Helen Flanagan attended the first day of 2026 Royal Ascot in a flattering tweed midi dress with waist-cinching details – and it's now on sale, saving you almost £90.
Helen Flanagan's Royal Ascot Look
Every year Royal Ascot is the perfect opportunity to put on your best formal wear and head to the race track, and there are always countless celebs in attendance. It officially kicked off on Tuesday June 16, with former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan amongst the stars in attendance for the opening day.
Helen opted for some timeless tailoring for the event, wearing Karen Millen's Tailored Check Peplum Belted Midi Dress which is just the right balance of country-meets-chic that's ideal for race day. Usually priced at £179, the dress is now on sale for just £107.40 – a 40% discount which will save you over £70 – but the code KMEXTRA15 will get you an additional 15% off, bringing it down to £91.29 and giving you a total saving of £87.71.
Dress Details and Savings
Great savings aside, the Tailored Check Midi Dress nails Ascot's dress code, blending elegant tailoring with a country-classic print. Helen's dress comes in a black and white heritage check pattern and has a structured silhouette which gives it that formal, dressy feel that's perfect for race days like Ascot.
It nips in around the waist with a peplum frill that creates an hourglass shape, and is finished with a skinny black leather belt to really accentuate the silhouette. The Tailored Check Midi Dress also features a rounded neckline, structured shoulders and short sleeves, which give it a more modern feel, not to mention make it easy and versatile to style in all seasons.
Helen styled her dress with matching monochrome accessories, including a houndstooth bag with gold accents that complimented the gold buttons of her Karen Millen dress, and a black and white oversized hat. She finished off with some barely-there black strappy heels, creating the perfect understated but sophisticated look for race day.
Alternative Options
If you love the silhouette of Helen's dress, you'll also love this Italian Resort Series Linen Sailor Collar Faux Two-Piece Dress which you can pick up for £204 from Wolf & Badger. It has a distinct retro European-glamour feel, with a subtle stripe pattern, tailored bodice and straight-cut pencil skirt.
For a similar style on a budget, Next's 2-in-1 Tweed Waistcoat Dress is £89 and comes in black, navy and white, and ecru and champagne colourways. It features a structured waistcoat top layered over a midi dress with a flowing, pleated skirt, allowing you to wear both pieces together or separately.
Sizing and Availability
You can pick up Helen's Tailored Check Midi Dress in sizes six to 16, as well as a plus option in sizes 18 to 24, or a petite length which is available in sizes four to 16. The plus option has the same discount as the regular version, whilst the petite has been slashed from £159 to £95.40, with the code KMEXTRA15 getting you an additional 15% off on top of that.
