Figure 1.-- This is a formal portrait in the Pfälzer Weinkehlchen. The photograph is undated, but was probably taken in the early 1950s when the Choir was still quite new. Notice how the boys in the front row are wearing their scarves.

The Pfälzer Weinkehlchen costumes are based on the local traditioinal (folk) dress. The boys unlike the girls do not have caps. They wear red double-breasted vests or waistcoats with black bows. The boys originally performed in black short pants and white kneesocks. They wear lace up leather shoes. The girls wear destinctive white caps and blue dresses with a kind of folk look. They also wore white kneesocks, but with black strap shoes. There has been little change over time. The Choir changed to long black pants, I think in the 1980s. The girls now wear the same style of blue dresses, but with longer hems.

Origins

The Pfälzer Weinkehlchen costumes are based on the local traditioinal (folk) dress. We have little information about the local folk dress, but would like to add information here if any of our German readers have any insights on the style.

Chronology

The Choir costume has changed slightly over time.

Original costume

The boys unlike the girls do not have caps. They wear red double-breasted vests or waistcoats with black bows. The boys origiinally wore their scarves in carefully tied bows, aleast some of the boys. Note the boys in the front row here (figure 1). The boys originally performed in black short pants and white kneesocks. They wear lace up leather shoes. The girls wear destinctive white caps. While the dresses are a kind of generalized fol dresses called a drindle, the caps are very destinctive. I am not sure what they are called. The girls have blue dresses with white aprons and scarves. The dresses and aprons seem to us to have a generalized German folk look. hey also like the boys wore white kneesocks, but with black strap shoes.

Modern costume

There has been little change over time. The boys stopped wearing neatly tied bows, but continued to wear black scarves. I'm not sure when this change was made. The Choir changed to long black pants for the boys, I think in the 1980s. The girls now wear the same style of blue dresses, but with longer hems. The modern color photograph is especially helpful in understanding the colors in the black and white photographs.