Bridgerton Costum Rant: Penelope

Bridgerton Costum Rant: Penelope

 I feel one thing Bridgerton does best are the costumes. Not only by making their take on the regency period but incorporating with the storylines. And since Polin is next in the show I should start with Penelope. 

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Season 1 & 2 Outfit Analysis

Color Meaning: It is a well known fact that Penelope's “tasteless and tackless” mama dresses all her daughters in bright citrus colors, believing that bright color will draw attention for suitors. Which is ironic in a way since the Featherington sisters, especially Penelope, are the wallflowers of the show. But in truth it helps Penelope with gathering gossip for the Lady Whistledown because yellow can be the color of deceit. Yellow is often associated with happiness and positivity so you wouldn’t think a person wearing yellow would have a secret. (It can also be a color of intellect and creativity which goes into Lady Whistledown again.)

Cowardness is also another interpretation of the color yellow, which in turn can be how Penelope doesn’t share her feelings to Colin. But if you notice during two seasons as Portia is less focused on Penelope (in season 1 during the Marina drama and season 2 during the cousin Jack drama), Penelope wears different colors a little bit more. Especially in season 2. And the color that she wears the most is pink. Which pink is obviously associated with love. Something that Penelope longs for. We also see for the first time in full green dress in season 2. Which is foreshadowing to Polin because yellow and the Bridgerton blue makes green.

Design Details: I also found it interesting that the two things Penelope wears the most on her dresses are butterflies and flowers. Butterflies are symbols of transformation which we now know in season 3 Penelope is going to have. I hope we see a lot more butterflies in season 3 since no longer Penelope is going to be the wallflower. I am not an expert on flowers or their meaning but I believe the flowers she wears the most are roses and daisies. Rose symbolizes love and passion and daisies represent happiness and a new beginning.

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What I hope for in season 3

More flowing dress: If you notice in season 1 & 2 Daphne and Kate's dresses are very flowy and silky where Penlope’s dress is not. Some of her dresses look very stiff and bulky and give off a younger impression (especially since Hyacinth and even Eloise dresses look like they're made with the same matureal). Now in the upcoming season where Penelope is embracing her sexuality we should get more of those flowy dresses.

More Cooler Colors: Like I said before we really only have seen Penelope in those citrus colors which are very warm colors. Which I don’t think are the best on Nicola. Some of the dresses wash her out instead of complimenting her; which is the costume designer's intention. From some of the leaked photos of season 3 we see Penelope in more cooler colors, which look incredible on Nicola. Since the greens and blues are in the color palettes it should complement  Nicola astoundingly.

Simpler Design: Just like the color some of Penelope's best outfits are ones that are so loud. When some of the gowns are heavily detailed your eyes are drawn to the design and it almost looks too extravagant on Nicola. Some of Penelope's best dresses are more simpler.

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Anyway I hope this interests you! I really want to do Kate and Daphne/Bridgerton style vs other families of the ton.  If you have any suggestion or question for me let me know.