Get beach beautiful with embroidered blouses as seen on Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia!

Take a soundtrack by 70s pop gods ABBA, mix in an exotic Greek island location and finish off with a saucy sprinkling of Tinseltown talent and what do you have? Mamma Mia! of course. The theatre sensation that has played to over 30 million people in 170 cities and in eight different languages since its debut less than a decade ago has graduated to the world of cinema. It’s a big step but one that has proved every inch as successful as its performance roots, charming audiences of all ages with its infectious music, touching story and summer fashions.

The costumes aren’t lifted directly from those designed by Mark Thompson for the stage; rather they are a new spin on what has gone before. The producers wanted a break from the past to create a look that better suited the cinema and turned to Oscar-winning costumier Ann Roth. Roth’s detailed work process saw her try to inhabit each of the characters in a bid to better understand their attitudes towards clothes. Director Phyllida Law described this as “spiritual” adding “she [Roth] felt that the character was somewhere there, waiting to emerge in its clothes.”

By taking this personal approach, Roth added a layer of realism to the costumes that hadn’t been appropriate in the stage version. “It comes as second nature to be realistic,” she explains. “I would say these clothes are real.” And real they definitely are. Irrespective of a few fanciful (but purposefully so) flourishes such as the stage gear worn by Donna and the Dynamos, the clothes are practical and accessible, with bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan (Mean Girls’ Amanda Seyfried) getting the pick of the bunch.

There are many aspects of Sophie’s personality that are expressed through her clothes. As a young woman on the eve of her wedding she is a romantic figure, wearing floaty, feminine fabrics. As a loyal and caring daughter she dons soft shades and as a resident of a sunny Greek island, her clothes are summery and exotic. It’s this rich combination that makes Sophie’s wardrobe so alluring and attractive and we’re here to help you steal her sun-kissed style secrets.

While young female characters are often clothed to reflect a particular current trend, Sophie doesn’t fall neatly into one of these genres. Her look is more a product of her personality and environment than of her time, snubbing what’s hot or what’s not in style circles for a more individual, organic feel. Raised on a Greek island, high fashion wouldn’t be as available to her and with the practical rather than preening example of her mother, unnecessary glitz and gloss isn’t for her.

However, she does have a very particular look and riding high in Sophie’s book of fashion rules are loose, floaty fabrics. Living in a hot climate, she opts for linens and cottons and knowing how black retains heat, she chooses them in light colours. Whites and other pale, natural shades are best worn in summer when they can help show off a tan (such as Sophie’s) and can be embellished with subtle colour contrasts. Sophie off-sets her whites with blues (that match her eyes) and golden/ beige tones. The former most notably seen in a swimsuit and shorts/ blouse outfit and the latter in her sand-coloured casual drawstring trousers and matching single-breasted jacket with rolled-up sleeves.

The hot climate and the 70s influence of the ABBA songbook both influence the boho, gypsy style that Sophie wears from her floaty tunic top to her sandals. Her clothes are also detailed with retro qualities such as embroidery, crocheting and feminine patterns such as the spots on another swimsuit and the tiered white flowers on her A-line skirt. These outfits are completed with discreet touches of jewellery that add colour such as her black pendant and star necklace, but aren’t distracting, bulky or showy.

As we edge closer to summer (only a couple of months now!) we’re starting to fantasise about swimwear and summer dresses. But it’s turning from fantasy to reality as we’ve noticed a a fair few holiday shops cropping up online. So to prepare for summer we’ve found some lovely embroidered peasant blouses, just like Sophie’s white and blue one, to kick start your summer wardrobe. Perfect with jeans or a denim skirt, they can also be worn as a cover up over a swimsuit. Get yours now and start imagining the sun and sand of summer.