While talking about the success of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Banita Sandhu, who plays Miss Malhotra, said that an audience from “every country can watch the show and see themselves in it,” which is what makes it so entertaining. The reason behind people being so engrossed and consumed with the series is because they relate to the characters and live vicariously through them, wishing they could live lives where they’d be considered the diamond of the season or the wild card who enters in the middle and takes everyone’s breath away.
This is what makes Penelope Featherington’s character so relatable; she’s the underdog that everyone is rooting for, she isn’t a damsel in distress, and she wouldn’t let herself become a spinster. She’s decided to take matters into her own hands, and her personal style is finally catching up with her wit and charm.
Netflix’s Bridgerton is a period drama that revolves around London’s high society. The regency-era drama is a feast to the eyes for those who love fashion, flair, and flamboyance — it has everything: a slow-burn romance that has you on the edge of your seat, a society with a queen that thrives on gossip, complex storylines that address social issues, and, most importantly, depth.
Penelope, who’s also the mysterious Lady Whistledown, holds the reigns this season. We won’t spill much since no one likes a spoilsport, but we will take a look at her glow-up this season and see the evolution of her wardrobe from citrusy shades to tones that compliment her complexion and her auburn hair.
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to fashion in Bridgerton. Colour theory plays an important role, and every clan has its own colour scheme –Blue for the Bridgertons and Yellow for the Featheringtons.
The season starts with Penelope all alone, feeling friendless and out of options– she needs her luck to strike at the marriage mart so that she can move out of a home that is suffocating her. She goes to the modiste to turn her unfortunate circumstances around, using fashion’s aid to flip it. Shedding her palette of citrus shades, she embraces refined shades of green and jewel tones that signify her transformation into a far more mature character with a purpose and will no longer be trampled over by those who think of her as something less. She incorporates more exquisite lace, lush velvets, and intricate embroidery into her wardrobe, just “like what they’re wearing in Paris”.
Penelope’s Main Character Moment
Her previous look was eclectic – bright yellow shades with florals all over – there was so much going on with those gowns that one would want to look away. The colour scheme was also similar to her own house and surroundings, she’d blend in and disappear as and when needed. Her new wardrobe doesn’t take away from her features but enhances them. They’re still Featherington colours but in far less distracting tones.
Her first emerald green dress is pivotal in mapping the evolution of her style. It’s a big leap from any dress or colour she’s worn before — the makeup, the sheer gloves, and the hue of the dress are all made to captivate. This new wardrobe is far less cluttered than the last one.
The gown she wears while strolling across the walkway is pale green, she wears a similar shade mixed with a little bit of blue as her next outfit. These outfits may not seem noteworthy or as big as her first emerald number, but they are vital in mapping the evolution of her style — she is slowly moving away from her family’s colour palette and onto that of the Bridgertons’.
The shimmery pale blue dress that Penelope wears for the carriage scene shows that her style has truly evolved — there’s no hiding behind florals or unnecessary layers in the gown. It’s chic, it’s simple, and most importantly, it’s Penelope.
This season, we see a new side of Penelope’s character. Her newfound confidence and style are a welcome addition to her strong character. She’s more mature, and her sultry looks and charm leave us wanting more. The question is, what will the second part of the season have in store for us?
