The formative characteristics of Regency era women’s costumes in Bridgerton

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the formative characteristics of women’s costumes among the Regency era’s elite in the television drama Bridgerton (2020). Its methodology investigates the socio-cultural background and literature on clothing in the Regency era. It also analyzes the formative elements of Daphne’s costumes (of the Bridgerton family) and Penelope’s costumes (of the Featherington family) representing the upper class. The study reveals that women’s costumes had a tubular silhouette consisting of a low neckline, high waistline, and short puffed sleeves. The series expressed well the Regency-era costumes, which were influenced by Neoclassicism and characterized by silk materials, shawls, gloves, belts, a reticule, and hairstyles. Among the formative elements, the Bridgerton and Featherington families’ costumes showed distinct differences in color, materials, patterns, accessories, and hairstyles. Daphne’s costumes were intelligent and elegant in pastel-toned blues and had small patterns. She carried small accessories and had a natural curled hairstyle. In contrast, Penelope wore decorative and splendid styles in intense colors and large patterns. Her accessories were large and colorful, and she had a strong curled hairstyle. These costumes express the Bridgerton family as aristocratic and the Petringer family as flashy, thereby distinguishing the two families. These research results will be presented as basic data for producing drama costumes in the 19th century to help complete the drama.