Reputation retained by the Spanish decorative coating (6)
I believe the answer is:
enamel
'decorative coating' is the definition.
'enamel' can be an answer for 'coating' (enamel is a kind of coating). I am not certain of the 'decorative' bit.
'reputation retained by the spanish' is the wordplay.
'reputation' becomes 'name' (someone's good name is their reputation).
'retained by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the spanish' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'name' inserted into 'el' is 'ENAMEL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for enamel that I've seen before include "Hard, glossy protective coating" , "sort of paint" , "Nail polish" , "Ale men (anag.)" , "Shiny coat as on teeth" .)