Emily Atack gave a nod to her role in Rivals at the BAFTAs with her 80s-inspired white maxi dress and leather gloves – and we’ve tracked down a £55 version on sale
When Jilly Cooper’s book Rivals was turned into a series last year, it was an instant hit, with Emily Atack becoming a stand out star for her role as Sarah Stratton. With her opening scene up for a BAFTA nomination at this year’s awards ceremony, it was only right that the actress gave a nod to her role in the series with an 80s-inspired look.
Emily wore a floor length white gown that looks to be Alex Perry’s Asymmetric Draped Crêpe Gown, which costs £2135 (though you can currently save 10% on it with the code FIRST10), which she paired with some elbow length black leather gloves – the perfect nod to the 80s. For fans coveting Emily’s look but want something a little more budget-friendly, we found the perfect alternative thanks to Karen Millen’s Premium Viscose Jersey Ruched Maxi Dress.
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Usually priced at £169, the Karen Millen dress currently has a huge 60% discount, knocking the price down to £68. Plus, you can get an extra 20% off using the code SALE20, taking it down to £54.40 – not too shabby for a red carpet-worthy look.
Just like Emily’s designer gown, the Karen Millen Ruched Maxi Dress has a figure-hugging silhouette, with long sleeves and a high neck. It also features flattering ruching and draping around the waist, with a detachable white and silver belt. By simply removing the belt, you’ll get a very similar streamlined look to Emily’s gown, with the draping mirroring that gathered details of her Alex Perry dress.
It’s currently still available in sizes XS to large, and you can also pick it up in black if you prefer a darker colour. It does differ from Emily’s in some ways – it’s made of jersey, rather than crepe, and has a more wearable ankle length cut rather than a floor length one, which makes it easier to move around in.
If you prefer a floor-length fit, this Rat & Boa Rodeo Dress is £295 and is a true maxi length, with the hemline gently pooling on the floor in an elegant drape. The design is more simple, though, with less draping and no thigh split, but it does have a similar neckline to Emily’s with a more rounded boat-style neck.
It also has a very dramatic draped cowl back, that bares some skin to balance the full length and long sleeve design. Club L’s Victoria White Long-Sleeve Maxi Dress With Wrap Skirt, £75, also has a similar look to Emily’s gown, with a wrap design and dramatic thigh split, and comes in white, black and olive green.
The pièce de résistance of Emily’s look is, of course, her leather gloves, and we’ve even managed to track down an affordable version of these if you want to go all out replicating her outfit. The QECEPEI Women’s Long Leather Gloves are currently on sale down from £36.99 to £32.99 and are made from genuine lambskin leather with a soft velvet lining that makes them comfortable to wear. They even have a touch screen feature, so you can use your smart phone whilst wearing them.
With the second season of Rivals beginning filming this month it won’t be too much longer to wait until it’s back on our screens – so you better get your 80s-inspired outfits sorted now.