‘Bridgerton’: Inside Penelope Featherington’s obsession with yellow and how it finally ends in Season 3
LONDON, ENGLAND: Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) has the most wholesome character arc in Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’.
To add to the depth of her character, Costume designers associated with the series have integrated thoughtful costumes and colors that resonate with each character’s personality and mood.
While the Bridgertons often wear blue, which symbolizes clarity, Featheringtons are often seen donning yellow, which portrays envy.
What do ‘Bridgerton’ costume designers say about Penelope Featherington’s yellow costumes?
‘Bridgerton’ Season 1’s costume designer Ellen Mirojnick explained to PopSugar that she chose yellow for Penelope as it represents her deceitful nature. Moreover, yellow resonated with the Regency era where yellow was popular among high society women.
If you have noticed, Penelope’s costume colors change with her personality. As her alter ego of Lady Whisteldown takes over and she sits down to write a column, she dons nightgowns that don’t have much color. In these moments, her mature side comes to light, contrasting to her childish side in vibrant yellow.
By season two, she confesses to Edwina Sharma that she isn’t fond of yellow. Costume designer Sophie Canale uses this to show Penelope’s maturity, gradually introducing pinks and mauves into her wardrobe.
Canale told Fashionista, “I’ve pushed a bit more pink into her color palette this year – she’s a year older.”
Why is Penelope Featherington’s wardrobe revamped in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3?
Penelope undergoes a major transformation in Season 3 as she completely ditches yellow and revamps her wardrobe intending to find a husband. She is now a fully grown woman, striving to rise above her mother’s influence and society’s expectations.
She chooses an emerald green empire-style dress with black tulle, a stark contrast to the pastel shades worn by young women looking for suitors.