Best of MyStylery

Gerhard Gössl in the entrance of his Gwandhaus in Salzburg. Gössl is the world’s largest garb manufacturer in the premium segment

The man wears garb. Principally. This is not really surprising as he’s well placed: Gerhard Gössl is the world’s biggest noble garb manufacturer and therefore an expert for dirndl, cardigans and lederhosen. Since the 80s Gössl leads his company, which was founded 1947 by his parents in Salzburg, with discipline and consequence. Mother Grete – a laundry maker from Thuringia – and father Leopold focused on production of blouses.

Once manor of the archbishops, later hotel, since 2005 Gössl’s comanpy-central: the Gwandhaus in Salzburg

Nowadays the traditional company clothes with 40 stores and over 100 outlets in Germany, Austria and South Tirol from head to toe. Thereby Gössl attaches special importance in quality: lots of pieces are handmade, with lots of love for detail. “Into every dirndl, whose bodices are processed with baleen, we sew a luck-penny”, explains the manufacturer.

Visitors of the festival ‘Salzburger Festspiele’ love to wear garps and Gössl dresses the whole family. Classically, of course.

A Gössl-dirndl suits – perfect. What are you looking at first, if you meet a dirndl-wearer? “At the whole presence and how the woman moves in the dirndl”, says Gössl and laughs. Yes, he’s conservative and tradition is from importance. Not just some fast-paced trend.

“The fabric of a so-called blue-print dirndl is created by a special printing process: first, the bright linen or cotton fabric is printed with a protective ground, then dyed blue with indigo.”

“The special feature of our brand is the differentiation and the genuineness, which is also much appreciated by our young clients”, says the studied economist. As keeper of the original he’s against trash and so-called fantasy-dirndl: “They’re only medial big. A temporarily appearance”, states Gössl. “The classical garb therefore survived because it creates identity.”

The historical part of the Gwandhaus, a baroqueized renaissance-construction

Cultivating this identity of architecture, language and garb is Gössl from huge importance. In 2000 he purchases the former castle hotel St. Rupert in Salzburg, renovated and expanded the baroqueized renaissance-construction, which since then is called ‘Gwandhaus’. Austrian – without the ‘e’. “The word Gwand is the original word for garb.”

The Gwandhaus offers beside its magnificent views culinary, culture, the biggest handmade archive, historical costumes and a garp shop

Since the middle age the hall-type exhibition- or warehouses of this cloth industry are called Gewandhaus or Tuchhalle. There, the dressmakers sold cloth. Today, the beautiful estate serves as headquarter of the company, tailor shop, restaurant, but also a room for events and cultural meetings: a place for all senses.

The studio: Here the visitors can watch as the dirndl are tailored

There Gössl occupies 60 employees, five designers create 20 different dirndl per season. Furthermore the atelier is a kind of stage and the ‘Gwandhaus’-visitor can see how the dirndl are being needled and they can deepen into the history of handcraft in the worldwide biggest handwork archive. Some time ago Karl Lagerfeld came by and had an intensive look around. Apparently he was impressed: the actual Chanel-collection is one garb look, an adaption and at most homage to the original. “Everyone should wear what he likes”, means Gerhard Gössl. “Our classics are not for a season, they do also stand for the whole live.” BvH

When Archduke Johann of Austria married the Postmaster-daughter Anna Plochl in 1829, it was a marriage against all courtly resistors. “The Anna Plochl wedding dirndl is manufactured today by the original presentation and enjoys still great popularity,” said Gerhard Gössl about the embossed timeless elegance wedding dirndl.

“You can automatically see whether a woman feels comfortable in her dirndl or not. Being able to wear it will be a benefit.”

Gössl’s ultimate styling tips:

1. Never wear nylon stockings with a dirndl
2. Dirndl and high heels counted as “no go”. Today it’s okay.
3. What counts as chic in Bavaria is in Austria scorned: the underskirt belongs under the dress and should not be visible.
4. A dirndl has to fit perfectly. Too tight dirndls apply as unmistakably message.
5. Be careful with the loop of the apron: the loop tied on the right side means ‘in a relationship’ or ‘married’. Left means ‘single’, centrically stands for ‘virgin’. Only widows – or waitresses – wear their loops on the back. Not only during the ‘Salzburger Festspiele’.

Gerhard Gössl explains the difference between a sevenfold seam lederhose and a Styrian, which has no seams but stitching of classical motifs such as deer or chamois

“The imperial house and the aristocracy oriented themselves during their stays in Ischl at the clothing of the rural population. This is why the Austrian garb compared to the Bavarian is much more discreet.”

