3 Handmade Outfits Designed Just for My Trip to Portugal | Portugal Fashion Design
Portugal had always been a dream destination of mine. The colorful buildings with their beautiful prints and textures just screamed: “a place that I would love”. After all, what is there not to like about the uniqueness of this beautiful, colorful country, especially for one of the “colorful sisters”? Can you tell I enjoyed myself there? Well, let’s just say that the outfits I planned for my trip to Portugal were going to be just about as great as the trip itself.
Designing my Portugal-inspired outfits
Getting started on the designs for my Portugal trip was exciting to say the least. I had to start with a few things; colors, fabrics, and then designs.
The color
The first color that popped into my mind when I thought of Portugal was orange. Honestly, orange is not really my favorite or go-to color under normal circumstances, but I felt that it was the right fit for Portugal. Even though I had never visited the country, I had images in my mind of Sintra and all of the famous palaces, which are covered in many colors, but also and mostly orange. So my theme for the outfit planning? Orange.
The fabric
The most exciting part was that I already had the fabrics in my fabric stash at home. I dug through and found some gorgeous orange pieces. One was an orange knit fabric, a second was also a knit but a vintage reddish-orange diamond design, and the last was a bathing suit material that was red and brown.
The design
The design depends very much on the fabric. I knew immediately that I wanted them to be skirts or dresses, and since they were both knit, they would be stretchy-style. I skimmed through my closet to find some of my favorite designs for inspiration and landed on a few different style. It would be a dress, a skirt and top set, and a bathing suit with ties.
The locations
I had two locations in mind (I would be doing a trip across the whole country). The main places I wanted beautiful photos were at the sunset overlooking Lisbon and Pena Palace at Sintra.
Outfit #1: 70s style halter dress
When I looked at this fabric, the only thing that I could think of was the 70s. That combined with my love of halter tops (and the ease of making them), created this design.
I used one of my favorite crop tops as the outline for the neckline of the dress. The rest was a super simple, slightly form-fitting skirt that was not too tight. It was a very simple dress to make once I decided on the pattern, so it was quite satisfying to be able to whip it up in a few hours.
Outfit #2: Elegant two-piece set
I had this orange knit fabric in my fabric stash for such a long time and I never knew what to do with it. I truly can’t remember why I even bought it in the first place, as someone who is natural on the color orange. However, I was very excited to remake a set I had made in the past. The original one was in cream, but now it would be orange textured knit. I could wear it together for almost a dress-like look or alone in separate sections.
Since this was also a knit fabric, it was pretty simple to make. I didn’t need to add in zippers or anything too fancy, so it was easy to finish this up right before my actual trip.
Outfit #3: Retro-style bathing suit
I found this gorgeous floral print bathing suit material. And whenever I find a unique print on bathing suit material, I feel the need to buy it. I do live near a beach, so my addiction to bathing suits is sort of understandable.
During our trip to Portugal, we were going to spend about a week in the Algarve so I thought that making a new bathing suit for the occasion would be perfect. And that’s just what I did, using a few different patterns and designs that I had made in the past. It was sort of a hodge-podge creation as I was a bit short on fabric, but I ended up making it work.
The Photoshoots in Portugal
Portugal is one of the most picturesque places in the world. It’s hard not to get beautiful photos just about anywhere you go, but I will say that I was pretty thrilled about how the fashion photos turned out in the end.
Pena Palace at Sintra – 70s style halter dress
Pena Palace in gorgeous and a must-see in my opinion. All of Sintra is one of a kind. However, it is FULL of people even at the most quiet times. I truly don’t know how I was lucky enough to get this photo, where there is practically no one in the background. I didn’t edit out any people or really edit this photo at all, except the lighting as it was a bit bright.
Rooftop sunset Lisbon – Elegant two-piece set
Sunsets are beautiful. Rooftops are beautiful. Lisbon is beautiful. My elegant two-piece set is beautiful. That’s bound to make for beautiful photos, especially when the colors happen to align so perfectly. It was probably the orange rooftops of Lisbon that had me thinking that all of Portugal was covered in orange (and I wasn’t really wrong). But let’s just say I was thrilled with how this one turned out.
