38 In Style/ Travel

Austrian Green

green austrian hillside

Austria is probably the greenest place I’ve ever been, in every sense of the word.  Particularly Steiermark (or Styria), called ‘the Green Heart of Austria’.  Green is really a way of life here.  Solar energy panels are widely used, their recycling compliance puts other countries to shame, the air is pure, the tap water is better than Evian, they’re obsessed with food provenance (and firmly believe that everything in Austria is superior to elsewhere), and of course all around you, you are surrounded by every shade of green imaginable.  I even see it reflected in the clothing here.  Children are often dressed in that cheerful sharp green that you see in the fields above, while adults wear darker, more elegant tones of pine, olive, and moss.  Case in point– my mossy green Austrian jacket from Gössl that I bought in Kitzbuhel a few years ago.  Last week, I wore it in Krakau, our family’s once or twice a year holiday destination (See my winter post here, and last summer’s post here.  Never mind me or my clothes, just look at the jaw-dropping SCENERY in those posts if you’ve not seen them).  Since I’ve shown you the countryside before, I thought you might like to see some town… ‘town’ being charming Tamsweg, the nearest village (on the border between Steiermark and Salzburg) that has all the necessary grocery stores, cafes, and shops.  Our family’s house is in the middle of the forest twenty minutes away.  This area is undiscovered compared to the rest of Austria, but its pristine remoteness is what gives it charm.

Below, I’m in front of Hochleitner, everyone’s favourite local bakery and the place that makes the best rye bread I’ve ever had (mostly because it doesn’t taste anything like rye bread!).  People faint over the pastries here, but most of them are quite fruity, and I happen to not like cooked fruit (nope, not even apple pie), so not much is tempting for me.  When in Austria, give me Sacher Torte or nothing at all!

Tamsweg town hall

Anyway, back to the green jacket.  It is made of thick soft brushed cotton, trimmed in brown cord.  As you know, I’m all about More Is More, but sometimes even I enjoy wearing a quietly elegant outfit in colours straight out of a forest (like a real Austrian!).  I wore the jacket with a hat that I found in the house, an ancient pair of Prada heels (leftover from my banking days), and the good old American uniform of  jeans-and-a-white-tank underneath all of this Austrian-ness.  I also managed to sneak in a tiny bit of bling with this topaz coloured Swarovski crystal ring.  Swarovski IS Austrian, so it would be rude not to!

When you go hiking through the woods here, you can always find your way along the paths because they are marked by what looks like the Austrian flag.  If you have children, they will really enjoy helping by trying to spot the NEXT one first!  And see what I mean about being surrounded by green?

I have no idea what these flowers are that I spotted on a hike, but they look like little puffs of silky ‘fur’.  They echo the clouds beautifully, don’t they?

I really love this corner of the world, as you can tell.  I could almost live in Austria except it is a tough place for a vegetarian (they eat lots of pork here), I’d have to learn German, and I’d struggle in a place that wears practical shoes and performance wear so frequently.  Other than that, I adore it.  Visiting a couple of times a year certainly makes life in a big city more bearable.  I fully recharge my batteries and always plan our next visit as we drive to the airport to return home.

 

Linking to: notdressedaslamb, stylenudge, stylesplashnotdeadyetstyle

 

 

 

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38 Comments

  • Reply
    RetroChicMama
    July 23, 2017 at 5:12 PM

    I love your posts from Austria Lisa. The scenery is exquisite as always but I didn’t realise how light the Austrain footprint is on our Planet, I’m doubly hooked now 😉
    Your elegant hat has sealed the deal so look out Austria here I come!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 1:51 PM

      Yes, the Austrians are absolutely religious about the environment. It is SO refreshing. We’ll have to go together one day! xx

  • Reply
    Emma Peach
    July 23, 2017 at 5:43 PM

    It looks beautiful! I love the hat, very appropriate for the location! I wish we had better recycling facilities in the UK, I’m trying really hard to cut down on plastic. We’ve got solar panels which are great in summer but not much use in winter!

