Extra or Extravagant? The Costumes from Season 2 of Bridgerton

The show Bridgerton, centered around the eight-part book series written by Julia Quinn, has taken over Netflix with 193 million viewing hours. Set in 1813, it is only evident that the costumes are as regal as the families presented, vouching for their daughters to become the diamond of the season for all suitors.

During the first season, American costume designer Ellen Mirojnick played with sophisticated color palettes that represented the time period depicted. Sophie Canale, costumier for season two, wanted to continue Mirojnick’s colors and shapes of the dresses to represent not only the 17th century, but further the plot and explore the characters’ attitudes as well.

For example, the design team looked beyond the Regency Era and toward modern fashion to enhance the storyline with contemporary elements. To find inspiration, Mirojnick and Canale researched the London exhibit, “The Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams,” which later became a book.

*Inside "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams." Photo: Adrien Dirand/Courtesy of Christian Dior*

Additionally, the female outfitters had to trace through history with the painful corsets and lace bloomers that identified the period. Especially in season two, we see the layers of different fabrics and get insight into Madame Delacroix’s dress shop, Modiste, and the various materials used to tailor her motives.

We need to remember that in the 17th century, ladies upheld their status and class with their appearance and wardrobe. In season 1, Penelope dressed in mostly yellows, a popular color of the time symbolizing deceit, in an attempt to keep up with the others. However, Canale’s focus in season two was to demonstrate Penelope’s maturity and acceptance of her cunning nature, as illustrated by her muted blush dresses that blend in with the others. Also, the embellishments on her dresses seem to grow more and more intricate over the season as her secrets become woven into the storyline while trying her best to conceal her identity.

Furthermore, the new lover of the season, Kate Sharma, represents royalty and grace with purple hues throughout the season. With more grit than some of the other characters, Kate appears in shades of violet in the episodes that correlate with the tone of each scene. For example, her majestic violet stands out when she feels confident and protective of her sister Edwina, who was deemed the diamond of the season. On the other hand, when she feels weary of a situation, Kate opts for a lighter shade of lilac to blend into the crowd. Canale states in an interview with Fashionista magazine, "Kate is a strong character. She's unmarried and a mother figure to her sister, so I wanted to portray that in both the color palette and also the fabrics that I chose for her… Then, as we traveled through [the season], there's a softer element, and the color palette also changes." In these 30 different looks, Canale made an ode to Indian fashion with specific silks and paisley patterns for the dresses.

Finally, Queen Charlotte’s ensemble impacted her daily life outside of shooting. While the other characters were half corseted (meaning it only acted as a push-up bra), Queen Charlotte played by Golda Rosheuvel, was double corseted (think Spanx times two). These tight corsets impact a woman's physical health, so it was imperative Rosheuvel ate a balanced diet and worked out most days of the week to maintain her core strength. In every scene, Queen Charlotte appeared in a different costume to portray the extravagance of society at the time.

Within a span of 40 days from design to finished product, Mirojnick and Canale worked tirelessly to create sophisticated masterpieces. From feather bonnets to high-cut bloomers, the approximate 700 pieces for the show were a big undertaking that paid off entirely to its millions of viewers.

Be sure to watch season 2 of Bridgerton and keep an eye out for the costumes alluded to above. Embrace your inner Bridgerton with an Urban Outfitter Corset now trending, and show off the lace patterns. Be sure to tag us in a post, @theedgemag to be extra and extravagant!