Pure White Eyelet Lace Balconette Dirndl Blouse with Shirred Empire Bust & Corset Back Ribbon Ties

White Empire-Waist Dirndl Blouse with Back Ribbon Lacing

This white empire-waist dirndl blouse is made for the woman who wants a classic white blouse under her dirndl, but with a softer, more shaped bust than a straight-cut style. A tailored seam runs just below the bust, and the fabric above it is gently gathered, creating an empire line that lifts and defines the silhouette. At the lower back, white fabric ties lace through corset loops, so you can cinch the waist exactly as much as you like.

The empire line is a natural partner for the dirndl. A dirndl bodice is built to shape and support the bust, and a blouse with its own underbust seam and gathering sits in harmony with that structure instead of bunching beneath it. The result is a smoother line where the blouse meets the bodice and a neater, fuller fill across the neckline.

Shopping for a white blouse? Our White Dirndl Blouse with Lace Puff Sleeves is its closest neighbour, with a scoop neckline, scalloped lace down a button front and a darted fit with no lacing. This one swaps to a broad square neckline, broderie anglaise eyelet trim, an empire seam and adjustable back ties. Browse all our dirndl blouses to compare the full range.

Broderie Anglaise Eyelet Trim on Cotton-Blend Poplin

The trim is broderie anglaise, often called eyelet lace. Despite the name, it is a form of embroidery rather than true lace: small holes are cut into fabric and outlined with dense stitching to form floral openwork patterns. Here it runs in scalloped borders along the button placket, around the neckline and at the sleeve hems, giving the blouse its fresh, summery, traditional character.

White eyelet on white fabric is a classic tone-on-tone look. With no colour contrast, the decoration comes entirely from texture: light passes through the eyelets and the raised stitching casts tiny shadows, so the trim reads as subtle and refined rather than loud. That makes it especially versatile under coloured dirndls, where it frames the neckline without competing with the dress. It is the same reason white eyelet has stayed a summer favourite for generations.

The blouse itself is a lightweight cotton-blend poplin in solid snow white. Poplin’s tight plain weave gives a smooth, crisp drape that holds the empire seam and gathers neatly, while the cotton keeps it breathable through long hours in a warm tent or at a summer wedding. Because broderie anglaise is built on woven fabric, it is also sturdier than many fine laces and stands up well to regular washing.

Square Neckline, Shirred Gathers and Flutter Cuffs

The broad square neckline is framed by elasticated shirred ruffle gathers and finished with scalloped eyelet borders. Shirring uses rows of elastic stitching to gather fabric into soft, stretchy pleats, so the neckline hugs gently and stays in place without feeling tight. The square shape sits beautifully inside the open neckline of many dirndl bodices, giving a clean, structured outline across the chest.

The short puff sleeves are gathered with an elasticated smocked hem, then open into ruffled bell flutter cuffs edged in floral eyelet. A bell flutter cuff flares slightly as it falls, so it moves softly with your arms and feels airy on a warm day, while the smocking above keeps the puff anchored. It is a pretty, feminine finish when you raise a stein.

The front closes with a full button placket and four-hole pearlized white buttons, whose soft sheen blends into the white for a polished, tonal finish. The gathering above the underbust seam creates the empire shape, and at the back, corset tunnel loops carry matching white fabric ties. Together they give you a shaped bust and an adjustable waist in one blouse, something a single dart or seam cannot do on its own.

How to Wear It Under a Dirndl or with Lederhosen

Under a dirndl, this blouse is in its element. The square neckline and empire bust fill the bodice neatly, and white works with every dirndl colour, from deep jewel tones to soft pastels. For weddings and formal occasions, it pairs beautifully with lighter, romantic dresses such as our Wedding Dirndl in Dusty Pink and Beige, and you will find many more options among our dirndl dresses. Because it is hip length rather than cropped, tuck it smoothly into the skirt before lacing the bodice.

With women’s lederhosen, the blouse becomes the star. The empire seam and back ties give it a fitted, feminine shape that looks finished without a bodice, and crisp white sets off any shade of leather. A white blouse with dark leather is one of the most timeless Trachten combinations. Tuck it into a warm brown pair or browse our women’s lederhosen, then pull the back ties snug to define the waist.

It suits Oktoberfest, beer tents, Bavarian folk gatherings and traditional weddings alike, which makes it one of the hardest-working pieces in a Trachten wardrobe. If you want colour instead, our Light Blue & White Gingham Trachten Blouse shares broderie anglaise trim and back lacing in a gingham fabric.

Care, Sizing and Natural Variation

White eyelet stays brightest with gentle care. We recommend washing cool on a delicate cycle, turned inside out and in a mesh laundry bag to protect the openwork, with whites only. Untie the back ties first so they cannot tangle. Avoid chlorine bleach, which can weaken embroidery threads and yellow some whites; an oxygen-based whitener is a gentler choice. Always follow the care label.

Iron on the reverse at a medium setting while slightly damp, pressing the eyelet trim over a folded towel so the embroidery keeps its raised texture, and leave the shirred neckline and smocked cuffs unpressed so the elastic keeps its stretch. For fit, choose your size by bust measurement using our size guide, since the empire seam sits under the bust and the back ties then adjust the waist.

On natural variation: broderie anglaise trims are stitched in long continuous lengths, so the point where a floral motif starts on the placket, neckline or cuffs can differ slightly from one blouse to the next. Snow white can also read a touch warmer or cooler depending on your screen and lighting. These are normal features of a trimmed, cut-and-sewn garment, not faults, and each blouse is finished to the same standard.

What size should I order in this empire-waist blouse?

Choose your size by bust measurement, because the empire seam sits directly under the bust. The back ties then fine-tune the waist, so if you are between sizes, size up for bust comfort and pull the ties in. Our guide on which dirndl blouse size to buy explains more.

How do I keep a white eyelet blouse bright?

Wash it cool on a delicate cycle with whites only, inside out and in a mesh bag. Avoid chlorine bleach, use an oxygen-based whitener if needed, iron the eyelet over a folded towel, and always follow the care label.

Is eyelet lace the same as broderie anglaise?

Yes, eyelet lace is the everyday name for broderie anglaise. Technically it is embroidery rather than true lace: holes are cut into fabric and outlined with dense stitching to form floral openwork, which makes it sturdier than many fine laces.

What is an empire waist on a blouse?

An empire waist is a seam that sits just below the bust rather than at the natural waist. On this blouse, the fabric above the seam is softly gathered, which shapes the bust and helps the blouse sit smoothly under a dirndl bodice.

Can I wear this blouse to a wedding?

Yes, it is an excellent choice for traditional Bavarian weddings. The crisp white, tone-on-tone eyelet and shaped bust look elegant under a dirndl, and it works just as well at Oktoberfest, beer tents and folk gatherings.

How is this different from your white lace puff sleeve blouse?

The difference is the neckline, trim and fit. This blouse has a square neckline, broderie anglaise eyelet, an empire underbust seam and adjustable back ties, while the White Dirndl Blouse with Lace Puff Sleeves has a scoop neckline, scalloped lace down the button front and a darted fit with no lacing.

Will the eyelet trim look exactly like the photos?

Very close, but where each floral motif starts along the trim can vary slightly from blouse to blouse. Snow white may also look a little warmer or cooler depending on your screen and lighting.