Royalty ready

Netflix's new period drama Bridgerton has made a splash in the fashion world for its glorious costumes. We invited experts to pick key trends from the show for a look that spells regency

A quick glance at a still from Bridgerton is enough to tell you that it's not your typical period drama. For starters, it has a racially-diverse cast, and tackles sexism. Then, you have a score that definitely doesn't scream regency (the era it is set in) but somehow, fits — think a string quartet playing Ariana Grande's Thank u, next. And all these factors are bound by 7,500 costumes that bring the grandiosity of the production and the tale of finding love in London's high society in 1813 to life. If you, like us, cannot get over the Netflix show and are eager to incorporate some regency elements in your wardrobe, city-based stylist Shikha Dhandhia and costume designer Sonal Kharade tell you how.

Sonal Kharade; Shikha Dhandhia

Glamourous gloves and coats

Although trotting around town in gloves in the 21st century might seem outlandish, Dhandhia reckons that it may not be a bad idea during the pandemic. "For cocktail nights, you can wear satin, lace or embroidered gloves. But don't pair it with Indian wear; any western silhouette will do. Assess the length of the gloves based on the length of the sleeve — so if your sleeves are short, choose longer gloves that go up to your elbows and if they are long, choose wrist-length gloves," she says.

While there's a lot to notice about the men of Bridgerton, especially Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, their jackets and coats are as svelte as their appearance. "The jackets are so unisex. Nikhil Thampi and Riddhi Shah do similar well-tailored stuff. It's seasonal, and can be worn through the year — with a tank top during summer or with a Chinese collared top when it's chilly. If men have the confidence to wear breeches, or light coloured pants with it, they're sorted," suggests Dhandhia.

Classy chokers

The Featherington sisters choose bold chokers

Be it the bold, colourful neckpieces that Penelope Featherington wears or the delicate ones that Daphne Bridgerton sports, the show has a variety of chokers on display. And Dhandhia feels chokers are here to stay. "A loud choker can be paired with a simple white or denim shirt. The best thing about a choker is that you can wear it even with a round neckline," says Dhandhia.

Layers of organza

Francesca Bridgerton wearing organza underneath her dress; (left) Deepika Padukone flaunts balloon sleeves

With multiple Bollywood celebrities spotting it with their sarees, organza has been a hot trend of late. Although we see western silhouettes like tops and dresses made of the fabric too, we don't see organza being layered too often — which is where Bridgerton brings in some inspiration coupled with puffed and balloon sleeves. "We avoid using organza thinking it is sheer and makes us look bulky. But in the show, organza is used as inner wear, layered with satins and jacquard, making the transparency issue redundant and it doesn't make you look bulky either," shares Dhandhia.

Too squared

Although the high-waistline as seen in Bridgerton may not flatter all bust sizes, the signature square neckline spotted in the show can be easily incorporated with a lower waistline, like this dress donned by Sonam Kapoor

Dhandhia also found the necklines on the show to be interesting with their little detailing and layering. "The costumes for women on the show are all straight-cuts. There are no accentuated waistlines or hiplines. And the necklines are squared. These silhouettes are common today and are even available at a fast fashion brand like H&M. You can adapt the Bridgerton look with a day dress in mul cotton or linen," says Kharade.

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