How to be in vogue at Oktoberfest

Dirndl and lederhosen (leather pants) are the outfits Germans are known for abroad. But at the Oktoberfest - which is called "Wiesn" by the locals - it's not just the Germans that dress up in traditional costumes. This group came all the way from Australia, Austria, France, and the Czech Republic to show off their German style.

While a couple of years ago wearing a dirndl was frowned upon, these days it's an absolute must. They're available in every color, fabric and style you can think of and they're sold at almost every corner, especially during Oktoberfest. The hard part is choosing which dirndl to buy.

You could go with a traditional, modest, black dirndl, like the ones pictured here. It doesn't matter which dirndl you choose, as long as you combine it with a colorful apron. But beware not to send the wrong message! If you tie your apron strings into a bow on the left side of your body, then that's a code for "I am still single," if you wear your bow on the right side, that means "I am taken."

Don't be fooled, a real dirndl isn't cheap. Starting from around 80 euros ($100), there's no limit to what you can spend. The world's most expensive dirndl - made out of silk and decorated with real Swarovski stones - goes for the sky-high price of 100,000 euros. Pictured above is a luxury dirndl by designer Lola Paltinger.

The outfits may be typical to southern Germany, but some designers have given them an international flair. Munich-based company Noh Nee makes its dirndls out of fabrics from Africa.

Once you decided which dirndl to buy, it's time to think about what goes underneath. Lingerie shops offer special dirndl bras throughout the Oktoberfest season - to give you the boost that the dirndl is famous for.

And that's not all. You also need the right accessories - like these earrings shaped like a gingerbread heart. The painted sweets can be found at myriad stands throughout the Wies'n.

Why not dress your cell phone up for the occasion too? You can show it off while you're enjoying the festival, but you most likely won't be able to use your mobile. So many people in one place makes for poor reception.

It's not just the ladies that dress up for Oktoberfest. Typical bavarian lederhosen for men have made it big - not just in Bavaria, but all over Germany. You can find entire dirndl and leather pants sections in clothing stores in any major German city. And sometimes even abroad.

You need accessories for leather pants just as much as you need them for dirndls. The typical accompaniment are so-called "Charivari" (pictured), which are attached to your suspenders with rings or snap hooks. Charivari have various pendants, which may include coins, animal teeth, real staghorns, or other hunting trophies.

At the Oktoberfest, it's not about who drives the biggest car, has the largest villa or the most expensive yacht. It's all about how big your "Gamsbart" is. That's a tuft of chamois hair worn as a hat decoration. The bigger your "Gamsbart," the more respect you'll get. A "Gamsbart" like the one pictured above costs about 1,000 euros ($1,300).

Even the smallest Oktoberfest visitors make sure they have the perfect Oktoberfest outfit. The kids pictured above are participating in the traditional costume parade, which is part of every Oktoberfest.

But with all this fashionista talk, let's not forget that one of the main reasons to go to Oktoberfest is to enjoy a "cold light one" - as they call their beer in Bavaria. Prost!