Dressing for Success

Traditional costumes are part of the charm of jodelfest. The women's dresses are all hand sewn, usually from linen, wool, and silk (the aprons, especially). Different cantons and regions are represented by different colors and styles. We were told that you could have "every day" clothes or "Sunday" best, especially for ceremonies like the festival or even a wedding.

The shoes, hats, aprons, lace collars and scarves are all part of the "look" for women. Many even had matching purses! We found out that women who wore white caps (like a rooster comb) from a particular Canton were married. Unmarried women and girls wore black or sometimes flowers.

We found a booth that sold the dresses (and accessories) A dress with apron can cost anywhere from 480 - 800 Swiss Francs. I'm sure some were even more (especially with silver chains and pendants)

We certainly felt "out of uniform" in the crowd! By the way, everyone had a cell phone! It was a real mix of cultures and time periods.