After an agonising month-long wait, Bridgerton is finally back today with the second half of season three. The first half saw the friends-to-lovers romance of Polin (Penelope and Colin, for those not in the know) finally bloom. Not only this, but Penelope also had a huge glow up, finally escaping the clutches of her canary yellow wardrobe and giving us major fashion inspo.
So, how can you incorporate Bridgerton into your everyday vintage wardrobe without looking like you’ve fallen through a Doctor Who style time portal? Snatch has got you.
The Regency period was marked by the years 1811 to 1820, reflecting the reign of King George the fourth after George the third, husband of Queen Charlotte, mentally declined and was forced to give up the throne. Bridgerton, however, isn’t entirely Regency accurate (and we’re not just talking about the orchestral Pitbull remix!) In season three, the costumes, hair and makeup have leaned more into the modern than ever before. The ladies don’t wear bonnets, fabrics are bright and we’re pretty sure winged eyeliner wasn’t worn by Jane Austen.
However, historically accurate Empire line dresses are still favoured in Bridgerton, as they would’ve been in the Regency era, featuring high waistlines and low, square necklines. The dresses are loose and floaty below the bust, and less confining than the dresses of both earlier and later centuries. After the release of every season of Bridgerton thus far, empire silhouettes have boomed; therefore, Vinted and Depop are crawling with them. If you want to go truly vintage, though, they were also popularised in the 1960s by Oscar de La Renta so if you have a scout around, it’s possible to find a sixties piece.
Puff sleeves were also hugely popular, in short or cap lengths. Known a ‘bishop’ sleeves, the style has been popular in too many eras to count following Regency. To make it work in the modern day, pair a puff-sleeved, square neck top with jeans or a cute skirt for a romantic look perfect for date night. To heighten the Regency feel, choose garments in the Regency colour palette; according to the Jane Austen centre, muted pastels were popular due to the fact that dyes weren’t colourfast. Yellow was particularly popular, so maybe the Featheringtons are actually the most fashionable family after all.
Detailed embroidery and beading can also be seen on the gowns of Bridgerton; if committing to a full ballgown isn’t your style, hit Vinted or Depop to find an array of embroidered vintage tops from the nineties and 2000s in styles that are sure to suit your taste. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, why not take an old top and give it a new lease of life by having a go at embroidering it yourself? Madame Delacroix would be proud.
So, adding a little bit of Bridgerton into your everyday wardrobe doesn’t have to mean dressing in full Regency regalia – though it might make you the diamond of the season in your local pub.
Pictures: Netflix, Adobe Stock
Designs: Pius Bentgens