What Shoes to Wear with Lederhosen?

Grab a traditional lederhosen design and pair it up with the Bavarian Haferlschuhe to truly honor tradition and steal all eyes at the Oktoberfest.

Knowing the power in the legacy of Lederhosen, you can’t just put on a casual pair of flip-flops with it and call it a day. The leather breeches must shine bright as you wear them, so attention to detail is a must.

The wrong design will make the outfit look like a misfit, while an inappropriate color will ruin the overall appeal. Truly honoring the Oktoberfest and Bavarian traditions calls for adopting all parts of their rich culture. This includes the traditional Bavarian shoe Haferlschuhe.

Traditional Bavarian Haferlschuhe

The best way to honor and highlight the power of a Lederhosen is to pair them up with traditional Bavarian shoes. These heavy-duty work boots called Haferlschuhe are the only design that perfectly complements the look. 

With a history of their own, these rustic boots will finish off your traditional lederhosen look with sheer grace!

Structure of a Haferlschuhe

The Haferlschuhe has a very distinct structure. Often referred to as half-a-shoe, they are a perfect balance between formal wear and work shoes. The bottom is a wood structure with rubber-cleated bumps, offering excellent grip. The exterior, on the contrary, is a smooth, leather, or suede material with a lace closure.

It is a thick-soled shoe that appears rather low-cut around the ankle. This is why it can substitute for dress shoes. These traditional Bavarian shoes are usually brought to complement the lederhosen. Therefore, they are sold in matching brown and earthly shades.

German Haferlschuhe History:

Much like most German traditions, the Haferlschuhe is associated with an exciting history. First, regarding its origin, and second, the etymology of the word itself.

Rooting from the mountainous terrains of the alpine region, the Haferlschuhe was designed as a work boot. Features such as the solid wooden sole and the rubber cleats at the bottom were included in the structure for added strength. Similar to the lederhosen, the power in the design was recognized soon enough. Thus, it spread into all fields of life and is seen as an unparalleled part of all Bavarian outfits for women and men. 

As per old legends, the shoe designer took inspiration from the hooves of mountain goats for the design. Perhaps, this is where the name of the shoe is derived from. Regardless, the idea remains to give the wearer unmatched stability and foot grip.

Footwear Choices Apart from the Traditional Shoe

If you don’t have easy access to the German half-a-shoe, it doesn’t mean you still can’t make your lederhosen shine bright. With a suitable matching game, the star of Lederhosen is always quality animal skin leather. To find a complementary pair of shoes, look into the foray of leather shoes. A leather dress boot ending right above the ankle would work well in this regard. However, make sure you don’t go for a too-formal version that does not look like a work boot.

The leather Tracht sneakers are also an excellent alternative. Just like the Haferlschuhe in design, the sneakers are both comfortable and stylish. 

Apart from the design, you must also be mindful of the shade of leather you’re using. It must match or complement the color of your lederhosen. A vastly different shade would not look appealing. 

What not to wear with Lederhosen?

On any German occasion like the Oktoberfest, you will see an onslaught of lederhosen and dirndl dresses. These outfits come along with a legacy of rich traditions and make for a very sophisticated final look. However, pairing them with a casual pair of sneakers or sandals is disgraceful. Not only are you undermining the power of the outfit, but it also ruins the overall appeal of your look.

Another factor to be mindful of regarding footwear is the environment. At the Oktoberfest, for instance, broken glass and liquids are found all around. Wearing flip-flops or exposing your toes can be dangerous in this regard. Due to the crowd, you can also expect a lot of bumping and stepping on people. You do not want to end up with sticky, greasy, or injured feet by the end of the day. 

Coordinating the Outfit with Lederhosen

Alright, let us assume you now have the perfect shoes in hand. Will you now put them on with boring, old cotton mid-calf socks or anklets? Your Bavarian lederhosen will not be able to benefit from your footwear choice unless there is appropriate legwear in between. 

Yet again, you do not look further than the traditional Bavarian choice, Loferls.

Traditional Loferls are “calf-warmers” worn on the lower leg to truly embody the German spirit. You will spot these on all locals wearing short lederhosen. Historically, no socks were worn. Instead, men would wear sock liners only that would not be visible due to the ankle-length shoes. However, modern versions of the design come with matching ankle socks. This can be particularly useful on a cold day. 

Depending upon the color of your outfit, you can choose between the many different designs available on the market. Always coordinate the lederhosen with the shoes and the Loferls to represent an actual image of Bavarian culture.