Hello people!

Anyone know where I can find some traditional Swiss outfits? One of those colourful flowery "Heidi" dresses? I'm looking to buy one for my girlfriend as a cool Swiss gift ... I tried looking in a few shops that sell souvenirs for tourists, but could only find the usual "made in China" stuff

I live in Lausanne, so a shop in the Lausanne/Geneva area will be perfect. Or, an online store would work too!

Thanks much!

Although I am imagining you are meaning a drindl, I believe that is more "correctly" a Germanic traditional (can be seen in Lichtenstein, Austria and Germany as well as German-speaking areas of Switzerland) dress as opposed to specifically Swiss.


Anyhow, there are a few places listed online to buy, if you are looking for something like this:

This link has many more links from English speaking enquirers/responders, which may help you.
In Swiss German, the term is Tracht (Kleidung, which translates simply to = Clothing), French is "Costume Traditionnel", self explanatory I think.

They can be rather pricey though, I must say.

www.maerithuesli.ch

try this one

This is one of the best - to find the type of "dress" you are thinking of, look in the shop, under "Damenkleider" and then "Landhausmode". They are quite pricey, but their stuff is excellent quality.

If you were thinking of something a tiny bit less pricey, have a look at the "Edelweisshemden". These are very traditional, and a very traditional fabric/print - your girlfriend might get a bit more use out of this than a dress that she will probably not wear very often.

Oh, and please do try to avoid the tacky "dirndl" look that is not at ALL Swiss... ;-)

haha so cute!

wow, thanks a lot guys!

I found the one I had in mind, it's the one called "Trachtenblusen mit Bändel" on www.maerithuesli.ch ... The Edelweisshemden is quite nice too, now i'm confused on what to pick!

Has anyone visited their store in Brienzwiler? I might just drive down there when I pass through the area and pick one...

They do cost an arm and a leg though!

Good choice, those are really nice! Don't let yourself be confused by my suggestion about "Edelweisshemden" - I just thought that would be a good alternative to the "long dress"... but now I understand that you were looking for a blouse type of thing anyway.

I've never been to their shop, but as far as I can see, the shop itself is in Meiringen - not in Brienzwiler. The production is in Brienzwiler. They are also at various markets, but only in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Online would probably be your best bet, unless you want to take a weekend trip to a really nice area of Switzerland...

Here is the real thing , But

http://www.volkstuemliche-schweiz.ch/html/trachten.html

Aparently the correct Swiss German term for "butt" would be "Amt Willisau"

Huuuuuuuuuu this is very very funny ,have to make a poster out of that one

This thread needs more pictures of girls in this.