The Real-Life Way to Get English Regency Style

Originally Published on Shondaland
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By: Emily Zemler

Dearest reader, does your life need a bit more opulence and glamour? If so, the fashion of Shondaland’s hit series Bridgerton isn’t just for days past. Indeed, Regency colors, patterns, and styles are back on-trend. In fact, the popularity of Bridgerton, which debuts its second season on Friday, March 25, on Netflix, has encouraged a resurgence in Regency style in interior design, clothing, and beyond.

“Through [Regency style], we step away from loungewear and embrace ultra-feminine and ladylike looks that allow us to transport to another era filled with romantic and dreamy fabrics, pastel color palettes, empire waistlines, and soft cap sleeves,” says stylist and fashion expert Leena Alsulaiman about so-called Regency-core. “And after living through a pandemic, who doesn’t want the chance to escape reality, if even through fashion?”

While Bridgerton is not always historically accurate — instead, the creators aim for an augmented version of the period — it is possible to draw on elements of the show’s design in your everyday life. People of all genders can take inspiration from the elegant clothes worn by members of the ton, from brocade-trimmed gowns to elaborate waistcoats, and glittering accessories to elaborate hairstyles. Even in the home, there are many ways to incorporate Regency style, whether you want to go big and bold or subtler in your design choices. However you do it, do it with confidence. Here’s how to get started.

While it may not be appropriate to wear a Regency ball gown on a daily basis in 2022 (though no one here would judge you if you did!), there are several ways to incorporate the style of the era into your day-to-day looks. From silhouettes to color palettes to modern takes on patterns of the time, the best starting point is to be aware of what Regency style involves and then take it in your own direction.

“The knowledge of Regency style is a starting point for designing Bridgerton because, as Bridgerton is not period correct, we can therefore break the rules and add contemporary design,” explains Bridgerton costume designer Sophie Canale. “For women, it’s the empire line dress — waistlines higher under the bust with elaborate decoration. The silhouette was inspired by the classical Greek and Roman worlds. From there, over-robes and spencer jackets were worn, in practicality for warmth, over lightweight dresses.”

For men, the era was about the rise of the dandy, which Canale notes involved “high shirt collars, cravats tied in various fashions, and tight-fitting trousers or breeches.” She adds, “Coats were cut away at the front with ‘M’ notch lapels and worn with elaborate silk waistcoats. Hessian boots were also in vogue.”

When it comes to incorporating these styles into your own look, Alsulaiman recommends shopping brands like Reformation, Erdem, LoveShackFancy, Anthropologie, and Free People, and looking for ways to juxtapose Regency pieces with contemporary pieces. “Corsets and large belts paired with jeans that can cinch the waist have become the most popular way to Regency-fy your modern wardrobe,” she says. “And when it comes to dresses, look for pastel-hued empire-waist dresses for the ultimate flattering silhouette.”

She adds, “The best thing about Regency fashion is how easy it is to style an outfit with just a few small additions. Adding a sparkly, sequin, or jeweled headband or donning a pearl necklace to any outfit is a quick trick to elevate your outfit and be on trend with your favorite Bridgerton characters. Of course, if you’re a bit more adventurous, you can add some fun gloves or anything with feather trim.”

Also, look for official Bridgerton fashion collaborations, like Bloomingdale’s recent pop-up the Carousel, which features Bridgerton-inspired clothing and accessories from some of your favorite brands; Netflix’s recent partnership with the British Fashion Council, which tapped three up-and-coming designers — Ifeanyi Okwuadi, Latifa Neyazi, and Jeongmin Ji — for Regency-inspired looks; the Malone Souliers x Bridgerton shoe collection, as well as makeup from Pat McGrath’s Bridgerton makeup collection.

But ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you wear as long as you wear it with confidence. Bridgerton’s hair and makeup designer Erika Ökvist notes that Bridgerton-inspired style is less about the specific outfit and more about the feeling it inspires. “If you are feeling fabulous wearing it, you are fabulous,” she says. “And if you managed to pull that off, you can go even more extreme because chances are you will look even more fabulous.”

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