Casualty's Crystal Yu reveals her top fashion secrets

Hong Kong-born Crystal, 28, originally trained as a ballet dancer at the Elmhurst Ballet School where her drama teacher encouraged her acting talent. Crystal joined Casualty in 2013 as Lily Chao and she is also studying for a MA in education. In her spare time she works with the charity Slide, helping to make dance accessible to all. She lives in London.

How would you describe your style? Chic and sensible. I’m always cold, so I like my layers, but even though I take a practical approach, I like to look stylish.

Which colours and shapes suit you best? I have hips so an A-line style, nipped in at the waist, works well, and I love tailored shapes. I’ll still wear a smart coat or jacket even when I’m wearing trainers. As for colour, I love black but I’m not afraid of vibrant primary tones.

Left to right clockwise:

Crystal’s best buy is this black, cropped mesh top and wide-legged, high-waisted trousers by AQ/AQ. She teams it with heels by Kurt Geiger

The actress models a stunning black lace dress from Asos, her favourite online store, with metallic heels by Kurt Geiger

Brown boots with a tweed lining and tan boots, both from Timberland, and a Burberry scarf

A beige coat, also from Hong Kong, and her favourite pink coat by Aquascutum

What do you think of Lily Chao’s wardrobe? It’s very different from mine but I enjoy wearing it. When she was promoted from a junior doctor to registrar she stopped wearing her scrubs and started emulating her boss’s (Connie Beauchamp played by Amanda Mealing) power-dressing style, so she’s into her neat blouses, leather skirts and heels. We’ve had a lot of tweets about the heels, from people saying, “Who wears heels in a hospital?” but hey, this is drama. A lot of the pieces are from Reiss or Karen Millen with heels from LK Bennett. Lily’s very career-driven and she uses her clothes as a power statement. 

What is your favourite fashion era? I’m fascinated by the exquisite silks and embroideries of China’s Imperial Qing dynasty, which is why I love vibrant colours, but I would always choose to wear a modern wardrobe as I think a contemporary wardrobe suits the way we live now.

What is your favourite high- street brand? Asos as I much prefer shopping online than schlepping around the shops. 

Who is your favourite designer? For events I like AQ/AQ, I wore one of their styles to this year’s NTAs. 

Do you have any style icons? Cate Blanchett for her tailoring, and Carrie from Sex And The City. I loved the way Carrie would wear a tutu or ball gown for an everyday situation – I like that style but I would team it with something edgier like a leather jacket or Timberland boots – mixing the feminine and the tough. I love the contrast between strength and vulnerability. 

What is your best beauty secret? I spend more on skincare than I do on clothes. I’m crazy about Japanese and Korean skincare at the moment – Shu Uemura, SK-11, Missha and Tony Moly. With such long filming days, wearing make-up under hot lights, my cleansing routine is more of a wind-down ritual so I’m a devotee of cleansing, toning, exfoliating, moisturising and nourishing serums. 

Are you a hoarder or do you clear out your wardrobe each season? I try to have a purge once a year but my clothes have started to seep into my boyfriend’s wardrobe as I’ve run out of space in my own.

How many shoes and handbags do you own? I have a few pairs of heels but I much prefer comfortable flat boots, especially Timberlands. I probably have about 40 pairs of footwear in total. Not as many handbags, about 20, including some fun, quirky evening bags. My everyday bag is a chic but sensible black leather Whistles rucksack – it’s a lifesaver because I’m forever travelling from London, where I live, to Cardiff where I work on Casualty.

What is your current favourite outfit? A pair of Uniqlo jeans with a leather jacket from Bauhaus or DKNY and Timberland boots.

What is your go-to outfit? Black leggings or jogging pants from Amazon with a black polo neck, leather jacket or tailored coat, trainers or Timberland boots. 

Is there an old favourite you turn to in a wardrobe crisis? My pink Aquascutum coat, which I’ve had for years and wear with a scarf, jeans and walking boots. 

How much do you spend on clothes each month? Not much – some months nothing. Three hundred pounds would be a lot. I probably spend more on skincare.

What is the most expensive item in your wardrobe? And best bargain? My two Chanel handbags are the most expensive, but these were massively discounted as I bought them through a friend who worked there. My AQ/AQ wide- legged trousers and cropped top, which were reduced to £80 and £40 in a sale, are the best bargains.

What is the oldest item in your wardrobe? My Chanel handbags which I’ve had for 10 years.

Who would you like to make your wedding dress? Fiona Wilson, one of the costume designers at work who’s made a number of pieces for my character, has offered to design my wedding dress for me one day, which is wonderful. 

Do you have a favourite little black dress? I prefer little red dresses – mine is floaty and strapless from Asos.

What is the one item of clothing you couldn’t live without? My leather jackets – all three.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? I don’t wear much jewellery, but it would have to be the Chinese bead bracelet from my mother, which belonged to my grandmother Ruth before that. 

Have you ever made a fashion faux pas? Because of the early morning filming starts I often just grab some active wear and one morning I put on purple patterned leggings with a brown T-shirt, and pink hoodie. My flatmate said, “You can’t go out looking like that,” but I did.

What item of clothing would you save from a burning house? My bead bracelets and Chanel handbags – only if I had the time.

From left to right clockwise:

Crystal’s favourite handbags: a lip clutch by Lulu Guinness and a tote by Chanel

A blue-and-white check dress from Hong Kong where Crystal’s family lives

Crystal wears her favourite strapless red dress from Asos with a studded leather jacket by Bauhaus and Timberland boots

This rabbit-shaped crystal encrusted clutch bag was a gift to Crystal from her former ballet teacher and her purple metallic platform heels are by Kurt Geiger

An orange flower ring from Accessorize, blue and orange tassel earrings from China and orange striped drop earrings from Vietnam, both gifts from Crystal’s mum

Casualty is on BBC1 at 8pm on Saturday.