Penelope and Cressida’s Bridgerton Outfits Reflect Season 3’s Plot
Costume designer John Glaser breaks down Penelope’s powerful transformation and how Cressida uses her clothes as armour.
Everything is in bloom this spring, from the recent Met Gala to the long-awaited third season of Bridgerton. While The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly may be shaking her head at the floral memo, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) prove there’s more than one way to tackle the botanical problem as they each try to win a husband in Netflix’s hit Regency romance.
Balls and garden parties are still fixtures, but change is coming to the bustling upper class, with new suitors being added to the hopefuls’ ranks. What better way to show you care than with a new wardrobe from a fashion designer? Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) provides new silhouettes, embellishments, and color combinations that were a deliberate change from costume designer John Glaser. “Our vision was to make the show a little more organic. We based it on a flower garden with more natural colors and more textures, so it looked a little less chemical,” Glaser told ELLE.com. The Emmy nominee, who designed the first season with Ellen Mirojnick, takes the helm from Sophie Canale when she returns to the series. “The story is more complex, more layered, a little more grown-up. We wanted to get out of that strict color world and make it a little more real,” Glaser said. Of course, Cressida and her eye-catching highlights didn’t get the memo, but viewers can expect an ombre palette and a more natural, muted palette. Glaser explains that this was a natural progression since they “had to throw everything but the kitchen sink at it” in season 1 to establish specific tones for each family, which continued into season 2. “By season 3, the audience is a little more familiar with the characters, and you don’t have to be so explicit about your color world,” he continues.
Penelope and Cressida are polar opposites in their fashion tastes but share other interests—namely, a few eligible bachelors and best friends. Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope still don’t get along, making things even more complicated when they cross paths at every ball, daycare, and even the Bridgerton house. Penelope, however, has another Bridgerton bro on her mind when Colin (Luke Newton) returns from his European adventure with a completely new look. All the men have updated their wardrobes, so even small changes in coat style can have an impact. “It seems like such a simple thing, but suddenly it changes the scale of everything,” says Glaser.
Lady Whistledown may have all the details about the relationship, but when it comes to Penelope’s changing look and Cressida’s billowing sleeves, look no further. Here, Glaser reveals the secrets behind the first four episodes of Bridgerton’s Polin season and how Cressida uses her outlandish outfits as armor.
