vacation style
This week has seen us experience some of the highest temperatures ever recorded in the UK…and what did we do? Complain, naturally. The humid, sticky heat isn’t quite so fun when you’re stuck behind a computer for 9 hours, wondering if you will survive the journey home now that your car’s air-con has decided to give up the ghost.
Holiday heat though? Yes please. It’s all a lot easier to put up with when you’ve got a Pina Colada in hand and a freezing cold pool to jump into whenever you fancy (just put the drink down first – or better still – finish it and order another ready for your return.)
It had been a while since I’d travelled abroad simply for pleasure, but this year saw me return to Bulgaria for a relaxing break, with a case of new and old vacation style in tow – and you’d better believe I went over my luggage limit.
I like to use Pinterest to plan my holiday looks – here are my favourite outfits from the week below:
The first day at the resort we experienced a major thunderstorm. Not a good start, but ideal for lounging around the luxury hotel lobby bar in something bright and summery, whilst still being formal. I have to say I’ve surprised myself this year with just how much I’ve enjoyed the neon trend; and these lime high waisted cigarette trousers fitted the bill perfectly. Paired with a beaded bra-top, a messy bun and dripping with gold tone jewellery, it was the perfect outfit for dinner, drinks, and then finally more drinks at the bar around the corner when the rain finally stopped.
Beaded top and neon trousers, both from I Saw it First*
Heels, Public Desire
The rest of the holiday was gloriously hot and dry, which called for some appropriate poolside attire. Not content with simply relaxing by the pool in a cozzie, I naturally took the opportunity to go full -on Donatella with giant sunglasses, a lace beach skirt, and gold toned hardware everywhere. I didn’t regret it.
Lace Skirt, Missguided
Bag, Versace Jeans Couture
Bikini, Ann Summers
Sunglasses, Chanel
Our third day saw us take a boat ride to the ancient town of Nessebar. I’d highly recommend this place for the ancient Thracian and Greek ruins, a cocktail bar in an underground cave (complete with terrapin pools) and the amazing seafood enjoyed against the backdrop of the Black sea. Here I covered up a little more due to the searing heat – in a stunning blue scarf-print top and white shorts, blue tinted aviators and my favourite bright yellow bag that tied in the pattern on the top. In one of the many jewellery shops in the town, I found some unusual blue dangly earrings and had to wear them immediately. Always on the look out for a fashion gem…
Top and shorts, both Zara
Bag, past season Coccinelle
My favourite dinner outfit of the whole holiday was one that I’d planned on Pinterest well over a year ago, on my ‘vacation style’ board. Using a plunge swimsuit as a top, and a beautiful khaki satin twist skirt, along with high taupe sandals and finished with a wicker cross body bag to add an on-trend, on-holiday feel. Yet another holiday jewellery find – a gold and crystal cage necklace – completed the look that made me feel glam all night long.
Plunge Swimsuit, I Saw it First
Satin Twist Skirt, ASOS
Sandals, Public Desire
Bag, PrettyLittleThing
Another pool day – another cover up. This time in the form of a delectable pink snake beach dress that provided just enough cover to slip inside for lunch, and thin enough to scrunch up and throw into your bag for sunbathing again. Until I saw this dress I hadn’t been such a fan of the snake-print trend this year, but now I’m reformed.
Beach dress, I Saw it First*
If you’ve read my blog for a while now, you’ll have heard me mention my ‘forever wardrobe’ before. A collection of tried and tested, faithful and quality pieces that I am gradually collecting and creating to last me the years. Vacation style? More like timeless style. This dress, a cotton Zara number, has been with me now for 14 years (for those of you that know me, that’s literally half my life). Not only is it a small miracle that I can still fit into it, I think brownie points have to go to Zara on this one; not all fashion giants are made equal and with the recent pledge from this one to make all their clothes sustainable, organic or recycled by 2025, I’m hoping to find a few more forever pieces in their stores. This one will certainly be staying with me for some time…
Dress, Zara 2005
My final evening outfit for this holiday. The colour and cut of this dress – along with the flamenco style hem – made it effortless and flirty on its own, but I added a chain belt of a bit of extra detail. I love finding pieces like this – when you slip them on you just feel fantastic; no tweaking, no ironing, no fussing with them all night trying to keep them looking nice – they just do, straight off the hanger.
Dress, I Saw it First*
Are you going away this year? What are your favourite holiday pieces? Leave me a comment below or connect with me on social media via the links on the page.
Happy holidays!
Love,
*PR Gifted items
