Costuming in period Drama is one of the ways that can make audiences dive into the world and time that they place. People can be very critical when it comes to how accurate the costume period can be because clothing can say a lot about characters’ financial or social status. When Bridgeton came out on Netflix they suffered from this criticism because their costumes were not accurate for their period. One of the main reasons why people felt this way is because the show was advertised as a period drama which increased the criticism.

All the women in the show wear beautiful dresses that are extravagant and reminiscent of the early 19th century. These dresses often feature empire waists, flowing skirts, and intricate embroidery or lace detailing. Pastel colors, floral patterns, and delicate fabrics all add to luxury feel to the show. Underneath their dresses, women wear corsets and bodices to emphasize a tiny waist and a lifted bust line.Many criticize using corsets because the dresses are meant to be flowy and don’t show your figure.

Overall, the costumes are meticulously crafted to capture the luxury and glamor of the Regency era, while also reflecting the individual personalities and social statuses of the character. However, there was some trouble in the fact that glitter was not completely accurate. The dresses are so extravagant that day and night outfits look very similar which is not how people used to dress. The costume designer said she wanted to add some modern twist to the costumes which explains some inaccuracies. Nobody can deny how beautiful and that a lot of thought was into the making of each costume. The sheer amount of costumes that were made just for one season is surprising.

The more glitter the better

The fact that clothes are not accurate to the period is something that fitting for the show itself since it’s not historically accurate. This is what makes the show more enjoyable to the audience because it has a diverse group of actors and beautiful settings, gowns, and dramatic plots that make you feel glued to the screen.

After the first season, the costumes from Bridgerton leaned into the fact that the costumes were not meant to be accurate. By making this change the costumes feel more purposeful and they add to the story in the way that historically accurate costumes would. This meant that the costumes had more glitter than ever, and they explored different cuts that were not used in the period. They are even less accurate than before but they are better because they are more fitted for the characters and highlight aspects such as showing the culture of the characters.

The main issue before was that Bridgerton started by presenting itself as a period drama which gave audiences the expectation of having historical accuracy. When they don’t claim to be historically accurate, it allows the show to have more freedom regarding costumes and what happens because the audience can suspense reality.

Read more about the costumes in Bridgerton with our analysis on the style of Queen Charlotte