How we've worn history on our feet
As the 19th century began, the neckline became lower and lower, and by the time 'Bridgerton' is set (1813) it was usually square as well.
As the clothes became softer and more forgiving, so did the hairstyles. This caricature illustrates the pain and effort taken to style a lady's hair prior to this period!
To ensure that French ladies purchased more materials, he decreed that no one was allowed to wear the same dress to court more than once. It’s rumored that he also had the fireplaces blocked so they would wear more clothing!
Although you may not have found such an extreme range of colors at a real high society London ball, there was a definite association between white dresses and wealth.
This rule may have begun with Napoleon Bonaparte. When he became Emperor in 1804, he focused on reviving the French textile industry, ensuring that fine fabrics such as tulle and batiste were made in France.
As you may have noticed in ‘Bridgerton,’ wearing the same dress to more than one major event was a grave faux pas. This is a real custom suffered by the lords and ladies of the 19th century.
Bonaparte’s wife, Empress Josephine, was an excellent model of Regency fashion. She was slim, pretty, and admired by all.
The most common fabrics used were made from light cotton, such as muslin or batiste. Silk was still worn too, but in lighter weaves that were sheerer.
Because of this, white was seen as more appropriate for the evening and special occasions, while soft pastel colors like pale blue and pink were worn during the day. From this perspective, the costumes of the lead character Daphne are the most accurate.
This Regency era outfit of a French courtier is a sight more outlandish than what we usually see in 'Bridgerton.' This may be due to the breakdown in communication between England and France during wartime from 1808 to 1814.
The most notable part of Regency style dresses is the high waistline. This 'empire line' brought the waist extremely high, right below the breast.
This is an accurate depiction of the fashion choices of the real Queen Charlotte, who carried on wearing such gowns well after the light, Grecian empire-waist dresses became standard fair.
The character of Queen Charlotte in ‘Bridgerton’ is interesting in that she wears the most incredible gowns but does not conform to the modern-day trends. She continues to wear the Georgian era gowns of the previous century, with large skirts and a V-shaped bodice.
A more dramatic, puffed sleeve was also common, particularly to add some extra decoration to a ball gown. Sleeves became more ornate as the decade wore on, often encrusted in jewels and bows.
When it comes to underwear, which we get to see on many occasions in ‘Bridgerton,’ the soft Grecian silhouettes of the period meant that women could leave horrifically tight corsets behind.
Naturally, white was the most difficult color to maintain and keep clean. It was a sign of class and wealth if you could afford to wear white frequently.
It's clear that the old-school thinkers did not necessarily approve of this new sheer, figure-hugging style. This is evident in this caricature from 1800 by the artist Isaak Cruikshank, entitled 'Parisian ladies in full winter dress.'
Light, semi-transparent materials were popular, so it was necessary to wear flesh-toned pantaloons! Pantaloons were already worn by men of the era, so they simply had to be adapted for women’s needs.
A woman’s pantaloon was made of a light stockinette material, similar to modern-day bandages. They either reached all the way to the ankles or stopped at the knee.
The weight of the hair was often worn wrapped up at the back of the head, with small curls around the face for decoration. This is a style often worn by Daphne in 'Bridgerton.'
When the British were reintroduced to French fashion trends after several years, they were shocked to see how it had evolved!
Sources: (Fashion Era) (Town & Country) (Indiewire) (The University of Vermont)
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That is, unless it was felt that a woman’s figure demanded a full corset. In one of the early scenes in ‘Bridgerton,’ we see Lady Featherington having the maid pull the strings of her daughter's corset tighter and tighter as she chastises her for the size of her waist!
Towards the end of the 18th century, the fitted bodices and large skirts were being replaced with simpler sheer cotton or silk gowns, reminiscent of the robes worn in classical paintings.
This brought many changes for dressmakers to adapt to. There were new necklines, sleeves, skirts, fabrics, and undergarments required.
Capped sleeves were another key element of Regency dresses. Both the high waistline and capped sleeves can be seen in this still from 'Bridgerton,' worn by Phoebe Dynevor who plays Daphne.
Finally, in comparing the male fashion of 'Bridgerton,' the costumes are much truer to history. The waistcoats, fitted britches, elaborate cravats, and tailcoats are pretty spot-on.
Social commentators of the period were fond of poking fun at new ladies' fashions, and were quick to point out that this new light material was more flammable...
Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick confirmed that she used color as medium to express the varying personalities and social standings of the characters. The ‘old-money’ families like the Bridgertons wore soft pastels and whites, whereas the ‘nouveau-riche’ like the Featheringtons wore bright, bold colors to show off their wealth and draw attention.
The most notable artistic liberty that 'Bridgerton' takes is the color palette of the clothing. The menswear is relatively sedate, although they do give it a subtle flare, but the women’s costumes are vibrant and anything but subtle!
Netflix's smash hit 'Bridgerton' is fulfilling all of our period-drama dreams and giving them a modern twist. Even if you're not a fan of romance and match-making, the fashion will give you something to write home about.
The show follows several aristocratic families in Regency-era England as they look for suitable partners for their debutante daughters. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick reportedly made 7,500 costume pieces for the first season so each character could have a new outfit for each event. Cressida Cowper's sleeves in Season 3 are certainly a bold choice. They were ambitious in making 'Bridgerton', but were they accurate? Let's compare with the real Regency-era fashion of the time. Click through this gallery to learn more.
How accurate are the costumes on Netflix's 'Bridgerton'?
The vibrant color palette is taking the Internet by storm
FASHION Tv
Netflix's smash hit 'Bridgerton' is fulfilling all of our period-drama dreams and giving them a modern twist. Even if you're not a fan of romance and match-making, the fashion will give you something to write home about.
The show follows several aristocratic families in Regency-era England as they look for suitable partners for their debutante daughters. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick reportedly made 7,500 costume pieces for the first season so each character could have a new outfit for each event. Cressida Cowper's sleeves in Season 3 are certainly a bold choice. They were ambitious in making 'Bridgerton', but were they accurate? Let's compare with the real Regency-era fashion of the time. Click through this gallery to learn more.