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 1:50 PM

      It is positively gorgeous in Austria! Thank you, Emma… I love the hat too. Our neighbourhood is brilliant for recycling, but I know many places (and many of my friends) don’t take it as seriously as I do. Well done for your solar panels xx

  • Reply
    melissa
    July 24, 2017 at 1:28 AM

    Just amazing!!! What an incredible spot. Oh sure….you’d struggle briefly with the performance wear- but you’ve already showed how you would rise above it. Completely fabulous! I LOVE the jacket, the hat and the “tiny bit of bling” (as well as the touch of Americana )! Austria sounds so much like Switzerland in their mindset. I love it.Those flowers are SOoooo beautiful just laid out in a path like that, as if they were planted. In Switzerland the mountain trails are marked w/ the white-red-white and the alpine routes are marked with the white blue white.Is that like a whole Alpine Route thing, I wonder? That Bakery. I want to go to there. 😀
    ~Melissa
    https://freshairandfalselashes.com

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 1:47 PM

      Thank you, lovely! Isn’t it beautiful there, Melissa? I think the solution for me would be to live in a city like Vienna and just be close to the countryside… the best of both worlds! As for the trails, all of the ones I’ve seen in France and in Austria are red and white; I can’t remember any blue and white ones, Alpine or not. I’ll look that up. xx

  • Reply
    Little Red
    July 24, 2017 at 4:51 AM

    Love the hat! And the coat is beautiful, understated, and elegant all at once. Interesting to hear all the ways that Austria is green.

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 1:41 PM

      Thank you, Little Red! I love the coat too; it isn’t my usual thing, but it looks so right sometimes. xx

  • Reply
    Jean
    July 24, 2017 at 12:56 PM

    The scenery is awesome. And I want your jacket. Wish it were currently available. Don’t remember seeing you wear it before… It is so classic!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 1:39 PM

      Isn’t the scenery gorgeous? They always have amazing coats and clothes in Gössl. You’ll have to go in there one day! Thank you Mom! xx

  • Reply
    LA CONTESSA
    July 24, 2017 at 2:48 PM

    WHAT COLOR WAS THAT RING??????????????
    I wore mine at my birthday party!I don’t think we got a PHOTO of my HANDS!
    YOU LOOK SO UBER CHIC In YOUR GREEN COAT………….
    The scenery is SPECTACULAR………..WHAT A SPOT TO RE`CHARGE!
    XOXO

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 9:16 PM

      THIS ring is the topaz coloured one… the closest I could get to a rustic neutral 🙂 I’m so pleased you wore yours at your birthday, Elizabeth… that thrills me.

      Thanks so much; it is a really natty coat, isn’t it? And fits right into my surroundings. xx

  • Reply
    Suzy Turner (@suzy_turner)
    July 24, 2017 at 3:19 PM

    It looks absolutely stunning in Austria, Lisa! I hope to visit… one day. It’s on my list!! LOVE the jacket – it’s perfect for the occasion!
    Suzy Turner
    xxx

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 9:14 PM

      Austria really is a magical corner of the world; I adore it. I just can’t even believe the scenery sometimes. I know you’ll love it Suzy.

      I wear the jacket a surprising amount, given it isn’t my usual sparkly bright thing! xx

  • Reply
    Jamie
    July 24, 2017 at 4:52 PM

    What a pretty little town! *** I’m a vegetarian too!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 9:13 PM

      But of COURSE you are 🙂 xx

  • Reply
    Mithra Ballesteros
    July 24, 2017 at 5:06 PM

    You’ve captured my imagination! Is it autumn yet? I want a Tyrolian outfit — a tweedy hat, boiled wool jacket, alpine-ready red hiking boots, and a rough hewn leather belt. The golden hair is elusive but the Lisa bling might make up for it. Love the shot of the back of your head!! Kudos to Mr. Photographer!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 9:12 PM

      Ahhhh, but aren’t Autumn clothes the best? Your suggestion of tweed, boiled wool, and red hiking boots has me packing for the alps again! Thank you Miss Mithra. xx

