16 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets AboutBridgerton’s Extravagant Costumes

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Shelley Conn as Mary Sharma and Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Photo: Liam Daniel/Netflix

As fans of thehit period dramaknow, a lot goes into the costumes on Netflix’sBridgerton.

Set in fictionalized 1813 Regency England, the lavish and elegant 19th-century wardrobe is full of the frills and thrills you’d expect of that time. Think pastels, dainty embroidery, empire silhouettes, delicate lace, intricate brocade, puff sleeves and, yes, plenty of bling. However, on theShonda Rhimes-created series, each costume designer, including season 1’s Ellen Mirojnick, season 2’sSophie Canaleand season 3’s John Glaser, has given the luxe clothing a modern update to bring all the drama, formal balls and courtships to life.

Speaking toShondalandahead of season 4, Thompson shared that he’s looking forward to the “wardrobe regeneration” that comes with each season.

“One of my favorite things about being on this show is coming in and having a fitting and watching tailors argue about the collar being one centimeter up or down,” he explained. “There is real artistry and effort that goes in to those things that you just sort of glimpse past on-screen.”

Read ahead for the most interesting tidbits the cast and costume designers have revealed about the Regency-era outfits on the beloved show, from the painful corsets to thesymbolism behind each character’s color palette.

01of 16The outfits are a mix of Regency era and modern-day looksFrom left: Harriet Cains as Phillipa Featherington, Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixWhen creating the costumes forBridgerton, MirojnicktoldVoguein 2020 that she looked at the Regency period in London for silhouettes and shapes and modern-day fashion for the color palette and fabrications.“I looked at the Regency period in London through drawings and paintings. We got a flavor of it, and then it was about looking at the different silhouettes and shapes while knowing that this had to be aspirational as opposed to historically accurate,” Mirojnick said.She continued, “We knew that we had to shift the color palette and the fabrications, so from the 19th century, I immediately went to the 1950s and 1960s. TheChristian Dior: Designer of Dreamsexhibition at [London’s] Victoria & Albert Museum provided a wealth of inspiration. We looked at Dior dresses, from the New Look [1947] to the present day.”

01of 16

The outfits are a mix of Regency era and modern-day looks

From left: Harriet Cains as Phillipa Featherington, Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Liam Daniel/Netflix

When creating the costumes forBridgerton, MirojnicktoldVoguein 2020 that she looked at the Regency period in London for silhouettes and shapes and modern-day fashion for the color palette and fabrications.

“I looked at the Regency period in London through drawings and paintings. We got a flavor of it, and then it was about looking at the different silhouettes and shapes while knowing that this had to be aspirational as opposed to historically accurate,” Mirojnick said.

She continued, “We knew that we had to shift the color palette and the fabrications, so from the 19th century, I immediately went to the 1950s and 1960s. TheChristian Dior: Designer of Dreamsexhibition at [London’s] Victoria & Albert Museum provided a wealth of inspiration. We looked at Dior dresses, from the New Look [1947] to the present day.”

02of 16The feathers are a nod to the bonnets of the time periodNicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.NetflixWhile bonnets were all the rage in the Regency era, the show opted not to use them on the show. Instead, they gave a nod with various hair accessories.“We took that half-moon shape and created these straw [pieces] accented with flowers or feathers that sit on top of the head. Another no-no was muslin dresses. There’s a limpness to them that we didn’t want,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

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The feathers are a nod to the bonnets of the time period

Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Netflix

Netflix

While bonnets were all the rage in the Regency era, the show opted not to use them on the show. Instead, they gave a nod with various hair accessories.

“We took that half-moon shape and created these straw [pieces] accented with flowers or feathers that sit on top of the head. Another no-no was muslin dresses. There’s a limpness to them that we didn’t want,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

03of 16The process of design to execution for costumes is about 40 daysFrom left: Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Shelley Conn as Mary Sharma and Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixCharithra Chandran (Edwina Sharma) told PEOPLE that the process of “design to execution” for the costumes is about 40 days.“It was like the first time I felt really emotional on set was when I tried on my first dress,” she said.Mirojnick previously toldVoguethat creating the costumes for season 1 “took five months to prepare before [they] went to shoot.”

