“This is a show, not a history lesson,” costume designer John Glaser said of Bridgerton. Inspired by but not bound by history, audiences have seen 1820s dress “reborn” in the show, a more exaggerated, frivolous, yet visually stunning version. Fans have been speculating about the plot of season 3 since the character designs were revealed in July 2023. And with new episodes airing on May 16, Penelope’s outfits alone have confirmed all suspicions: Her love story with Colin Bridgerton will be the focus of the latest season. Thanks to the color palette of each family’s costumes, when viewers noticed Penelope had changed her wardrobe from the bright yellows and pinks of the Featheringtons to the cool blues of the Bridgertons, they immediately knew the season would explore the developments between her and Colin.
Penelope’s style was a bit more daring, with see-through details on the sleeves and gloves, a low neckline, and a more body-hugging silhouette. The outfit’s accents showed that she had grown up.
The costume team revealed that they had two main sources of inspiration for Penelope’s costumes: 1820s dress shapes and the “Old Hollywood” vibe of the 1950s. They looked to actress Rita Hayworth for her extravagant, elegant look and Marilyn Monroe’s contemporary, Lauren Bacall, for her fun, progressive style. Meanwhile, the overall inspiration is from the image of Marilyn Monroe, especially the shorter skirt, no flap at the back with gloves similar to the most famous dresses of the female star.
Eloise Bridgerton – the daughter of the noble Bridgerton family is also inspired by Audrey Hepburn, mainly from her character in the movie My Fair Lady with a modern breath and dotted with bows and ruffles. It is worth noting that fans immediately saw the pastel green dress she wore at the party embroidered with geraniums – the flower given to her by Philip Crane. The audience was extremely excited by this small detail, and the dress is also reviving the fan community who loves the Eloise couple. Is this considered a “sign” that Eloise will end up with Philip?
The character Francesca Bridgerton also has certain changes in fashion. For Francesca, her costumes are a mix of different materials, small, blurred prints mixed in, making viewers curious, just like her character is built as a secretive person. The look of actress Katherine Hepburn in the 1940s is also the main source of inspiration.
Costumes have always been one of the biggest topics of discussion in Bridgerton thanks to the heavy investment right from the first season. A producer of the film said that to create the characteristic “regency-core”, the costume team made 1,800 dresses, spent 80,000 USD in season 1 alone and crafted 160 new costumes every 6 weeks in season 2. In season 3, although the exact number has not been revealed, looking at Penelope’s beautiful, somewhat exaggerated looks with rhinestones, the audience is sure that it will be a respectable number.