  • Reply
    Ann
    July 24, 2017 at 5:31 PM

    I’m SO ready for higher, cooler climes and Sacher Torte. Your hat, the coat, and the Prada heels zusammen sind perfekt! It’s a good look on you. 🙂

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 24, 2017 at 9:10 PM

      There is nothing better than a Sacher Torte, or a Sacher Wurfel, in my book! Thank you so much, Ann xx

  • Reply
    Nancy
    July 25, 2017 at 10:53 AM

    Lot’s of friends of us visit Austria in summer. It always looks so beautiful on the photo’s. And clean! And the bakery, well I think it’s like in Switzerland, you don’t want to walk by such a bakery without trying something!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 25, 2017 at 7:51 PM

      It is DEFINITELY beautiful and clean, Nancy! You must go some time. xx

  • Reply
    Troy
    July 25, 2017 at 11:50 AM

    Another fabulous post! I haven’t been to Austria but it’s jumped up on my list. The outfit is perfect for the location, and of course you ROCKED it! Nice touch with the tiny bit of bling.

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 25, 2017 at 7:52 PM

      Thank you, Troy! You’ve gotta go; you’d love so many things about it. xx

  • Reply
    Anastasia Nicole
    July 26, 2017 at 12:17 AM

    Amazing photos. I’m planning my European trip for next summer and will be sure to add Austria to my list. Loving your ring btw.

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 26, 2017 at 1:55 PM

      Thanks Anastasia! It is such a special place; I got a lotta love for Austria. xx

  • Reply
    No Fear of Fashion
    July 26, 2017 at 8:52 PM

    I am amazed how good you look in that coat and hat. I mean…. they are very, very traditional, which is normally not my taste, but if I were to look like you do in these clothes, I would buy them instantly. You look so elegant and modern in it. How is it possible.
    If you were to live in Austria, shouldn’t you have to learn Austrian as a language? Instead of German? And the place is indeed very green and very picturesque. Lovely to see. But like you I couldn’t live in a “sensible shoe-place” haha.
    Greetje

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 30, 2017 at 10:06 PM

      Thank you so much, Greetje! Yeah, I’m not usually the traditional type either, but it was really fun wearing this in that setting.

      They speak German in Austria, darling! If you ask Annette, she’ll tell you the Austrians are very singsongy, but it is the same language. 🙂 xx

      • Reply
        No Fear of Fashion
        July 31, 2017 at 7:05 PM

        I am amazed! I thought every country would have their own language!

  • Reply
    cassidl
    July 27, 2017 at 3:13 PM

    what a great hat and beautiful pictures. Don’t forget to come link up on A Labour of Fashion. Would love to have you join us

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 30, 2017 at 10:08 PM

      Thanks so much! xx

  • Reply
    jacqui
    July 30, 2017 at 8:25 PM

    This really is a stunning place, I can see why you love returning here. Very stylish outfit, fitting right in with the scenery. x thanks for sharing. Jacqui
    http://www.mummabstylish.com

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 30, 2017 at 9:46 PM

      Thank you, Jacqui. I do really love returning here every time! xx

  • Reply
    Patti
    July 30, 2017 at 11:11 PM

    It’s so beautiful there! And you look amazing – love that hat. Thanks for linking up, xo

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

    • Reply
      Lisa
      July 31, 2017 at 8:11 AM

      It really is a beautiful place! Thank you, Patti. xx

  • Reply
    Abby@Midlifecrisisnut
    July 31, 2017 at 12:54 PM

    I’m sorry I’m late to the party, I don’t know how I missed your post Lisa. Looking gorgeous in your feather hat! Just looking at the serenely green scenery and I feel relaxed already. Lots of love! xx Abby

  • Reply
    Rachel
    August 1, 2017 at 2:40 PM

    Looks great! Beautiful photos!

    http://chicglamstyle.com

    • Reply
      Lisa
      August 2, 2017 at 8:39 PM

      Thank you! xx

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