In earlier times, each 'tracht' identified a person as belonging to a particular group in terms of social and legal status (married, single), origin or trade.
Today, the term is used to describe any garment reminiscent of the attire of rural communities. Regional varieties are pronounced.

Women's attire, the dirndl, consists of a closefitting bodice combined with an apron in a different colour. Sometimes its sleeveless and worn with a cotton and lace blouse, sometimes it features sleeves and a high neck. Hats are often costly and elaborate. They vary according to occasion and region: 'Goldhauben' (Upper Austria) and 'Bollenhut' (Black Forest region, Germany) are only worn on festive occasions.

Man's traditional clothing is made from leather, linen and wool. 'Lederhosen', knee-length trousers or short-pants made from leather are worn with rustic shoes and wool socks. Again, jackets and hats vary according to region and occasion. The traditional 'Steireranzug' a greyish garment made from loden with green embroidery has managed to become a semi-official tracht all over Austria and can be worn to all sorts of official occasions from formal dinner, ball or political meeting.

In Austria, people still enjoy wearing 'tracht' on official occasions like weddings, festivals, etc. Contemporary fashion adapts traditional elements, the production of dirndl and lederhosen is a thriving economical branch with Sportalm, Geiger or Tostmann being favourite brands.

There are many societies dedicated to 'tracht' revivals. Often, those efforts coincide with an interest in traditional crafts, like porcelain, glass-making or wood carving and traditional folk music and dancing.

With the great success of the Trapp family in the States and the even greater success of 'The sound of music' tracht became famous in the states, too!