How Netflix’s Bridgerton Reimagines Regency Dressing In The Most Vibrant of Ways
Bazaar speaks to costume designer Ellen Mirojnick as she reveals her fresh approach to dressing the characters and mixing modern with vintage…
While we can’t get enough of the binge-worthy series the real stars of the show are, undoubtedly, the costumes…
Based on the romance novel series by American author Julia Quinn and produced by ShondaLand – the powerhouse production company create by Shonda Rhimes and force behind Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder – the story follows the Bridgerton family as eldest daughter Daphne makes her debut into Regency London society in hopes of finding a “suitable match.”
Daphne aspires to find true love as she enters society, wanting more than to secure a suitor as her husband; all the while, her older brother Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, feverishly vets potentially suitors, causing more damage than good to his younger sister’s reputation.
Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor) and Eloise Bridgerton (played by Claudia Jessie)
Meanwhile the rival Featherington Family — with daughters Philippa, Prudence and Penelope also making debuts of their own — have plans of their own thwarted with the arrival of a distance cousin, who steals the spotlight from the sisters. Couple that with the appearance of the very dashing Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings – one of the most eligible bachelors who remains committed to staying single; his secret ploy with the eldest Bridgerton daughter; the anonymous Lady Whistledown and her periodical gossip newsletter, the series is rife with drama and scandal (making Pride and Prejudice look positively snooze-worthy in comparison.)
It’s easy to understand comparisons that have been made between Bridgerton and just about every iconic television soap opera from the early noughties onwards – meddling mothers, gossip-fueled plotlines and wardrobe that plays a starring role within the series.
Lady Danbury (played by Adjoa Andoh) and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (played by Regé-Jean Page)
From the empire waist gowns to the double-breasted waistcoats, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick reimagines the dress codes of regency London in a whole new light, adding a modern-day twist to dressing the characters. Bonnets were banned. Vibrant hues and pops of colour replaced the muted tones and shades of cream prevalent throughout regency period dramas. From the fiery red hair of the Featherington women to the floral hair accessories Eloise Bridgerton sports at the dinner table, Ellen bends the rules when it comes to dressing the characters – but her creative liberties are refreshing, adding to the storytelling and certainly helping to add to the eye candy aspect of the entire series.
Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) and Eloise Bridgerton
“The challenge was adding a modern element to the period silhouette,” Ellen says. “I visualised the costumes as a reimagined, fictional portrayal of Regency London. My inspirations were everything from portraiture of the late 18th Century and early 19th Century to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.” She notes that while conducting her research for the series, she studied everything “from couture of the 20th Century through to Chanel’s 2017 runway shows.”
Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel)
The same level of detail went into sourcing the accessories and headpieces for the series. When it came to the finishing touches of dressing the Bridgerton characters, Ellen makes it clear no effort was spared in finding the right pieces to complement the ensembles. “We would determine what we needed, and then would go about collecting and sourcing from many different suppliers, shops, and artisans,” she says, noting the wardrobe department would look “high and low” for the right pieces.
Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan); Portia Featherington (played by Polly Walker); Phillipa Featherington (played by Harriet Cains); and Prudence Featherington (played by Bessie Carter)
“We used Swarovski tiaras from their archives; all accessories are a mix of modern and vintage. We had an extraordinary jewellery maker with us for the entire show. He made everything from headpieces to necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, to the crown,” she says.
Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton
“The style of the show dictates that we were going to make design statements. Everything comes down to your eye and adding the final touch that allows each costume to enhance the character wearing it,” she says.
Watch Bridgerton now on Netflix. For more information visit netflix.com.
Images supplied.