The partywear in hedonistic TV bonkathon Rivals really leaned into the outré excess of the ’80s. Think: lashings of velvet, bonkers bows, ludicrous leg of mutton sleeves and a colour palette to rival a box of Quality Street. But when British breakout star Bella Maclean was shooting scenes for the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s novel, the costume she was most tempted to steal from set was her character’s denim dungarees.
Luckily for Maclean, promoting Rivals allowed her to embrace her own red-carpet style, which has swiftly cemented her status as a fashion It-girl to watch, thanks to her turns in Chanel, Dior and Ralph Lauren. Still, “I feel totally clueless!” laughs Maclean when we speak just hours before her first Fashion Awards, which the actor attended as a guest of British Vogue. “I have no idea what to expect.” With Rihanna serving on the red carpet in vintage Christian Lacroix (complete with fluffy flying saucer hat), Debbie Harry taking to the stage for a surprise rendition of Heart of Glass wearing head-to-toe Gucci, and Tom Ford receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award, Bella’s first Fashion Awards was a good one.
Maclean looked to London-based Kiwi designer Emilia Wickstead, opting for a black gown drenched with raindrop-like floral beading and with a seductive open back. “It appears to be quite traditional on first glance, but it has a subtle sexiness,” she enthuses. “It makes me feel incredibly chic, but with a rock energy. The classic-with-a-twist jewellery complementing Maclean’s silhouette? A smattering of diamond-sprinkled white gold Tiffany & Co. pieces, including rebellious Tiffany HardWear chain link earrings, and Tiffany T rings and earrings.
Maclean looks to make-up artist Zoë Taylor, beloved by Keira Knightley, Tilda Swinton and Sophie Okonedo, for beauty tips. “I love a red light LED mask,” she says. “Plus, Zoë introduced me to the amazing facialist Debbie Thomas.”
As for the other red-carpet rituals she’s been establishing as her career takes off? “I’m really into martinis right now,” laughs Maclean. “I’ve been tucking into those quite nicely.” (In fact, one too many martinis on a recent family trip to New York resulted in a missed dinner reservation, she confides.) With Christmas on the horizon, “I have Dukes Bar in the diary,” says Bella, name-checking the London institution famous for its flawless martinis. That’s one element of ’80s excess we can all get on board with.
