Soap opera wardrobe secrets as stars can’t wear ‘plain’ clothes and must shop sales

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.

Soap opera wardrobe 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).

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Basic and unadorned costumes such as coats, suits, and jeans are often shared and reused by other characters. This is not only sustainable and reduces waste, but with the number of actors and extras on set, it makes dressing them easier and saves a lot of time.

Moreover, TV extras are usually instructed to bring their own clothes unless the production team specifies otherwise or a specific era or style is a key focus. One of the main guidelines that the costume departments share with the actors is for their clothing to be as muted and plain as possible.

This includes avoiding any visible logos, steering clear of whites, as they can shine bright on camera, and not overshadowing or distracting from the show’s main characters.

When it comes to high-budget programmes, costumes and wardrobes often receive more attention as they become symbolic. However, TV soaps aim to make their clothing choices attainable and relatable for viewers, contributing to the realistic, everyday portrayal they strive to create on screen.

Shop our selection of soap star-inspired outfits

Sharon’s EastEnders black faux fur coat: Sharon recently wore this coat on EastEnders, which was well-received by viewers. Although it’s an old-season M&S Per Una purchase that’s no longer available, you can find a similar coat from Sosander at M&S for £125 here.

Kerry’s Emmerdale yellow and grey heart knit: Last month, Kerry wore a lovely patterned jumper on the ITV show, leading fans to wonder where they could buy it. It’s believed to be an old sample from a supermarket, but you can find a similar item from JDY at Asos hearts knitted jumper in cream, priced at £35 here.

Daisy Coronation Street monochrome spot jumper: Corrie’s Daisy is known for her stylish wardrobe, and viewers loved both her blue spot and monochrome spot jumpers she wore recently. They’re both old-season purchases from Next, so you’ll have to shop the similar polka dot jumper from La Redoute (£35) here instead.