Top 10 Amazing Costume Details in Bridgerton Season 3

In Season 1, Daphne Bridgerton dazzled at her debut, instantly earning the moniker of “The Diamond.” Though Francesca didn’t make quite the same instant impression, she was always going to follow in her sister’s footsteps. The proof was right there on her gown. Francesca, like Daphne, makes her debut with understated but noticeable diamonds on her bodice. Meanwhile, Eloise’s presentation gown featured more gold than glitter. Famously, Eloise never wanted to be a debutante at all, much less the Queen’s favorite, so it’s as if she was subconsciously dissuading Charlotte from that line of thought. While Francesca doesn’t particularly want the title either, her eagerness to marry aligns her more with Daphne than Eloise. Interestingly, Francesca and Daphne also have the same diamond design on their skirts and sleeves, further cementing the similarities between them.

Penelope's stunning makeover spares no detail in the accessories department. Her daring dark gloves are especially unique, both for the color and the sheer, gauzy fabric. Showing a glimpse of Penelope’s arms, they give a hint of sex appeal while maintaining the standards of propriety. Appropriate for someone who wants to be better known in society, but still has a secret to hide, yes? While her social graces may not have impressed at the ball, her style clearly did. As the season goes on, more and more ladies appear with gloves that are darker, made of gauze, or both, until the sheer style starts to dominate the London ballrooms. Of course, the first ladies to adopt these gloves do so right after being seen at the modiste, so Penelope may have inspired her peers, but it’s clear who really started this fad.

Okay, it might be a stretch to call Prudence and Philippa Featherington wicked. They’re shallow, spoiled, and clueless, but generally too self centered to be truly belligerent. That said, the prospect of being mother to the Featherington heir brings out the worst in both of them. It’s no wonder the sisters call another unpleasant pair of siblings to mind. And it’s certainly a deliberate choice. Prudence and Philippa have worn the pink and green colors of “Cinderella”’s Tremaine sisters before, but Season 3 seems to feature them in variations of those colors more frequently than ever. And with their treatment of Penelope at an all time low, it’s no wonder. Is it a bit on the nose? Sure, but subtle was never in the Featherington style guide.

Season 2 included some lovely references to the Sharma family’s Indian culture. And Season 3 continues celebrating Kate’s heritage in some of her costuming. Not only is there a strong Indian reference in much of her jewelry, but her Danbury ballgown features a veil attached to the back similar to a versatile Indian dupatta. Later in the season, Kate gets an elegant Sari-inspired gown in Bridgerton blues. With the alternate history of the show, we get a chance to experience a Britain that embraced the diversity of its subjects. Characters raised outside of England provide so much room for creativity in reimagining the Regency. The spirit of reinvention is beautifully realized in the fusion of east and west at play in Kate's styling.

Speaking of setting trends, if Genevieve’s clients were paying attention they’d realize that she may dress them for the moment, but she dresses herself for the future. It’s not always easy to see the details in her sensible black dress, but the sharp eye will notice a few things. Like her slightly higher hem, and the ruffled detailing on her skirt. She also sports a pair of very eye-catching sheer oversleeves. All of these elements would be on trend in the 1820s. For those keeping track, that’s still five years off from when season 3 of “Bridgerton” takes place. Meaning, Genevive doesn’t just have her finger on the pulse of fashion, she’s clearly a flat out visionary.

In the grand tradition of such things, Colin’s transformation into society playboy brings an edgy new wardrobe. Mercifully, we are spared any attempt at a Regency leather jacket, but his color scheme in the early episodes of Season 3 still evokes the classic bad boy staple. When not in evening dress, Colin favors dark browns, very different from the traditional Bridgerton blues and grays. It’s clear he’s trying to differentiate himself from his large family as much as from his former self. However, brown is still a complimentary color to blue. And we notice that his waistcoats and shirts are often in darker shades of his family’s traditional colors. Colin may be trying to cover up his true self, but his clothes make it clear that at heart he remains unchanged.

The light tread with which Alice and Will Mondrich enter society suits them as well as Lady Kent’s old dresses suit Alice. Thankfully, the pair are quick to throw out the status quo and forge their own path. Guided by Madam Delacroix’s expert hand, Alice makes a splash in her stunning new wardrobe. Interestingly, in a season of costumes that stray more than ever from historical reality, Alice’s are the most period accurate. From her neoclassical-inspired hair and jewelry to her clean silhouettes, she is Regency elegance personified. In short, Alice looks like she belongs in this world more than anyone else in “Bridgerton” society. It’s a clever way to telegraph that nobility and grace are qualities that might not have anything at all to do with birth status.

Queen Charlotte has served up some jaw dropping looks over the years, and her wigs are always works of art, but this season’s Swan Wig sets a new standard. With its hand painted backdrop and moving crystal swans, it could just be an incredible piece of artwork. Or it could have a deeper symbolic meaning. The wig clearly references Swan Lake, which seems to relate to the ballet performed in the fourth episode. However, we notice two things. 1, Swan Lake is famously a tale of doomed love. And 2, The swan role is being danced by a man. Is this all just a reference to Charlotte’s inevitably dashed hope for Francesca and the Marquis Samadani? Or perhaps foreshadowing for a different tragedy? We love an Easter egg. Especially one that keeps us guessing.

At last we understand Cressida’s style. In previous seasons she stood out for her extravagant 1930s inspired hairstyles, but this year, her entire wardrobe becomes increasingly outlandish, revealing a lot about her state of mind in the process. In the wild, certain animals will mimic flowers to draw in their prey. Cressida, in her aggressively floral fashion confections appears to be doing much the same. Especially when her target is such a nature enthusiast. The more desperate she becomes, the more bombastic her sleeves and mounds of tulle flowers. It feels like an attempt to both attract her target and hide her weakness. We see an attempt at self-protection in an interesting neck piece halfway between a corset and a suit of armor’s gorget. The season is a battle for Cressida Cowper, and she’s going in with the only shields society will allow her.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions

Colin’s Cravat
Did the Pale Green Shade Inspire Penelope? Or Is This Another Sign That They’re Meant to Be? Why Not Both?

Penelope’s Earrings
With Their Quill Pen Shape, Penelope Carries a Hint of Her Secret Identity Out in the Open

Francesca’s Gauze Gloves
The Only Other Person Sporting the Accessory at the Danbury Ball Is Also Someone Hoping to Hide in Plain Sight, but With No Dark Secret, Hers Are Light Instead of Black

Violet for Violet
Not Only Does the Show Hint at Her Asserting an Independent Identity With Her Own Clothes, but John’s Toast to Violet Is Underscored by All the Ladies Wearing Her Namesake Color

Penelope’s first step in reinvention is to ditch the loud Featherington color scheme in favor of soft greens and dreamy blues. Not only are they infinitely more flattering, but they fit in nicely with the aesthetic of a certain household. While there may have been some subconscious choice in that on Penelope’s part, another fashion moment reveals fate at work. Penelope’s dramatic dark teal gown from the Danbury ball stands out from her subsequent wardrobe. But when Colin brings her to visit their new home, the color of the walls seems too similar for mere coincidence. Clothes can tell us a lot about a person, and this seems like the show saying Penelope was always meant to be Colin’s home, which is punctuated when she appears in a similar color in the final episode.

Who gave us the season’s most stunning fashion moment? Share your thoughts in the comments!