03of 16

The process of design to execution for costumes is about 40 days

From left: Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Shelley Conn as Mary Sharma and Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Charithra Chandran (Edwina Sharma) told PEOPLE that the process of “design to execution” for the costumes is about 40 days.

“It was like the first time I felt really emotional on set was when I tried on my first dress,” she said.

Mirojnick previously toldVoguethat creating the costumes for season 1 “took five months to prepare before [they] went to shoot.”

04of 16The team designed and created 7,500 costume pieces for season 1Regé-Jean Page (left) as Simon, the Duke of Hastings, and Phoebe Dynevor (right) as Daphne Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixMirojnick revealed the costume team created “about 7,500 pieces — from hats to shawls, to overcoats — that made up the [estimated] 5,000 costumes that went before the camera.”

04of 16

The team designed and created 7,500 costume pieces for season 1

Regé-Jean Page (left) as Simon, the Duke of Hastings, and Phoebe Dynevor (right) as Daphne Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Mirojnick revealed the costume team created “about 7,500 pieces — from hats to shawls, to overcoats — that made up the [estimated] 5,000 costumes that went before the camera.”

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Daphne had 104 dresses on season 1

Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

06of 16Most of the corsets used on the show were half corsetsNicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton on season 2 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixMany cast members have talked about how uncomfortable the corsets were on the show, butaccording toHarper’s Bazaar, the actors only wear half corsets, which extend to the top of the ribs.“The corsets were made so that there is a pushup and a blossoming effect on top of the top of the neckline,” Mirojnick told the publication in 2020.

06of 16

Most of the corsets used on the show were half corsets

Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton on season 2 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Many cast members have talked about how uncomfortable the corsets were on the show, butaccording toHarper’s Bazaar, the actors only wear half corsets, which extend to the top of the ribs.

“The corsets were made so that there is a pushup and a blossoming effect on top of the top of the neckline,” Mirojnick told the publication in 2020.

07of 16Queen Charlotte’s outfits are double corsetedGolda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixQueen Charlotte’s extravagant looks involve a lot of work.“I’m double corseted, so I have the traditional corset, and then, in the coat, there’s a corset that I have to wear,“Golda Rosheuvel, who plays the royal on the show, told PEOPLE.With so many different components going into her looks, Rosheuvel added that she has “a lot of training” to carry herself in her costumes, including working out three times a week, eating healthy and getting a lot of fresh air.“I have to be match fit because it is a whole heap of strain, a whole heap of tension [and] a whole heap of restriction on the body,” the actress added.

07of 16

Queen Charlotte’s outfits are double corseted

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Queen Charlotte’s extravagant looks involve a lot of work.

“I’m double corseted, so I have the traditional corset, and then, in the coat, there’s a corset that I have to wear,“Golda Rosheuvel, who plays the royal on the show, told PEOPLE.

With so many different components going into her looks, Rosheuvel added that she has “a lot of training” to carry herself in her costumes, including working out three times a week, eating healthy and getting a lot of fresh air.

“I have to be match fit because it is a whole heap of strain, a whole heap of tension [and] a whole heap of restriction on the body,” the actress added.

08of 16The costumes are actually pretty comfortableJonathan Bailey (left) as Anthony Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie (right) as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixDespite the corsets being somewhat painful at times,Claudia Jessie(Eloise Bridgerton) told PEOPLE that “the costumes themselves are very comfortable.““The action is going on underneath,” she added. “What I do have is Spanx tights and then a mic pack on my thigh, so actually, my biggest struggle is going for a wee.”

08of 16

The costumes are actually pretty comfortable

Jonathan Bailey (left) as Anthony Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie (right) as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Despite the corsets being somewhat painful at times,Claudia Jessie(Eloise Bridgerton) told PEOPLE that “the costumes themselves are very comfortable.”

“The action is going on underneath,” she added. “What I do have is Spanx tights and then a mic pack on my thigh, so actually, my biggest struggle is going for a wee.”

