Vintage dress #1 - a Marion Donaldson floral cotton maxi dress, from the late '80s/early '90s.
I wore this dress for an evening of bar-hopping, tapas and wine. Our favourite place to drink wine and eat tapas is the amazing Pata Negra 57 restaurant. Marion Donaldson was a Scottish designer, credited with bringing London's swinging style to Glasgow in the 1960s. The brand helpfully changed the colour of the name label each decade: purple in the '60s, brown in the '70s, then gold on purple (late '70s?), and finally silver on black in the '80s until it ceased trading in 1999. It was a £9.99 bargain from a charity shop in Andover.
This dress was pretty tight around the top of the ribcage for me, so I had to do some unpicking and restitching to get a bit more room in there. Someone had also turned the hem up so I let it down again. It took ages, but I'm so glad that I did it and the dress now fits so I can wear it with reasonable comfort. I wore it with some brown wedges from M&S, a red headscarf, red lips and a charity-shopped bag.



Vintage dress #2 - a Carnegie of London neon beaded maxi dress, from the late '60s/ early '70s.
While we were away, my husband and I celebrated 10 years together, and our 2nd wedding anniversary. We celebrated at a favourite posh restaurant, Restaurant 34, and such an occasion demanded a unique frock! This Carnegie of London dress was £10 from a market stall in Cardiff. It's a bit big on me, especially in the bust without a padded bra (which I didn't take on hols with me), but it does make it great for a sit-down dinner. I don't know anything about the brand, all it says on the Vintage Fashion Guild website is that it's not to be confused with the Hattie Carnegie brand. Someone is selling a navy version of this dress in a larger size on Etsy if you're interested.



The rest of my outfits
Much of my holiday wardrobe remains the same as previous years, with favourite pieces worn over and over. That probably doesn't make it as interesting for you. My other *new* outfit of the holiday was a new Biba at House of Fraser cobalt blue bikini, bought in the sale. I felt AMAZING, I was on the roof terrace of our boutique hotel one night relaxing on a Balinese bed, popping in and out of the plunge pools, drinking cava and feeling like a goddess. There is no photographic evidence of this - let me warn you all that blue light does NOT work for photos! Nor should you attempt a photoshoot after drinking cava... Ah well. I felt fabulous, that's the main thing isn't it? My husband was quite the dapper chap while we were away too, he loves his Christys' vintage panama hat and wore it day and night.

Clockwise from top left: casual shorts outfit, my husband dressed for a night on the town, dawn photo-taking in a Peacock's dress, and my faithful Jaeger tunic (at an amazing museum in Malaga - separate post on that to come!)

