Sandra‘s Closet

For more than 15 years, the name Lola Paltinger has been standing for an unmistakeable creative signature which combines Alpine tradition with pleasurable eccentricity. At the heart of her company is her bespoke dirndl atelier in Munich’s city centre. Lola is like my humble self a former ESMOD student. Later she trained with Vivienne Westwood and has been running her enterprise with her mother Brigitte since 1999. Her timelessly beautiful couture dirndls delight every woman’s heart in search of an outfit for the Munich Beer Festival, a wedding or another, very personal crowning event. All the models are produced and finished off in the ateliers in Germany.

Designer Lola Paltinger on the streets of Munich in one of her designs.

Lola Paltinger Couture

Let your dream of a timelessly glamorous couture dirndl come true in Lola Paltinger’s atelier! Only materials of her own creation are used for the unique dirndls and Bavarian style ensembles: luxurious, sometimes hand-painted materials, combined with magnificent embroidery, buttons and charivaris. All the models are produced in the ateliers in Germany, on request even within 24 hours.

Here are some of my favorite couture models:

Couture 1015
Piqué dirndl in soft blue with printed Alpine motifs, decorative borders, floral bouquet, embroidered cotton blouse and glitter apron: € 2,800

Couture 1016
“MARIE” red-check dirndl with hand-embroidered, ornate rhinestone border, lace and ruffle trims, taffeta underskirt, lace blouse and hand-embroidered, bordered velvet apron: € 3,200

Couture 1019
Jacquard dirndl in denim blue with hand-embroidery at the front, decorative borders and taffeta underskirt, high-necked lace blouse and glitter apron: € 3,100

Couture 2020
Dirndl ensemble consisting of bodice and skirt “MARIE” bodice with hand-embroidered insets: € 1,550, Flared skirt with decorative border: € 1,200
Combined with: High-necked lace blouse: € 550, Patch apron with decorative borders: € 550

Couture 2021
Jacquard dirndl with lace borders, floral brooch and patch apron: € 3,000

Couture 2025
“MARIE” jacquard dirndl with hand-embroidered insets: € 3,100
Combined with: “PEGGY” blouse in pink, Patch apron

Lola Paltinger with one of her famous clients Kim Kardashian.

Happy Heidi

This limited-edition less expensive collection of prêt-à-porter dirndls, which appears annually right in time for the Munich Beer Festival, is bright and cheerful, and highly fashionable. The enchanting combinations with apron and charivari or embroidery are made from specially created materials and are rich in elaborate and lovingly placed details. They come in several attractive colours and are complemented by blouses which are available separately.

Happy Heidi 5137
HAPPY HEIDI printed linen dirndl with brooch, taffeta underskirt and taffeta apron: € 699
Combined with: Cotton blouse: € 139

Happy Heidi 5139
HAPPY HEIDI “UNGARN”  jacquard dirndl in bordeaux with brooch, taffeta underskirt and taffeta apron: € 699
Combined with: Cotton blouse: € 139

Happy Heidi 6145
HAPPY HEIDI cotton dirndl with embroidered inset and organza apron: € 699
Combined with: “SALZBURG” lace blouse: € 159

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lola Paltinger

Yesterday, Saturday, 12 o’clock in the “Schottenhamel” beer tent: By tapping the first barrel of beer and saying into the microphone “O’zapft is!” (which means: “It is tapped!”), Munich’s mayor, Christian Ude started the 180th Oktoberfest. My avid readers know, I love the Bavarian city and its “Wiesn” – this is how the locals are calling their annual party, after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds (Theresienwiese) themselves.

The fashionable crowd started a little earlier in the morning and followed the invitation of Gitta Gräfin Lambsdorff and Alexandra Freifrau von Wangenheim to the famous legendary Breakfast at Tiffany’s, from which guests were transported around 11.30am to the Oktoberfest directly. This is the place to be!

And here is your stylish WIESN GUIDE – enjoy!

Ziegfeld collection daisy charm in sterling silver with white silk ribbon by Tiffany & Co.,
€ 770.00 Euro – CHF 870.00

An exceptional investment for your Wiesn outfit infiltrated with legendary charm, Lanz contrasts rich tradition with cosmopolitan elegance. Every woman looks good in a dirndl!
Dirndl by Lanz, exclusively available at mytheresa.com

As it can get a little chilly at night, it might be a good idea to bring a fancy cardigan with you.
Oktoberfest jacket ‘Odelia’ by Iris von Arnim, exclusively available online and in the German flagship stores in Munich and Sylt.
€ 1095.00

Adored by the fashion elite, French designer Olympia Le-Tan‘s artisanal collection showcases beautiful hand embroidery and eye-catching designs.
Shop the clutch bags by Olympia Le-Tan here.

To celebrate the 180th Oktoberfest, Jimmy Choo has launched a limited edition collection that is exclusively available in the German flagship stores in Munich and Frankfurt.
Pumps ‘Bavaria’ by Jimmy Choo
€ 695.00

1 Traditional hat with feathers by Lola Paltinger‘s Milka-Collection (see below), € 59.00
2 Knee socks ‘Wiesn’ by Falke, € 19.00
3 Charm ‘Brezel-Pretzel’ by Thomas Sabo, € 59.00
4 Bracelet ‘Get Lucky’ by Dodo, Price on request

In collaboration Milka, designer Lola Paltinger (for a previous post about her, please click here), has created some amazing outfits for the Oktoberfest season all in the famous chocolate brand’s iconic purple colour. You can shop the looks exclusively at the Milka Welt at Schrannenhalle in Munich and online at Lodenfrey. My absolute favourites this season!

And last but not least, even that you are not allowed to smoke in the beer tents, I am sure that you would like to light a fire in style! The small size (55 x 31 x 12 mm) lets it easily fit in your pockets or clutch.
S.T.Dupont MiniJet Dallmayr No. 1 Oktoberfest-Edition
€ 109.00

Don’t forget to have some traditional Bavarian delicacies such as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread), Weisswurst (a white sausage) and Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands, © Sandra Bauknecht

I would like to dedicate this week to outstanding talented designers around the world who have impressed me with their work.
As the annual Munich Beer Festival, the famous Oktoberfest, is taking place at the moment, I would like to start with Lola Paltinger who creates the most beautiful dirndl couture– the embodiment of urbane German traditional costume, so-called “Tracht”.

Lola graduated like me from ESMOD. After her studies she trained with Vivienne Westwood before launching her own atelier.

Her style is eccentric and very feminine, inspired by the Hollywood glamour of the 1930s/40s. Her playful romanticism with that touch of drama is what makes her creations so special. As for me her dirndls are by far the most gorgeous ones on the market, elevating the traditional costume to a trendy must-have.

Her label Lollipop & Alpenrock stands for her famous couture dirndls, classy two-pieces and separates. The beautiful range of Bavarian accessories complete the collection.
For enquiries concerning the bespoke pieces, please contact the Munich atelier directly.

Under the name Happy Heidi, Lola Paltinger presents her prêt-à-porter range of very fashionable models in limited editions. Aprons, charivaris and matching blouses are also available from selective retailers both within Germany and abroad.

For my German, Swiss and Austrian readers: Himmelblau by Lola Paltinger is her casual line with Tracht elements that is sold exclusively to HSE24, the home shopping televison network.

She even has some famous fans who were spotted wearing her Bavarian pop couture, among them Selma Hayek and Paris Hilton.

One thing is for sure: Women of all ages, figures and types look great in a dirndl!
And with that famous “dash of Lola”, that coquettish wink, you will be snowed under with gingerbread hearts saying I love you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lola Paltinger