So a couple of weeks ago I was on holiday with my family (parents and big brother) in Marbella (blog post here and here). As we were staying in a rather fancy hotel (Fuerte Hotel) it meant "dressing up" for dinner. Now, although we stayed there for 12 nights, I only have 6 outfits to show you because although some might say I'm an excellent/Tetris Master suitcase packer, even I have my limits (stupid weight restrictions)! So I know...I know I'll be forever known as the "outfit repeater" (admit it, you have that Lizzie McGuire scene playing in your head too), but I think changing up the accessories can really change a look and if that means more room to bring back shopping then I'm all for outfit repeating! (Disclaimer: 6 bikinis and lots of day outfits might have also been packed along with too many shoes but I'm totally blaming the evening outfits for my lack of space).
THE RED DRESS
Dress: This is a gorgeous dress I got a couple of years ago from New Look (near identical one but with a side slit here and a halterneck version here). It was originally meant to be a more casual day wear dress, but the length and gorgeous rich bordeaux colour means it has no problems transitioning into an evening dress.
Jewellery: I paired this dress with a beautiful turquoise earrings and necklace set I got more than 10 years ago from M&S. The only turquoise set I could find with a similar feel was this one here. Now, although I had never previously thought about pairing turquoise and bordeaux together, they went surprisingly well (they are split complement colours...who knew?!).
Lipstick: L'Oréal Color Riche in Laetitia's Pure Red, but any dark wine colour would do.
Nails: If you saw my latest Essie Summer Collection 2016 post then you would have already seen a comparison swatch with this polish by Be Creative Make Up in Mojito. It lasted surprisingly well against my sunscreen too, no mattifying or dissolving issues here.
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE BLACK SEQUIN DRESS
Dress: This dress I got about 5 years ago from Quiz. At the time it was the last one in a size too big for me, but now it fits perfectly...struggling to breathe means it fits - right?! I've found something similar here but it's a long version which you could either get shortened or leave as is, whichever you prefer.
Jewellery: Now this is a big #fail since you can't actually see the earrings I'm wearing. But with this dress I like to wear statement gunmetal earrings like the ones featured in my Glamorous Winter Party Accessories to match the darker sequins. Since the sequins make such a statement any necklace would be a bit too much.
Lipstick: Sephora Lip Liner To Go in 17 Light Brown.
Nails: Nothing on my hands (I know, what's wrong with me?!). But on my toes I'm wearing Maybelline Super Stay Gel Nail Color in 21 Pink In The Park featured in my Top 5 Summer Nail Polishes 2015 post and which I wore every day on my toes.
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE CREAM SEQUIN COMBINATION
Skirt and Top: I saw this skirt and top combo hanging on a hanger in Zara, two years ago, and just knew I couldn't buy one without the other. The soft, almost Grecian, quality of the top compliments the harsher crystal studded skirt perfectly! The key to this look is really a pleated top (similar although long sleeved here, asymmetric without sleeves here and a pure stunner here) with a short sequined embellished skirt (I found a gorgeous/better alternative here).
Jewellery: The earrings I'm wearing are just peeking through in the picture below (on the left). The evening I wore this outfit I had spent the day tanning (.i.e. going from snowman coloured to a slightly warmer shade of marshmallow) while my Mum, Dad and brother went to a shopping mall and spotted these stunning earrings in a Spanish jewellery store called José Luis Joyerías. Although technically a Christmas present, I got to wear them early just for this outfit...YAY!!!! :)
Lipstick: My trusted N°7 Precision Lip Pencil in Nude of course.
Nails: Nothing
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE BLUE DRESS
Dress: I saw this dress on the H&M website at the beginning of Summer but after two visits to my local H&M in the hopes of trying the dress on and figuring out my size, with no luck and the stock dwindling online, I gave in and made a lucky guess in an online order. I got my usual size (UK12 EU40) but I think I could have afforded to go a size down because of the extra fabric on the top half and the elasticated waist.
Jewellery: On one of the days I forgoed tanning and went with my family to our neighbouring shopping mall La Cañada (it was a 5 minute drive from our hotel) and discovered Bijou Brigitte (costume jewellery galore!) where I bought these gorgeous ice blue statement earrings.
Lipstick: Again my N°7 Precision Lip Pencil in Nude.
Nails: Nothing
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE PINK DRESS
Dress: Since I was little, I've been lucky enough to know/have a seamstress. The brilliant Moira Paton is my Mum's friend and mostly does skirts for her, but she will occasionally do some adjustments/repairs and even dresses for me (when I find the perfect fabric that is...I'm fussy!).
The silk fabric in question was a leftover from one of my Mum's skirts and with an extra purchase of a meter; Moira was able to make this dress for my birthday. Therefore, it’s quite unique and I can only really link this paisley pink satin dress here that is in a lighter colourway or this darker pink one here which has a completely different cut.
Jewellery: Similar but bigger and hence much more statement ones here.
Lipstick: Bourjois Rouge Edition in 07 Fuchsia Graffiti.
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE BLACK & GOLD DRESS
Dress: The most versatile of all the dresses (switching up the belt creates a whole different look), I got this dress from New Look about two years ago (it came with the gold bar belt). I haven't found a dress that comes with a gold belt per se, but I have found a black dress in an asymmetric cut here and by buying this wide gold belt separately here, skinny gold belt here or rose gold one here you can easily recreate this look yourself.
Jewellery: Because the gold belt is quite a statement I don't wear a necklace with this dress either, but I did pair it with some big bold gold filigree earrings, alternatives here.
Lipstick: Sephora Lip Liner To Go in 17 Light Brown.
Nails: Nothing
Shoes and Bag: See below
THE SHOES AND BAGS
The White Shoes: I got these from El Corte Inglés many years ago, on an earlier holiday to Spain. Although I couldn't find any with a similar floral strap pattern, New Look have a pair of strappy white sandals here.
The Gold Clutch: It comes from New Look a couple of years ago, but Accessorize have a couple of very similar embellished clutches in gold here and in silver here.
The Red Shoes: ...So I've had these shoes close to 15 years now (yes my feet stopped growing pretty much at the age of 12) the insole is completely caput, but you would never know it when I'm wearing them! I've found a pair of red strappy heels, minus the sequins unfortunately, here. Fun fact: these were also my first pair of "real" high heels (not the toy plastic kind)...yes when you're 12, kitten heels are high, okay!
The Red Clutch: You probably recognise this clutch from my Best Dressed Wedding Guest post. I've found a more plain alternatives here since I personally bought mine on eBay and is more or less one of a kind.
The Black Shoes: From New Look where they still have plenty of strappy black sandals in a similar vein here, here and here.
The Black Clutch: I can't really remember where I got this clutch but I've found a pretty sequined alternative here or shimmer one here and another one with a cute accent tassel here.
The Nude Studded Shoes: If you know anything about shoes then you'll know these are an imitation of the Valentino Rockstud Ankle Straps. But since I don't have a spare €720 lying around (maybe one day I will be able to spend that much on shoes...but not yet!) I was super happy when I found these gorgeous lookalikes for just €35 in Buonarotti! If you're like me and shudder at the price of the originals, but aren't travelling to Spain any time soon, then I've also found other good imitations on eBay.
There you have it the 6 evening outfits I wore whilst on holiday...hope you enjoyed it!
What are your favourite outfits to wear in the evening?
Do you remember your first pair of "real" heels? Better yet, do you still have them too? :P
What's has been your best designer imitation find?
xxxemma