What Can We Expect From Bridgerton’s Fashion at Season Three?

While recently everything has been about the Met Gala, this week the star is something else. And all flashes are pointed at Netflix. It's time to get ready: corsets are being cinched, tiaras are being positioned, jewelry is being lapped, opera gloves are being donned, and gowns are being embellished! It's that moment of the year again. The most elegant scene in London is returning. On May 16, Netflix will be releasing the first part of Bridgerton's third season. 

Bridgerton 3: the story

This season will focus on a slow-burning romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicole Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). According to the overview, Penelope has given up on her longtime crush Colin, after hearing him say in a circle of gentlemen that he would never court her. "She has, however, decided it's time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters," read the synopsis. Despite her efforts to pursue matrimony, she is ultimately unsuccessful due to her lack of confidence. By then, Colin has returned from his travels with a "serious sense of swagger," although he is well aware of Penelope's icy reception. When he tries to win back her friendship by offering to teach her how to be more confident, his lessons triumph, and Penelope is greatly courted. However, he must determine how he feels about her – is it all friendship or love? Questions aside, Bridgerton's dramatic storylines and romantic plots are sure to make one turn on the television.

Bridgerton's looks 

While Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton may be the leading couple this season, fashion continues to be the main star. With layers of textile richness and the various period garments, the show had a determinative impact on the fashion scene. When the first season was released in 2021, Lyst reported that online searches for corsets were up 123%. In the same year, labels like Erdem, Simone Rocha and Rodarte were just a few of the names that presented their take on empire waist dresses, bows, puff sleeves and embroidery. Since then, this pattern has only grown in popularity. 

In John Glaser's words: the costume design

John Glaser, one of the costume designers of the show, dropped some hints in an interview with Vogue about what we can expect from the fashion of the new season. Beyond all the costumes that have already achieved considerable popularity as a result of the show's first two seasons, the third season appears to represent a significant innovation in the field of costume design. The most noticeable shift comes from the color palette, which has taken on a more illusionistic feel. "It’s more textural, a little more blurry. We layered fabrics—for instance, we’d take a warmer color and a cooler color and combine them, so when you’re looking at a dress, you’re not totally sure if it’s blue or green" he stated. As a color illusion game, where the exact color of a gown is uncertain, this season presents an entertaining exercise for fashionistas. "The first time you watch it, you’re like, Oh, look at that! Then the second time, and the third time, you see so much more, because of how we layered textures and fabrics. The closer you look, the more you’ll see", the costume designer adds.

In fact, concerning this season, innovation is not in short supply, and this is not just noticeable in the change of hues. Even the Queen, renowned for her exemplary knowledge in any gossip and every diamond-debutante selection, is not immune from the unexpected twists and turns that the costume team has in store for the show. In the third season, amidst a scene set in a ballet studio, the Queen will wear a Swan Lake-themed wig with a working motor created by Erika Ökvist. While it's already known that all her wigs are extravagant, the team wanted to surpass everything already used. 

Penelope Featherington makeover 

This season the word that perfectly encapsulates its fashion is makeover. It appears that each of the central figures has undergone a significant metamorphosis, resulting in a complete transformation of their style. Most notably, it was the leading lady, Penelope Featherington. In her visits to the modiste, she abandons the scandalous and citrus-colored attire that has become a symbol of the Featherington family and instead embraces pastel and mature tones. This refusal, however, is accompanied by other changes. After all, not everything is about shades. It seems that the empire waist, which has been reintroduced to mainstream fashion mainly by the show, could be replaced by another period silhouette ‒ one which will appeal to fashionistas as much as the first. As fashion is a reflection, such changes are not only made out of a desire to innovate, but they often conceal more profound motivations, which are highly related to the character's story. Penelope's transformation is a clear indication of this, as it is not only the result of her search for a husband but also a reflection of her own independence. 

Kate Sharma's look

As for Kate Sharma, much talked about either for her undeniable success in season two or for the previews shared by Netflix, her Indian heritage will be even more pronounced than last season. "There were subtle Indian references in Season 2, but we were much more blatant about it this time", Glaser stated. This is evident in several teasers, including one in which the viscountess is dressed in a rust jacket embellished with golden flowers and another in which she is seen wearing a bronze and blue dress with gold embellishment and crossbody neck detailing. Glaser continues explaining that the cut and silhouette of her dresses are much more influenced by the saree. With regard to the color palette, the costume designer and his team selected earthy, natural tones evocative of spices. 

In the same earthy discussion, there’s Colin Bridgerton. If in the first two seasons he used a lot of baby blues, the signature Bridgerton shade, in season three, things change. Back from his six months trip, he is a man completely transformed by the experiences of the world. Not just mentally but also stylistically. Done with pastel colors and reliant on earthier shades, Colin’s wardrobe reflects his adventures, which were dubbed by the show fans as a sexy pirate look. John Glaser, however, compared it to the Marlboro Man, a figure that was used in tobacco advertising campaigns for Marlboro cigarettes, with cowboy clothes and a sense of bravado never seen before. 

Eloise and Francesca: the modern sisters

More modern references appear in two Bridgerton sisters, Eloise and Francesca. Nothing conventional, Eloise’s style will feature lots of whimsy. From ruffles to bows, the character will appear in some things she wouldn't normally wear. With less strict clothing, she presents a new look that feels more tailored than uncomfortable. Her style begins to mirror Cressida's flamboyance, as the two seem closer this season. In contrast to her sister, Francesca is less capricious and more in tune with tradition. In a tribute to the fashion of the first season, she appears to pay homage to the style of her elder sister, Daphne. For instance, the character is seen presenting herself to the Queen in the same dress Daphne wore in the first season. According to Glaser, it is a family legacy that has been passed down. Despite the references to her elder sister’s style, Francesca is also influenced by the sartorial choices of actresses Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn, from sheer blouses to puff sleeves. While still in the family’s signature palette, the character will also incorporate a lot of pale apricots – although we might not be able to notice at first. 

Bridgerton 3: our conclusions and predictions

With so much change and transformation, it seems hard not to look forward to the season and its undeniably malleable fashion without making predictions. While it is impossible to know exactly what will happen, it is certain that many new trends will arise. And, by drawing conclusions from the hints and clues dropped by the costume designer, one senses that at its core, season three fashion is about newness, innovation, modernity, and various stylistic metamorphoses –  and we can't wait to see it.