Of course Gössl also offers decorative accessories for the perfect look

The antique fireplace from the 19th century shows the coat of arms of the crown countries of Austria’s imperial and royal monarchy

Gössl is the biggest noble garb manufacturer and therefore an expert for dirndl, cardigans and lederhosen

Wonderful view: from the Gwandhaus one glances on the Berchtesgadener mountains with Watzmann (2,713 metres) and Hohe Göll (2,522 metres)

Best address for garps and dirndl – not only for the visitors of ‘Salzburger Festspiele’: The Gwandhaus

Contact Gerhard Gössl:

Gwandhaus
Morzger Straße 31
5020 Salzburg, Österreich

www.gwandhaus.com
www.goessl.com

The post Gerhard Gössl – the master of garps appeared first on My Stylery.

Dirndl expert Gerhard Gössl presents his most famous spots surrounding Salzburg

The whole city of Salzburg is in a state of emergency these days: the world famous Salzburger Festspiele (classical music festivals) are dominating life in this Austrian city. Anyone who wants to escape the cultural hype for a little while rents a car and gets out of the city into the Salzkammergut (“salt chamber“), the countryside surrounding Salzburg. But where to go? Exclusively for MyStylery Salzburgs traditional costume and Dirndl expert Gerhard Gössl presents his most famous spots – a jaunt with lots of insider tipps.

Off we go: boat launch by the hotel Schloss (castle) Fuschl at lake Fuschl

76 lakes shape the landscape of the Salzkammergut, which is surrounded by the impressing mountain tops of Dachstein („Stone Roof“), Totes Gebirge („Dead Mountains“), Osterhorngruppe („Eastern horn group“) Traunstein and Höllengebirge („Hell Mountain“). It once was an independent state. A long time ago though the meaning of producing salt was overcome by tourism thanks to Kaiser (Emperor) Franz Josef I., who had his summer residence in Bad Ischl and therewith turned the region into a heaven for visitors.

Gerhard Gössl is mooring the boat

“The ‘Lateiner’ (Latin) is a 5 meter long rowing and sailing boat made of local oak, spruce and larch wood,” explains Gössl, who regularly organizes regattas on the Mattsee with the traditional boats

Our tour starts in the Salzburger part of the Salzkammergut at Lake Fuschl, where Gerhard Gössl lives and where he picks me up with his electric boat for a little ride across the turquoise colored water at the extravagant Hotel Schloss Fuschl, a historic castle from the 15th century.

View from the car to the beautiful Mondsee

We continue our trip by car along the Mondsee („Lake Moon“) and Wolfgangsee to the Attersee („Lake Atter“). „With a length of 19 kilometers the Attersee is not only Austrias largest lake, it is also different because of its color, due to the many inflows“, Gössl explains the rather grey-blue water of the Attersee with its many fish.

The Wolfgangsee glows in turquoise colors. Who would have thought that Austria is a sailing paradise?

„Did you know that – despite its many lakes – is a paradise for sailing“, Gössl asks me. No, I didn’t know that, being a captain’s daughter I expected sailing only by the coast. Before I can get deeper into that we reach Gmunden town, located by the beautiful lake Traunsee.

„The late Hildegard Knef (a famous german actress) once owned an old mill at lake Traunsee, where I once visited her“, Gerhard Gössl says

Gmunden is known for its ceramics manufacture. Today it’s Dirndl flying day and the whole town is
absolutely excited about this event. Flying Dirndl? Yes, for four years Gössl organizes at various locations these „Flying days“, where brave men and women dressed in Dirndls throw themselves off a three and half meters high springboard into the lake. More than 40 contestants will jump today, carefully supervised by a jury and thousands of onlookers cheering them on. The best performers win, first prize is – of course – a beautiful Dirndl de luxe.

Flying Dirndl – Gössl had the idea when an corpulent friend complained about her weight and went swimming fully dressed in her Dirndl (the traditional garps). A genius marketing trick!

After this we urgently need some refreshments. On the terrace of castle Schloss Orth – known by tv viewers from the series „Schlosshotel Orth“ – chef Johann Parzer pampers us with a local delicacy called „Steckerl vom Riedling“, a sweetwater fish that exists only in lake Traunsee.

The ‘Ort’ castle

The three angled inner courtyard of the castle with its fabulous hallways and the outer steps deeply impressed me

„The Riedling fish is caught in a depth of 60 meters and absolutely rare“, Gössl explains. And it’s delicious!

After this short break we take the motorboat to the other side of lake Traunsee, and visit Mariä Krönung (Mary’s Coronation), a baroque church in the small town of Traunkirchen. Beautiful and really impressing! My personal recommendation: if you love meat have a steak at a restaurant called „Klosterstube“ (Convent Room), which serves only the best from the region. I loved it!

The Traunsee lake – amazing!

