In the latest season of Netflix's hit series *Bridgerton*, costume designers push the boundaries of period fashion, blending historical silhouettes with contemporary aesthetics to create a visually stunning world. This imaginative approach to costume design is explored in detail in the new video series "Behind the Seams," where the creative team, led by John Glaser, breaks down the intricacies of the characters' wardrobes.
Glaser, the visionary behind the show’s elaborate costumes, emphasizes that their work is not about strict historical accuracy but about enhancing the characters and storytelling through beauty and glamour. "This is a show about beauty, glamour, enhancing the characters, and helping tell the story," he explains. The third season of *Bridgerton*, now streaming on Netflix, continues this tradition with even more artistic ambition and creativity.
The costume design process begins with broad inspiration, drawing from historical references, fashion, and art to set the tone for each character's wardrobe. When Glaser first started on *Bridgerton*, he knew that the series would be set in 1813 but without the restrictive norms of the period, such as women's bonnets. This allowed the team to craft a clear vision that incorporates both historical and modern elements, resulting in a unique and vibrant aesthetic.
Associate Costume Designer George Sayer, who focuses on women's costumes, and Assistant Costume Designer Dougie Hawkes, who handles the men's attire, work closely with Glaser to bring this vision to life. They employ a variety of techniques, such as layering multiple fabrics to add texture and using 3-D printing for intricate embellishments. This season, they aimed to make the costumes resemble paintings or gardens, using ombré techniques to mirror the natural color transitions in flowers and seasons.
The creative team’s approach is particularly evident in the costumes of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton. Penelope's dresses, for example, often feature up to four layers of different patterns and textures, creating a rich, almost painterly effect. "You don't really know what's going on with the fabrics, but it's due to having maybe up to four layers of different patterns going on or textures going on. So it looks a bit like a painting,” Sayer says.
For Colin Bridgerton, Hawkes took inspiration from his character's travels, aiming to depict him as a mature, daring, and dashing figure. "With specific reference to Colin, we saw this traveler, this maverick, coming from his long travels on the grand tour and being inspired along the way himself," Hawkes explains. This evolution in Colin's wardrobe reflects his character development and the deepening romance with Penelope.
The costume design also involves careful consideration of the show's different families. The Featheringtons are dressed in citrus colors like oranges, limes, and lemons, inspired by the description of Penelope in the original books. This palette sets them apart as the bold, flashy Versace family of the series. In contrast, the Bridgertons are clad in elegant Tiffany blue and silver, embodying the refined, understated opulence of old money.
The scale of the costume production is staggering. For the first season alone, the team created 7,500 wardrobe pieces, including gloves, shoes, dresses, and hats. Season three required 4,500 yards of fabric, demonstrating the enormous effort and craftsmanship behind the scenes.
As *Bridgerton* season 3 unfolds, fans can look forward to seeing how the costumes continue to evolve alongside the characters. The romance between Colin and Penelope, in particular, will feature prominently, culminating in a highly anticipated intimate scene that showcases the costume team's ability to blend narrative and design seamlessly.
By reimagining Regency fashion with a modern twist, the *Bridgerton* costume team not only enhances the visual storytelling but also brings a fresh, exciting perspective to period drama. Their work exemplifies how historical fiction can be both a celebration of the past and a canvas for contemporary creativity.
