vests

Another item in the typical clothing of a German man is a vest. To go with the lederhosen costumes worn below, a stylish loden vest is worn. The vest has colorful embroidery and decorations that enhance its elegant appearance. A vest or watch chain is a more traditional attachment for a vest that is popular among elderly men.

3. German Lederhosen

Breeches or pants called Lederhosen are made up of leather or suede. They come in two lengths: bundhosen, which are longer than the knee, and lederhosen, which are short and above the knee. They are incredibly strong and resilient. Even though they are expensive to buy or make, Lederhosen costumes can last for many generations. Old, well-used lederhosen are like a fine, worn-in pair of Levi’s; they’re durable but comfy.

Men’s German clothing is much shorter—above the knee—for boys and teenagers. They feature suspenders and braces to hold them up, and the front flap detaches visibly. They are not embroidered but can be lighter colors like grey or blue. Due to their comfort, lederhosen was the traditional clothing for farmers, field workers, and laborers in Germany, even though they were not a part of the national costume. German men worked and played in the Alpine region, Bavaria, and the cities while wearing lederhosen. This made this type of clothing very popular and widespread. These days, German men only wear them at festivals, but they still do so when hiking or doing other outdoor chores.

Accessories for traditional Men German clothing

1. Hats

In Men German clothing, headgear differs from region to region and depends on the occasion. The Alpine hat is made of wool with a short brim only toward the front of the hat. The hat has a sharp or pointy top.

2. Shoes

Leather shoes come with laces or hooks on the side. Lederhosen are worn with thick, full- or ankle-length woolen socks underneath. The socks can occasionally be embellished. Men German clothing is highly important to embellish, especially with suspenders.

That was a very thorough look at the parts of what German men usually wear. Therefore, you are now prepared with what to wear, whether you plan a trip to Germany and want to fit in with the locals or dress up German for Oktoberfest.