More appropriation - they got it from the old country - ask Drumpf.
Dirndls just wanna have funh-unh, oh oh oh, they wanna have fun.

(do rabbit ears go with bierfrau outfits? & why again is Oktoberfest held in September?)

Oh, I dunno.  I'm not exactly the demographic they're trying to reach, so what I think likely matters not in their marketing determinations.

That said, though ... I do kinda see a comeback for the kind of stylized Burt Reynolds/Robert Redford sort of male persona that not only appeals to women but to men, as well.  The 50's version of men being men and women being women hasn't gone away.  But it's evolved.  The only way they'll make it sell - in print or in the club - is to make it feel like women are choosing their path and men are only admiring from afar while enjoying the company of other men.  It should be mentioned that the club is also welcoming women, and might very well draw some who see potential for themselves through networking, etc.

I agree that the WaPo article was better, but this from the Times piece struck me:

Ms. Hutton said she learned to be sophisticated and that she felt protected as a Bunny. “No one could come on to you in any way, although occasionally you would have a couple of goombahs come in from downtown and try.”

Ms. Scott agreed with that sentiment. “I had schoolmates who were working as Kelly girls and shop girls, temp secretaries, or waitresses at other places and they were nowhere near as safe in their jobs as we were. Playboy knew they were dressing girls in provocative costumes, and they were careful. It was a safe environment, and we were in charge.”