Soap opera wardrobe secrets as stars can't wear 'plain' clothes and must shop sales
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We're all utterly engrossed by the ceaseless drama of leading soaps like Eastenders, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale. Yet, they also present us with some unexpected style icons, as many of our favourite characters don eye-catching outfits that we often aspire to emulate.
Christmas is a particularly great time for soap star fashion, with an array of coats and snug jumpers on display. Unlike other popular shows such as Sex and the City and Selling Sunsets, which feature high-end designer labels, our cherished soaps offer us looks that are attainable, easy to replicate and likely sourced from the high street.
But where exactly do they get their clothes? And what's the cost? We've been pondering the same questions. In an attempt to discover, we're delving into the realm of soap wardrobes to uncover the styling secrets. One key strategy is to find clothes from vintage shops or buy out-of-season items from our favourite high street chains. When brands host their end-of-season sales, this is when costume departments flourish, snapping up garments at a fraction of the price to stay within the show's budget.
These pieces are then stored in their archives for future characters. For instance, we've recently seen Coronation Street's Emma Brooker, portrayed by Alexandra Mardell, wearing several pieces from River Island's early 2019 collections. While the majority of the garments are from previous collections, some are current. However, when fans desperately hunt for the desired item, it tends to sell out instantly. For instance, in 2018, Emmerdale viewers spent weeks hunting for green waterproof coats after Laurel Thomas sported an embroidered green jacket. It was later disclosed that the coat in question was from high-street brand Joules (you can shop a similar Joules khaki jacket for £145 here).