Clockwise from top left: beautiful flowers, the main square of Nerja, winding streets of the old town, and dawn at the beach.
Do you take original vintage pieces on holiday? I admit I was a bit scared about our luggage getting lost, so I packed the vintage ones in carry-on luggage instead! Next on my wish list is a short 1960's little sparkly evening dress, I have a whole year to find one...
2017 packing list: (mainly for my own future reference)
Day Wear
Navy shorts
Pink shorts (not worn)
Red skirt
Tie stripe blouse
Broderie blouse
Soulcal pink blouse
White long-sleeve shirt
Monsoon silk blouse
Jaeger silk tunic dress
Purple '60s print beach cover up
White and blue beach cover up (not worn)
Primark tropical print trousers (seen here) (for travelling in)
Vintage Murospun cardigan (seen here) (for travelling in)
Biba bikini
New Look bikini
Evening Wear
Yellow Peacock's dress (also worn once in daytime)
Pretty Retro tea dress (seen here)
Collectif Michelle maxi dress (seen here) (not worn)
Wallis fruit print dress
Carnegie of London neon maxi
Marion Donaldson flower maxi
Blue full skirted dress (seen here)
Shoes and acessories
Brown wedges
Gold and pink flower flat sandals
Coral low sandals
Bronze heeled sandals
Sun hat
Faux Chanel white handbag
Coral leather Joules handbag
2 pairs sunglasses
Previous years' holiday outfits available to view: 2016 evening wear, 2016 day wear, 2015 honeymoon wardrobe, 2014 holiday wardrobe, 2012 holiday wardrobe.
Linking up with: #iwillwearwhatilike, Visible Monday, Passion for Fashion, Fancy Friday
Hey there!
ReplyDeleteWow, it’s been a while since we visited your blog for the last time. So glad we found it again!
Your style is still so cool and it seems like you had some great days in Spain :)
We wish you a wonderful Sunday!
Lots of love,
Elaine & Isabelle
Hello both, thanks for stopping by - I still keep up with you on Instagram! x
DeleteI didn't do any proper outfit posing while I was on holiday either. It is a time for relaxing and having a good time, as you rightly point out. I love both of your dresses, the orange one being my favourite and, although I don't know anything about the label, I see it is made from Trevira fabric, which features a lot in my wardrobe. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's my first Trevira! I don't know much about it, I'd love to learn more if you have the inside information!
DeleteVacay is meant to be enjoyed : ) I'm glad you did just that...all the while both of you looked amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat orange maxi is stunning on you!
bisous
Suzanne
Thank you Suzanne, we certainly did enjoy ourselves (and the wine, mainly the wine...)
DeleteYour description of wearing the blue bikini and boozing on the roof terrace sounded like utter heaven. Who needs photos with a description as powerful as that?
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous dresses - you look wonderful in both of them. Timelessly stylish and completely unique.
Funnily enough I bought a Carnegie from what must have been the same collection last week - turquoise and one shouldered with the same embellishments.
I love that you and C have a favourite holiday destination. I think a lot of people find Jon & I odd to keep going back to the same village in Goa. xxxx
Once you find somewhere so good, it's hard to take a risk on somewhere new!! I have so many places on my list to explore, but this definitely wasn't our last trip to Nerja...
DeleteThose outfits are lovely and you look so beautiful in the photos.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Aw, thanks Marilyn x
DeleteLovely pictures and beautiful outfits, what gorgeous dresses ❤
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever taken vintage clothes on holiday, as I have rarely been on holiday! I went on one night away in about 2000 and that was the last time xxx
I went for a looooong time not having a holiday too, but I've now decided it's an integral part of my wellbeing and that I must have at least a week of guaranteed sunshine a year!!
DeleteHi Porcelina, this is my first visit to your blog and what a lovely time to drop by! Looks like you guys had a great holiday and I do love that orange maxi dress - it's right up my street.
ReplyDeleteAnna x
Thank you for stopping by Anna!
DeleteIt looks like you had an awesome vacation! You look so cute in all of your different dresses - they are absolutely perfect for a holiday in the sun. Congrats on your 10 year anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jessica x
DeleteCongrats on the anniversary and I think you're one of the best dressed tourists out there. The first dress is my favourite, the print is so colorful. I could not see it from a distance.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorena, you're very sweet! It's a lovely print isn't it? I want to wear it again soon but will have to find a way to make it Autumn appropriate!!
DeleteLooks like a beautiful place to go on holiday and I love your holiday wardrobe! Your outfits look relaxed, fun and elegant! Beautiful x
ReplyDeleteThank you Kayla!
DeleteBoth stunning dresses for your vaca and celebration. I don't blame you for packing them in a carry on. I haven't flown for a long time, but can't imagine how I'd feel if an airline lost my luggage full of irreplaceable vintage dresses. A horror I dare not contemplate!
ReplyDeleteTheresa
Yes, it's a scary thought isn't it? Especially as the vintage items aren't ones I've gone out and bought overnight, they've been collected painstakingly over many many years!
DeleteYour holiday wardrobe is so light and elegant! I love the pieces you brought, and your tunic and the Marie Donaldson are especially lovely vacationing outfits!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to see more of that museum too- it looks amazing!
I will post about the museum in the next couple of weeks, there was so much wonderful stuff!
DeleteYou do holiday style magnificently! And happy anniversary! (It's ours this month too - 5 years!)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to you too Tanith! x
DeleteI will admit I packed some bits into a carry on suitcase because I was paranoid they'd lose my luggage! I remember it happening on a childhood holiday and it was annoying even then - now it would be disastrous to lose pieces I love! Anyway, you look so lovely in all your looks here but that first dress - took my breath away when you posted it on Instagram and still does! It's absolute perfection on you xx
ReplyDeleteOh, those dresses are lovely. How helpful of them to keep changing the label colours in that way. I didn't take any original vintage this time. I actually managed... a capsule wardrobe! No idea how that happened. It was nice not to think about clothes for a week, though.
ReplyDeleteSpain is such a great place to go on holiday at this time of year.
You look absolutely fantastic in a maxi dress! And although it is a relaxed garment, it is also super chic! I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday and had some time to chill out and relax.
ReplyDelete