09of 16The ‘Bridgerton’ family’s muted color palette symbolizes their prominence in societyPhoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix"They’retheprominent family of the social season, so we wanted their color palette to be powdery — these pale blues, silvers and greens that feel like whispers of color,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

09of 16

The ‘Bridgerton’ family’s muted color palette symbolizes their prominence in society

Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton on season 1 ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

“They’retheprominent family of the social season, so we wanted their color palette to be powdery — these pale blues, silvers and greens that feel like whispers of color,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

10of 16

The Featherington family’s bright color palette symbolizes their brazenness

From left: Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Polly Walker as Portia Featherington, Harriet Cains as Phillipa Featherington and Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Directly contrasting the Bridgerton family, the Featheringtons wear bright colors because theywantto be seen.

The costume designer continued, “She sets the tone for them as a family, and their color palette is overly citrus because she wants those girls to be seen. It might be too much, but that’s not on purpose. She thinks they look beautiful. Portia wears these prints, and, often, you’re not sure if she’s more likeJoan CollinsorElizabeth Taylor.”

“They’re bolder, brighter and more brazen than everyone else, and everything is overly embellished. They just don’t know any better,” Mirojnick added.

11of 16Daphne’s purple wardrobe symbolizes her marriage to SimonPhoebe Dynevor as Daphne Basset on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixWhile each family member has a specific color palette, the characters' individual costumes are also purposeful.“As Daphne gets older, the colors become duskier. The pinks and blues are richer, and the silvers deepen as she grows and matures. She begins as a porcelain doll and becomes a woman,” Mirojnick toldVogue.Once shemarries Simon(Regé-Jean Page), she begins wearing more purple, which symbolizes the mixture of her family’s blue hues and Simon’s red wardrobe.

11of 16

Daphne’s purple wardrobe symbolizes her marriage to Simon

Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Basset on season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

While each family member has a specific color palette, the characters' individual costumes are also purposeful.

“As Daphne gets older, the colors become duskier. The pinks and blues are richer, and the silvers deepen as she grows and matures. She begins as a porcelain doll and becomes a woman,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

Once shemarries Simon(Regé-Jean Page), she begins wearing more purple, which symbolizes the mixture of her family’s blue hues and Simon’s red wardrobe.

12of 16Eloise’s outfits are supposed to juxtapose Daphne’sPhoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie (right) as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixUnlike her sister Daphne, Eloise’s character is a nonconformist regarding society’s ideals of what a woman should be, and her outfits portray that.“She resisted society, either with the length of her dresses or the simplicity of how she presented herself and the tailored-ness of her clothes compared to all the other women in the show,” Mirojniktold HelloGigglesin 2021. “She hated the bows, the frills, the lace — anything that was prissy. She’s always buttoned up.“Mirojnik said that Eloise’s outfits also “ride the line of masculine and feminine,” noting, “Her inserts were made of a self-stripe pattern, which is more masculine than feminine.“She added, “There was one jacket in particular that she wore at the modiste, which was taken from a man’s takeaway.”

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Eloise’s outfits are supposed to juxtapose Daphne’s

Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie (right) as Eloise Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

Unlike her sister Daphne, Eloise’s character is a nonconformist regarding society’s ideals of what a woman should be, and her outfits portray that.

“She resisted society, either with the length of her dresses or the simplicity of how she presented herself and the tailored-ness of her clothes compared to all the other women in the show,” Mirojniktold HelloGigglesin 2021. “She hated the bows, the frills, the lace — anything that was prissy. She’s always buttoned up.”

Mirojnik said that Eloise’s outfits also “ride the line of masculine and feminine,” noting, “Her inserts were made of a self-stripe pattern, which is more masculine than feminine.”

She added, “There was one jacket in particular that she wore at the modiste, which was taken from a man’s takeaway.”

13of 16Penelope’s yellow outfits foreshadow her secret identityNicola Coughlan (left) as Penelope Featherington, Bessie Carter (center) as Prudence Featherington and Harriet Cains (right) as Phillipa Featherington on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixAs HelloGiggles reported, Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) yellow outfits symbolize her lack of courage or being too “yellow-bellied” to express her true feelings for Colin.The publication noted that, like the Featheringtons, she wears bright colors, but her outfits are less “garish” and “obnoxious” than those of her sisters and mother. This perhaps foreshadows her role as Lady Whistledown since she can blend in with the crowd and not be identified as the infamous gossip writer.

