HOT DAMN there is so much going on with the Bridgerton outfits. The costume designers made 7,500 outfits for Bridgerton. Think about that number for a second. Everything on that show is bespoke, and I love it all.
Bridgerton outfits remind me of the best (and, sometimes, worst) parts of early 2000s fashion. The over the top bejeweled dresses, weird hair accessories, even the jewelry were something I would have worn to prom. Yet there’s also a clear influence from the 60s, mixed with modern runway looks, neatly tied up in this weird Regency bow.
Bridgerton, while unique, feels like a sister series to Clueless. The show’s atmosphere is “heightened reality,” familiar, relatable, but over the top. The familiarity appeals to me, but it’s the creativity that’s going to bring me back for Season 2 (that and the books did Penelope dirty IMO and I want her to THRIVE).
Get ready for Season 2 by embracing your own “heightened reality” and learning how to dress like they do in Bridgerton.
Bridgerton: Historical????
The historical fantasy world of Bridgerton exists in the Georgian/Regency era of England. Style-wise, we’re talking Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and even Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel. Men wore three-piece suits. Women wore flowing gowns with empire waists and bonnets. There is a Look for this era, mostly based on history.
Bridgerton is far from the first to put their own twist on the era, but the last time media makers tried to deviate from the accepted aesthetic, well… We still have discourse around the 2005 P&P adaptation.
Blessedly, we as a society seem to have accepted that fictional movies and TV are not historical documents. While historical dressing can still bring a movie to life (see 2020s Emma.), there’s an advantage to doing Whatever You Want. In Bridgerton’s case, it allows everyone to indulge in this romantic escapism.
The Many Influences Behind Bridgerton Outfits
Head costume designer Ellen Mirojnick (The Greatest Showman, Fatal Attraction, 1997 Brandy’s Cinderella) pulled inspiration for Bridgerton from several eras.
In an interview for the Bridgerton Podcast, she cited 1960s mod dresses and the Irish artist, Geneva Figgis, as a source of inspiration. She also incorporated the over-the-top frothiness from the Chanel Haute Couture ’19 Spring/Summer show.
They decided to stick with their historical roots when it served the narrative. The outfits worn by our heroes when they were presented to the Queen felt like the most historically accurate. The Queen herself dresses in out-of-date fashions, like her real historical counterpart, but it only adds to her mystic.
They also decided to throw out accuracy when it wasn’t working for them. The Featheringtons dress in colors and silhouettes that aren’t even close to historically accurate. They also changed Lady Featherington’s undergarments to give her more of an old Hollywood vibe, which works for the actress and the character. Was I having Bernadette Peters as the wicked step-mother flashbacks the whole time? Absolutely, but even that adds to Lady Featherington’s vibe.
Mirojnick referred to Bridgerton outfits as heightened reality. The cast and crew took the era and turned it up to 11 to create their own unique story. And that’s really what I love about fashion and costuming. You get to decide what your story is, and how your clothing communicates the narrative.
Dressing in Bridgerton Outfits
Am I saying you can dress exactly like Daphne Bridgerton when you go to your job on Monday? No. But am I gonna stop you from trying? Hell no.
The Bridgertons
This large family with alphabetically named children is well established in London society. Mirojnick said she took inspiration from boxes of French macarons. They’re beautiful, elegant colors in neat packages, like our star family.
Their outfits are more understated than their neighbor’s tastes. Daphne, in particular, wearing understated jewelry and accessories. Her style still isn’t minimalist (not by a long shot), but she wears more muted pastels and silver jewelry. Mama Bridgerton wears the same colors but in brocade, because she’s the matriarch and should dress like one. Eloise, the intrepid sleuth, wears ascots and jackets like her brothers, but still has a childish style. I’m super curious to see how her style evolves in season 2.
The Featheringtons
The Featheringtons are a family with what we’ll affectionately call “new money.” Lady Featherington, to get her girls married and establish their family in high society, tries to stay one step ahead of the trends. The results are… mixed, although I love them.
If the Bridgertons are Easter colors, the Featheringtons are a tropical paradise. They dress in bright yellows, greens, and pinks, with heaps of heavy jewels and accessories.
The only one in the family who doesn’t go as hard on accessories is fan-favorite Penelope. She often bemoans the color of the dresses her mother orders for her, probably preferring something more like her friend Eloise’s style. Despite this, the customers worked hard to find shoes of pink and yellow that complimented actress Nicola Coughlan’s coloring and the results are perfect. It goes to show that you can wear any color, you just have to find the right shade.
Lady Danbury
I cannot and shall not ignore the amazing character that is Lady Danbury. This woman is everything we want to be and more. She’s observant, clever, and astute, but unlike other “bad bitch characters” (looking at you, Sons of Anarchy), she has a soft and nurturing side that doesn’t make her any less terrifying. Lady Danbury is a woman who knows who she is and what she has to give, so she gives freely to the people she deems worthy. I love her, I love her, I love her.
She’s also an entire Fashion Moment. Both she and the Duke wear jewel tones, like many royal archetype characters. She adapts traditionally masculine accessories, such as her hats and her cane. She never shies away from a dramatic moment, like with her stand-up collars, but the drama never overpowers HER as a character. The actress Adjoa Andoh also requested that they pull back Lady Danbury’s hair, so she could always see what was going on around her.
The ultimate effect is that, like most things in the show, Lady Danbury is in control of her style and the effect it has on the people around her. It’s just chefs kiss.
“Heightened Reality”: Romantic Bridgerton Energy in Your Daily Wardrobe
Like I said in my intro, the thing that struck me about this show is how they took the expected, and then ran with it towards something new and creative. It always felt familiar, which is comforting, but different enough that I stayed engaged.
This idea of familiar, but unique is something you can incorporate into your outfits every day. It’ll take some observation on your part, but in my experience, the results are always cool.
Next time you’re out and about, take some time to people watch. Note what your area’s “expected style” looks like. For Bridgerton, the expected silhouette that guided every outfit was the Regency style: three-piece suits for men, empire waist sheath dresses for the women.
For your area, it’ll probably be a particular combination of shirts and pants. Pay attention to the details though: what are popular shoe styles? Jewelry? Watches? Hair? What style of shirt is popular, fitted, or oversized?
Once you’ve finished your research, think about how you can take that expected style and make it unique to you. Maybe you’ll pick unique jewelry. Maybe you’ll get a different cut of shirt or trousers (or cut them yourself, as I’ve been known to do!).
Most people don’t want to stand out all the time with completely unique and over-the-top outfits. It’s comforting for them, and others, to dress in familiar ways. But if you find a few tried and true ways to make these expected outfits uniquely You, you’ll stand out from the crowd without flipping the whole table.
Finding Your Hero Look
Honestly, I love Bridgerton not so much for the plot, but for the sheer creativity of the universe. They took something I already loved and felt comfortable with and added their own twist.
Fashion appeals to me in the same way. You can take something that is already loved and comfortable, add your own twist, and voila! You have something that is unique and creative.
Let me know what kind of creative twists you’ve added to your wardrobe. If you want Bridgerton inspiration, check out my Pinterest board. I have Bridgerton ideas, links, plus a whole bunch of boards for other shows. If you want to learn more about colors and cuts, check out my fashion basics series.
As always, go forth my Heroes, conquer your world, and look fabulous!
