How to Make Your German Hat Fit Better at Home

Bavarian hats, also known as a "Tirolerhüte," "Gamsbart-Hüte, " tyrolean hat," or "alpine hat" have a rich history deeply rooted in the culture of southern Germany.
Originating from the Alpine regions of Bavaria, these iconic hats have become synonymous with Oktoberfest and traditional Bavarian attire like dirndls and lederhosen.
couple at an oktoberfest in dirndl and lederhosen and both wearing Bavarian style hats
The unique shape of the felt hat, with its wide brim and distinct indented crown, serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.
The brim provides shade from the sun during outdoor activities, while the crown's shape allows for better stability and a distinctive appearance.
Feathers, particularly those of the capercaillie bird, adorn these traditional German hats and carry symbolic meaning. In the past, hunters would wear the feathers to showcase their skills and accomplishments.
Today, feathers serve as decorative elements, with different colors and lengths representing specific meanings or personal preferences.
The feathers, along with other embellishments like badges or pins, add flair and individuality to these cherished Bavarian accessories, making them an integral part of the region's cultural heritage.
This green felt hat comes in various styles and we love to adorn our hats with feathers, flowers, ribbons, pins, charms and more! 
Woman smiling wearing a bavarian hat also known as an alpine hat and traditional german attire - a black dirndl dress with white blouse

There is no one size fits all - all of the traditional German hats on the Rare Dirndl website are a size 57 or 58 because it is the most common hat size.

While we don't carry an large range of sizes, I got a great tip from my bff Ingrid on how to make a big hat "smaller" or make your hat fit more snuggly (so it won't blow off your head should a big gust of wind come by).

Here are the things you'll need:

Supplies to alter a tyrolean hat also known as an alpine hat. great at to wear with a dirndl dress for oktoberfest
  • Your hat
  • Elastic
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Needle
  • Thread

  1. First cut a piece of elastic approximately 6-7 inches in length.
  2. Pin one end of the elastic to the inner ribbon of the hat towards the middle/back.
    Supplies to alter a tyrolean hat. great at to wear with a dirndl dress for oktoberfest
  3. Pin the other end of the elastic to the other side and try the hat on. You may need to move the ends of the elastic around once or twice to ensure that the fit is good for your head.
    Supplies to alter a tyrolean hat. great at to wear with a dirndl dress for oktoberfest
  4. Then hand sew the elastic in place.
Supplies to alter a tyrolean hat also known as an alpine hat. great at to wear with a dirndl dress for oktoberfest

That's it! That was easy!!! When Ingrid told me about this trick I thought, "Genius!"

She said that she does it to many of her hats even if they fit because then she is more comfortable wearing them on a windy day.

Girl smiling at a German Steuben Parade wearing traditional German attire, a plus size dirndl dress and a bavarian hat also known as an alpine hat

Click here to shop our traditional German hats and try this trick yourself if it doesn't fit 100% perfect.

Do you have any tips or tricks for making your traditional German hats fit better? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments below!  

Looking for more Dirndl Style tips & tricks? Click the link to get access to our official style guide! >> https://bit.ly/dirndlstyle

September 29, 2015 — Nadia Mehra
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