Burgh Island: the outfit post

In my recent post about my trip to the art deco Burgh Island hotel, I mentioned that guests were expected to dress for dinner. I made sure I started planning what I was going to wear months in advance. Now, I make no secret of the fact that I'm plus size, and 99% of the time I'm completely fine about that, but glamorous events really do get to me because it's hard to find dresses I actually want to wear and make me feel good. I do own a gorgeous reproduction 1930s evening dress, and had planned to wear that, but I tried it on the weekend before and, frankly, it was too tight and all that blue satin made me look like a balloon animal. I didn't even bother trying on the red chiffon with the 'Ginger Rogers' volume below the knee. Rather than force myself into either and feel miserable in it, I took a more cocktaily approach.

On the first night I wore my recently acquired 1960s Evans Tweensize suit. It's not art deco, so sue me. I accessories with my brown midcentury Lisner diamante necklace and earrings, a 1960s brown mock-croc bag, my Miss L Fire 'Clara' shoes (I adore those shoes, I hope they remake them one day!) and Mr Robot! My hair is up; I used the updo pin I got from Boots. It's all you need and, for a fiver, is one of the best things I've ever bought for my hair, it's so easy to use and works so well. The perfume I wore was deco, Molinard Habanita. The rich tobacco note (think cigar, not smoke) made me want to match it with the brown suit.

On the second night, when there was live music, I went more 1930s. The dress is an Able Grable 'Miss M', and is really meant to be a day dress. To make things a bit more special, I carefully removed the bow that originally adorned the throat and replaced it with the art deco brooch my mum gave me for my 18th birthday. I rarely wear it as I'm terrified of damaging it - it's solid silver and glass enamel - but I thought I was unlikely to break it if it was worn there, and in that environment. It's not like I was going on a bouncy castle... It got lots of compliments. I might put the original bow onto a brooch pin so it's permanently swappable, as it's really nice to have the option to change ornaments at the neck of that dress.

The handbag is proper art deco, though you can't really see it from the picture. It's textured black fabric, with a stepped shape to the silvertone clasp. The shoes are my new Hush Puppies ones, and the perfume was another genuine 1930s touch, Jean Patou Divine Folie. It's not made any more, but it is utterly heavenly, and I guard my bottle like a miser as I know I'll never be able to get any more.

And now I have a whole load more outfit planning to do, as the Vintage Nostalgia Show is in a couple of weekends' time. I think I know what I'll wear, though I know a really good stall is going to be there again this year and Heyday! are going too. I've been wanting to try on a pair of their trousers and see how they look on an apple figure for some time. So who knows? How many outfits can I wear in one weekend of camping? Watch this space...