Oktoberfest Costumes and Outfits

Oktoberfest costumes and outfits, sorted

An Oktoberfest costume is Bavarian fancy dress for the festival: lederhosen (the leather-look shorts and braces) for men, a dirndl (the fitted bodice dress and apron) for women, or a novelty piece that does the joke for you before you've said a word. Every design we sell is measured across 30+ points by garment techs trained in tailoring, so it fits the way the photo says it will. That holds for a genuine beer-festival trip, a stag or hen do, and a fancy dress night that just needs a Bavarian theme. We use both "costume" and "outfit" on this page because that's how UK shoppers search for it, and sometimes it's spelled Octoberfest, which is fine, we know what you mean.

Lederhosen for him, a dirndl for her

Lederhosen are the shorts-and-braces half, worn with a waistcoat or shirt; a dirndl is the dress with the apron tied over it. Both of ours arrive as one pack, shirt and hat or apron and headband included, so there's nothing left to source separately the night before. If you want the plaits as well, the pigtails wig is a separate add-on.

Our Mens Traditional Lederhosen Costume packs brown shorts with an embroidered bib, an off-white shirt, a red scarf, and the Bavarian hat into one set. Its fabric is 125GSM+ and breathable, which matters more in a packed bar than in the product photo.

The Womens Lederhosen Oktoberfest Costume is the women's take on the men's look: brown patterned lederhosen shorts paired with a separate ruffled white shirt, both included in the pack.

Our Womens Red Oktoberfest Dirndl Costume comes as the dress, apron, and headband in one pack. Add the Blonde Oktoberfest Pigtails Wig if you want the plaits without growing your hair out first.

Real lederhosen, or Oktoberfest fancy dress: the decision to make first

Genuine leather lederhosen and a hand-finished dirndl come into their own for repeat trips to the festival itself. For a single UK party, pub crawl, or stag and hen weekend, our fancy dress versions are built for exactly that: the same look from the photo, in fabric that takes a cold hand wash and an air dry instead of specialist leather cleaning, with nothing to work out about whether you'll wear it again.

If you want the funny end of the theme rather than the traditional one, our Bearded Bavarian Piggyback Costume below is a favourite for exactly that.

Our Bearded Bavarian Piggyback Costume just needs the attached legs stuffed with towels or newspaper, about a minute's work, for the illusion that a bearded Bavarian is carrying you on his shoulders all night. One size, fits most adult heights and waists via the drawstring.

The Mens Traditional Oktoberfest Lederhosen Costume is a different top half to the brown lederhosen pack above: white and brown top under a green waistcoat, brown trousers, white socks, and the red-feathered Bavarian hat, all included.

A lederhosen pack does a second shift at a stag or hen do, which is where plenty of them get worn once the beer tents have packed up. After that the autumn calendar belongs to our Halloween costumes. Everything else sits in the costume occasions hub.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between lederhosen and a dirndl?

Lederhosen are the traditional men's leather breeches, short or knee-length, worn with braces and a shirt. A dirndl is the traditional women's dress: a fitted bodice worn over a blouse, with a full skirt and an apron tied over the top. Our costumes are fancy dress takes on both, in breathable fabric rather than leather.

What do I wear to an Oktoberfest-themed party in the UK?

Lederhosen for men and a dirndl for women cover the classic look, and both come as one-pack costumes, down to the hat or the headband, so you're not assembling separate pieces. If you'd rather go for a laugh than tradition, our Bearded Bavarian Piggyback Costume reads as Oktoberfest from across the room without anyone having to explain it.

Is Oktoberfest and Octoberfest the same thing?

Yes, Octoberfest is just the common misspelling. The festival and the traditional outfits are always spelled Oktoberfest with a K.

Do I need real leather lederhosen for a UK Oktoberfest party?

No. Real leather lederhosen and a hand-finished dirndl come into their own for repeat trips to the festival. Ours are built for one UK party or night out: the same look from the photo, in fabric that takes a cold hand wash and an air dry rather than specialist leather cleaning.

Is a Bavarian costume the same as an Oktoberfest costume?

Yes. Lederhosen and a dirndl are the traditional Bavarian outfits the Oktoberfest festival is built around, so "Bavarian fancy dress" and "Oktoberfest costume" describe the same look. Whichever word you search for, this page is where both live.