13of 16

Penelope’s yellow outfits foreshadow her secret identity

Nicola Coughlan (left) as Penelope Featherington, Bessie Carter (center) as Prudence Featherington and Harriet Cains (right) as Phillipa Featherington on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

As HelloGiggles reported, Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) yellow outfits symbolize her lack of courage or being too “yellow-bellied” to express her true feelings for Colin.

The publication noted that, like the Featheringtons, she wears bright colors, but her outfits are less “garish” and “obnoxious” than those of her sisters and mother. This perhaps foreshadows her role as Lady Whistledown since she can blend in with the crowd and not be identified as the infamous gossip writer.

14of 16Queen Charlotte’s many looks portray the “gaudiness of the society"Golda Rosheuvel (center) as Queen Charlotte on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix"The remit for the queen was that she didn’t have any continuity,” Rosheuvelexplained in a Netflix clipin 2021. “So every single shot that you see her in, she’s in something different. So that drove a kind of character choice as well about the gaudiness of the society.”

14of 16

Queen Charlotte’s many looks portray the “gaudiness of the society”

Golda Rosheuvel (center) as Queen Charlotte on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

“The remit for the queen was that she didn’t have any continuity,” Rosheuvelexplained in a Netflix clipin 2021. “So every single shot that you see her in, she’s in something different. So that drove a kind of character choice as well about the gaudiness of the society.”

15of 16The scoop necks play into the sexiness of the showPhoebe Dynevor (left) as Daphne Bridgerton and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix"We paid a lot of attention to the scooped necklines and how they fit the bust, as opposed to having a [straight] line that doesn’t allow you to see the body,” Mirojnick toldVogue.She continued, “This show is sexy, fun and far more accessible than your average restrained period drama, and it’s important for the openness of the necklines to reflect that. When you go into a close-up, there’s so much skin. It exudes beauty.”

15of 16

The scoop necks play into the sexiness of the show

Phoebe Dynevor (left) as Daphne Bridgerton and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton on season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

“We paid a lot of attention to the scooped necklines and how they fit the bust, as opposed to having a [straight] line that doesn’t allow you to see the body,” Mirojnick toldVogue.

She continued, “This show is sexy, fun and far more accessible than your average restrained period drama, and it’s important for the openness of the necklines to reflect that. When you go into a close-up, there’s so much skin. It exudes beauty.”

16of 16Simone Ashley’s corset made her tear her shoulderSimone Ashley (left) as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey (right) as Anthony Bridgerton on season of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/NetflixIn 2022,Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma, opened up about the “interesting” experience of wearing a corset every day while filming season 2.“On my first day, I was like, ‘OK, first day as a leading lady, got to eat lots of food, be really energized,’ " shetoldGlamour UK. “So, I had this massive portion of salmon, and that’s when I needed to be sick, basically because I was wearing the corset.“Ashley added, “I realized when you wear the corset, you just don’t eat. It changes your body. I had a smaller waist very momentarily. Then, the minute you stop wearing it, you’re just back to how your body is. I had a lot of pain with the corset, too,I think I tore my shoulderat one point!”

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Simone Ashley’s corset made her tear her shoulder

Simone Ashley (left) as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey (right) as Anthony Bridgerton on season of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix

In 2022,Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma, opened up about the “interesting” experience of wearing a corset every day while filming season 2.

“On my first day, I was like, ‘OK, first day as a leading lady, got to eat lots of food, be really energized,’ " shetoldGlamour UK. “So, I had this massive portion of salmon, and that’s when I needed to be sick, basically because I was wearing the corset.”

Ashley added, “I realized when you wear the corset, you just don’t eat. It changes your body. I had a smaller waist very momentarily. Then, the minute you stop wearing it, you’re just back to how your body is. I had a lot of pain with the corset, too,I think I tore my shoulderat one point!”

source: people.com