Gerhard Gössl and I: Crossing lake Traunsee on board a ‘Fauscher’ motor yacht …

… an Austrian factory that builds boats like the famous Italian Riva

Across the street we have a little drink at the „Traunkirchner Greisslerei“, a cute little shop with a small bar. Here you can find anything from cashmere jackets, scented candles, and fashion jewelry to culinary specialties from the region. And with a drink in your hand shopping is so much easier, isn’t it..? BvH

Church Mariä Krönung (Mary’s coronation) from the 17th century – a must see for every fan of the baroque

Impressive, not just because of the view: the small cemetery by the church ‘Mariä Krönung’

Address and Contacts:

www.goessl.com

Orther Stub’n:
www.schlossorth.com

Klosterstube:
www.klosterstube-traunkirchen.at

Die Greisslerei:
www.greisslerei.com

My favorite shopping-address at the lake Traunsee: The ‘Traunkirchner Greisslerei’

More Tips:
Restaurant ‚Haus am Hang‘ in St. Gilgen, Wolfgangsee
www.haus-am-hang.at

For a view over Salzburg:
Hotel-Restaurant ‚Schöne Aussicht‘
www.salzburgpanorama.at

The post Jaunt through the Salzkammergut appeared first on My Stylery.

20 minutes away from the cultural city of Salzburg lies the beautiful Schloss Fuschl directly at lake Fuschl

When the Salzburg Festival begins this weekend, it is also the prelude to the rendezvous of the Society in the noble hotel Schloss Fuschl in the Austrian Salzkammergut.

Rent a boat to sail on the lake: how delightful!

20 minutes away from Salzburg’s city, the Five Star Resort & Spa is built in the Renaissance style perched on a peninsula in the middle of the crystal clear Lake Fuschl. When the 1450 first mentioned hunting castle was built, the former owners chose a unique location with breath taking views on the turquoise lake, by which you don’t want to be separated.

Once the main entrance of the castle

When I first came to Fuschl over 20 years ago, the hotel was a secret retreat with a small sauna and an even smaller pool in the vaults of the castle cellar. Creaking floorboards led to the rooms in the castle tower, which served as the backdrop of the Sissi films in the 50s. I loved this original atmosphere and I wouldn’t have been surprised at that time, if Sissi alias Romy Schneider had suddenly turned around the corner.

This door dates from the 15th century and is one of the remaining historical details in the Castle Tower

Since 2004 Schloss Fuschl is part of the group of the Schörghuber companies. In 2006 there was a complete luxury renovation, including an adjacent new building, so that today 110 contemporary rooms and suites and a 1,100 square meter Spa are housed in the building complex. For romantics, the hotel offers six quaint, waterfront “Seehäusl” in a typical boathouse style.

Today a bar, in the 50s location of the Sissi adaptation with Romy Schneider: the chimney hall

In cooperation with the Munich art gallery Bernheimer, the Fuschl Collection was established; a collection of over 150 works of Old Masters from the 17th to the 19th century, which can also be admired in some of the guest rooms.

Is there a more beautiful place for having breakfast?

The new extravagance of Fuschl also attracts a new clientele. At my current stay, for example, a part of the beautiful lakeside terrace was permanently occupied by an Ukrainian oligarch. By approaching too close to the barrier, one of the twelve armed bodyguards jumped out of the bushes and asked for distance. This was also the case for the gym. It is a fundamental decision, which guests you want to have in your hotel.

Lakeside terrace and jetty … here the oligarch was sun bathing with his entourage

For me, as an avowed Sissi-fan, Fuschl is a romantic place, with its landscape in my heart. When I sit at the fireplace in the evening, with a “Glaserl”, I think of Romy Schneider, in her role as Empress of Austria through the portico of Schloss Fuschl. The checking looks of the oligarch-bodyguards can’t change anything. BvH

Isn’t that romantic?

Also this beautiful pavilion was seized for 14 days by the oligarchs

View from my window: Maybe here the treasure of the Silver Lake is hidden?

Fancy baroque or should it rather be a little Biedermeier? Located in the historic castle tower, there are the tower suites, each decorated in a different style. Art Nouveau in suite number four …

… and on the wall the painting “Der goldene Umhang” by Maximilian Lenz (1860-1945), a student of Gustav Klimt

Also in the evening atmosphere the lake Fuschl is a feast for the eyes

On 1,100 square meters the Schloss Fuschl SPA offers an indoor pool, steam room, sauna, hot tub, workout area and products of Ligne St Barth

Directly at the waterfront, there are the six lakeside cottages in the typical Salzkammergut boathouse style

There is a castle shop and the Sissi Museum located inside the “Jagdhaus”

In 2006 the new added building with additional rooms which cost between 710 and 5,060 Euro per night during the festival. Truly not a bargain!

The Diana Chapel – named after the goddess of the hunt

Contact:
Schloss Fuschl Resort & SPA
Schloss Straße 19
5322 Hof bei Salzburg, Austria

www. schlossfuschlsalzburg.com

The post Fairytale castle at lake Fuschl appeared first on My Stylery.