While romance and steamy moments are the main highlights of Shondaland's Bridgerton, the costumes are a close second. Set in grand Regency-era London, the show is all about debutante balls, social seasons, and parties — which means that the clothing on the show is opulent and a treat to watch on screen.
In fact, fans would be delighted to know that the gorgeous dresses and tailcoats weren't just made for aesthetics. Every costume that every cast member wears has hidden symbolism, and costume designers Ellen Mirojnick and Sophie Canale imbued even their hairdos and jewelry with meaning. Really keen fans would notice these patterns in the grandiose wardrobe of Bridgerton.
Hairstyles were a vital part of every character's costuming, and Anthony's massive sideburns stood out (badly) in season 1 of Bridgerton. These were a status symbol at the time, and Anthony seemed to be overcompensating for his lack of direction and purpose in the first season.
In season 2, these sideburns are gone as Anthony became less vain and more responsible towards his family. He didn't feel the need to overcompensate as he got his affairs in order and slowly started falling for Kate, which led to the change in appearance.
Easily the best characters introduced after season 1, Bridgerton's Sharma sisters also had very unique closets because they took direct inspiration from traditional Indianwear. Kate and Edwina's jewelry pieces featured typical Indian motifs and used gemstones and cuts found in the country.
Even their tiaras and hair accessories matched their rose gold Indian sets with gemstone droplet detailing. The gowns worn by Kate, especially, were in rich purples and blues, which are colors found in traditional lehengas and saris of the Indian subcontinent. The fabrics also had paisley prints ("buti" in Hindi) and gold and beaded Indian embroidery to show the women's roots in Bombay.
The color yellow has many meanings, both positive and negative. Penelope was easily one of the best characters in Bridgerton, but she was also very paradoxical. She was beautiful and truthful in ways that her peers could not see, which is something that the color yellow is symbolic of.
At the same time, the Featherington's favorite color is also related to cowardice and deceit. Penelope wrote terrible things under the guise of Lady Whistledown, deceiving them with her friendship and then reporting their secrets. The yellow color was almost a warning sign. The second season saw more pinks in her clothes, which signified her getting older and wiser.
Of the many romantic moments, Anthony's fall into a lake after trying to woo Kate is an unforgettable one. As he hauled himself out of the water and got ogled at by both sisters, the scene was reminiscent of Colin firth's wet shirt scene in Pride and Prejudice.
The moment was an homage to this classic scene from the TV show, and Anthony mimicked it perfectly with his very sheer, billowy white shirt in the water.
The ladies of Bridgerton wore the best outfits on the show, and season 2 featured a large number of lilac dresses. Daphne herself said that the soft color was significant of first love, which was a big theme for the women of the show.
They wore lilac dresses during certain moments, which amplified the meaning of the color: Edwina was seen in a lilac gown when Anthony first called on her, and Kate was wearing lilac both when she first connected with Anthony during Pall Mall and when they kissed for the first time.
Bumblebees hold a special meaning for the Bridgerton family, and audiences got to see why in the new season. Throughout the show, bees have always been referenced, especially in costume.
In season 1, Colin was seen wearing a bee-printed vest, and Benedict had bees embroidered under his collars too. In season 2, he was also seen wearing a vest with bees on it as he painted while high on Colin's tea.
Simon's costuming in season 1 was fantastic, and colors like greens, purples, and reds formed the core of his wardrobe palette. Very keen fans would see that Simon wears a gorgeous green brooch with almost every outfit on screen — this brooch belonged to his mother.
Simon had a painful childhood and missed meeting his mother completely, so it was his way of involving her in his life and carrying her spirit with him at all times.
Another hint that was dropped through clothing in the show was Anthony and Kate's attraction to each other. They belonged together, and their wardrobe also reflected this through matching colors and complementary shades.
Kate's teals and violets matched the indigos and blues that Anthony wore most times in his tailcoats. There were times when they wore almost the exact same color combinations, which also cemented their place as a couple throughout their time on screen together.
Like the rest of her family, Daphne also wore light pastels, mainly baby blues and periwinkle shades when she began her journey as a debutante. This hue was symbolic of her innocence and inexperience in the world, and it changed after she married the Duke.
Daphne then started wearing duskier, darker shades. Lilac became a staple, since it was a combination of the Bridgerton Blue and the Bassett Red. She also wore darker greens since she was part of Simon's family now.
The elder Sharma didn't come to London for herself. She was only there to betroth her sister, and her no-nonsense approach to life translated to her makeup. She had simple, barely-there makeup, which a woman with too little time on her hands would apply, and somebody who lived her life for others.
As she fell deeper in love with Anthony, her makeup became rosier, with more blush and lip color. Her eye makeup became heavier and more metallic. She looked like someone who knew what she wanted for herself, instead of for others now.
