Bridgerton takes Regency menswear and makes it look modern, elegant and dramatic. Here is what each character wears and why.
Quick answer. Bridgerton (Netflix, 2020 onwards) is set in a stylised Regency around 1813, with menswear by costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. The main male characters wear period silhouette tailcoats, breeches or pantaloons, embroidered waistcoats and cravats. The Duke of Hastings wears a hussar inspired jacket in several scenes. The Bridgerton brothers each have a distinct colour palette: Anthony in dark blue, Benedict in forest green, Colin in warm earth tones. The costumes are more decorative and better fitted than strict historical accuracy would allow, but the silhouettes are correct.
Simon, Duke of Hastings
Rege Jean Page's Duke of Hastings in Season One wears some of the most striking male costumes in the series. His military inspired coats, including a near hussar jacket for one key scene, were designed to signal his outsider status and his life in the army. The tailoring is tightly fitted and dramatic, with high collars and heavy embroidery. His use of jewel tones (deep teal, aubergine, forest green) sets him apart from the lighter palette of the Bridgerton family. The combination of military references and dandy elegance is deliberate.
Anthony Bridgerton
Jonathan Bailey's Anthony Bridgerton, Viscount and head of the Bridgerton family, dresses with Regency correctness and quiet grandeur. Dark blue tailcoats, cream waistcoats, buff pantaloons with Hessian boots. His costume palette through Seasons One and Two moves from stricter formality to warmer autumnal colours as his character arc develops. The tailoring is slim and precise, as befits a Regency gentleman at the height of society.
Benedict Bridgerton
Luke Thompson's Benedict is the artistic Bridgerton brother. His costumes include notable waistcoats in forest green and bronze with elaborate embroidery, suggesting an aesthetic sensibility slightly beyond strict propriety. The combination of velvet collar, embroidered silk waistcoat and elegant tailoring places him just this side of dandy. Benedict's palette is earthier than Anthony's, with greens, browns and soft golds dominating.
Colin Bridgerton
Luke Newton's Colin Bridgerton, the third brother, has the most pronounced transformation through the series. Early seasons show him in boyish bright colours. By Season Three (where Colin is the lead) his costumes have matured into warmer earth tones with dramatic Byronic touches: open shirts, loose cravats, dark velvet coats. The look reflects his character arc from boy about town to committed suitor.
Period accuracy
Bridgerton costumes take historical liberties for aesthetic effect. Colours are brighter than most Regency wear would have been. Fabrics include silk velvets and jacquard brocades that an actual gentleman would wear only to a formal ball. Tailoring is tighter than period patterns, reflecting modern sensibilities about fit. Jewellery and accessories include elements from later in the 19th century. The overall effect is a stylised Regency that reads as period but looks modern. Historians have criticised the accuracy, but the show has sparked a wave of interest in Regency menswear.
Building a Bridgerton look
For a wedding, Regency ball or themed event, a Bridgerton inspired outfit can be built from a Regency tailcoat (navy, bottle green or burgundy), a contrasting embroidered waistcoat (cream, gold or silver silk), buff or cream pantaloons, Hessian or dancing boots, a white cravat with a Byronic knot, and a tall black beaver hat. The look reads as period without being costume. For a Simon of Hastings impression, add a hussar inspired military jacket in dark blue with heavy braid.
Common questions
Who designs the Bridgerton costumes?
Ellen Mirojnick for Season One, Sophie Canale and John Glaser for later seasons. Each has worked with the Netflix production team to maintain the show's aesthetic signature.
Is Bridgerton historically accurate?
Partially. Silhouettes are correct for 1813. Colours, fabrics and tailoring are stylised for modern effect.
Did the Duke of Hastings wear a hussar jacket?
Yes, in several scenes in Season One. The military inspired tailoring reflects his character's army service.
Can I buy a Bridgerton inspired outfit?
Yes. Specialist tailors build Regency pattern tailcoats, waistcoats and other items in the Bridgerton aesthetic for Regency balls, themed weddings and themed events.
Where can I see Bridgerton style events?
Jane Austen festivals in Bath, Regency balls in London and other cities, and private themed events held by Regency societies in the UK and US.