Unfortunately, the bathing suit didn’t end up getting its own photoshoot in Portugal. I was super happy with how it tuned out. However, it was a bit too cold to go swimming during most of my trip and the bathing suit was a bit ambitious. I did however end up wearing my handmade crochet bikini which you can see here: How to Make Your Own Crochet Bikini | Handmade Bathing Suit
Stay tuned for more posts from Portugal, itineraries, and tips!
Take a look at some of our other fashion projects for other locations here.
Lots of love,
Danielle, Colorful Sisters
19 Comments
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Lawrence Morra
June 30, 2024 at 4:29 pmSo good to get this latest update!
Very nicely done ladies, some very stunning scenery and outfits that you’ve designed and compiled here! Also I have to say for me in a world that is falling fast into disaster and sadness, that both of you with your work are a bright spot out there with such inspiring efforts!
God bless you!
A friend in this troubled to the hilt world,
Shalom.
Larry
Colorful Sisters
June 30, 2024 at 8:21 pmThanks so much for your kind words and I’m so happy that you are enjoying the blog posts and appreciating the beauty of the locations and our creativity 🙂
Lawrence Morra
June 30, 2024 at 11:55 pmOh you’re absolutely welcome and as I do very much enjoy your posts I have to say you’re both obviously enjoying the locations and being so creative which always comes through in all you do; and that too I enjoy very much, how your efforts are inspired as well as very colorful, unique and joyful! Congratulations on your success and many blessings!
Thank you again! See ya soon! 👍 👍
🙏🌹🌷❤️🌈🌞
Colorful Sisters
July 8, 2024 at 5:53 pmThank you so much! It means a lot 🙂
C.A. Post
June 30, 2024 at 7:46 pmBeen missing all y’all and happy to see you’re still alive and kicking.🤠
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Colorful Sisters
June 30, 2024 at 8:21 pmAww thank you!! Happy to be back and posting some new adventures 🙂
onesmuskilonzo
July 5, 2024 at 1:54 pmBeen following u for a while and I enjoy ur blogs
Can u check mine too
https://onesmuskilonzo.blogspot.com/2024/07/hiking-ngong-hills2024.html
Roy Cameron
July 1, 2024 at 5:32 pmI’ve has way too many challenges of late to work on my own blog, let alone, read the blogs of others. Health challenges, especially, of my wife. In any case, your great taste and appreciation of color and design comes through once again in this one about Portugal. The original color scheme of the Roman Empire and its provinces had the walls painted red, blue and yellow. The paint was there to protect the marble. This color scheme or related versions is still found, as we see, in Portugal, but, especially, in Spain.
Are you going to visit Spain?
I also want to add how sorry I am about recent events in the last year in Israel. I wish you and all your loved ones and friends the best as you deal with this.
Colorful Sisters
July 8, 2024 at 5:55 pmTotally understandable, life gets in the way, as we also have not had much time to work on our blogs in recent months. That’s very interesting about the paint colors, I didn’t know!
We did make it to Spain, but haven’t had a chance to write any blog posts about it yet, hopefully soon!
And thank you for your kind words. It’s not an easy time this past year but we are doing our best to pull through. Your kind words really mean a lot.
Simon
July 2, 2024 at 2:49 pmStunning outfits – nice work 🙂
onesmuskilonzo
July 5, 2024 at 1:50 pmLove your work
I would like you to check mine on https://onesmuskilonzo.blogspot.com/2024/07/hiking-ngong-hills2024.html
onesmuskilonzo
July 5, 2024 at 1:52 pmBeen following your blogs for a while now
onesmuskilonzo
July 5, 2024 at 8:25 pmReally enjoy ur blogs
mshipstory
July 10, 2024 at 8:42 pmAll three outfits are beautiful, but the orange two piece with a split skirt….perfection.
Colorful Sisters
July 14, 2024 at 4:14 pmThank youuuu
Fashion Boutique
July 16, 2024 at 7:03 amSo colourful! Amazing
Femcopy
July 30, 2024 at 9:09 pmThis is so creative. I especially like the two pieces.
iconic fashion blogs
August 14, 2024 at 12:37 pmVery good blog
254drifters
August 15, 2024 at 11:39 amLove it!
drifter254.wordpress.com
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