Trends. From Prairie to Peasant... The Dirndl Skirt.

If the folk-stylings of the prairie dress are not exactly for you, try perhaps the similarly folk-inspired Dirndl skirt. Worn by Austrian and German peasants (instead of American pioneers), the Dirndl features a fitted waist and full, sometimes pleated skirt. They'll be perfect for cold weather, with the accompanying legwear trend, in heavy fabrics like wool and satin. However, summer styles of the dirndl are cool in lightweight silk and linen.  Dirndls go great with a wide belt and create an excellent hourglass figure. They have surprisingly surpassed pencils and tulips as the skirt of upcoming seasons! Check out some styles below.

A diaphanous dirndl from the Marni Fall 2008 Collection

A pair of colorful dirndl's from the Marni Spring 2008 Collection

3 colorfully patterned skirts from the Prada's Spring 2008 Collection

Safari-inspired, caramel-colored dirndl skirts and dresses at Donna Karan, Spring
2008

Photos: NYMag.com