Analysing Penelope’s Bridgerton Makeover | Body Analysis

[@elliejeanroyden]

If you enjoyed this video, this Wednesday 10th July I am hosting a Bridgeton episode of TV + film club on my sub stack! We are going to be discussing our favourite costumes, characters, the Penelope makeover, historical accuracy and more. To join, follow this link: stylescholars.substack.com/p/members

[@hey_its_heather]

penelope’s “reveal” dress is not her final transformation. I watched a video recently where, I think it was Nicola that said it, but that was Pen’s first attempt at a transformation but her completed transformation is when she shows up in the soft green dress.

[@BrittanyMRams]

I love when Pen wears green! Yellow (featherington) and blue (bridgerton) mix to make green!

[@T_Cup]

I know this is a weird connect, but Grace Vanderwaal recently talked about how Jojo Siwa's "transformation" was really just Jojo's old maximalist style repackaged in a different colour palette, and I think that applies to Pen's emerald looks too: same bold, borderline gaudy clothing and same slightly intense makeup, with better hair. But I think it was the right choice to have her first attempt to transform her look be obvious because it's what most girls think they need to do to when they first start experimenting with their appearance. It also highlights how a true aesthetic transformation doesn't have to be dramatic or push any crazy boundaries, and that you should actually look more peaceful in your best colours, and I have to tip my hat to Bridgerton's styling team for conveying that, they really know what they're doing

[@emmaeriatarka]

As a cool skin red-head, I loved what they did with Penelope's colours! 💙That beautiful auburn colour works so well with the blues, greens and pinks while also flattering her skin, it's just perfect colour knowledge. Something I wish actual colour analysts would do. Even though I have a similar colouring to Pen, my hair is darker/browner so I suit the dustier shades or blue and berry pinks which shows that the costume designers also see the depth and intricacies of Nicola's colouring, I just love it. 💖

[@eileennwachukwu7620]

I agree with most of what you're saying, but I completely disagree with the idea that the darker green, at the first ball, doesn't compliment her. I think she looks stunning. The juxtaposition of the darker color against her very light skin was breath taking. I also don't understand why you'd say she doesn't "look" like a red head. We all know she's wearing a wig, but I also think it suits her. They clearly speak about why they chose such a bold look for her at the last ball. The purpose was to show that she was taking her power (red lip indicates power) and the dress was hugging her figure to show that she wasn't hiding anymore. Alot of what you are saying just comes down to preferences tbh.

[@jules.pitcher]

My sister is a summer and she chose a very soft pink wedding dress and looked stunning! Definitely go for it, Ellie! 😊

[@nikkikenny1165]

I feel like its also to show shes becoming a member of the Bridgerton family

[@sieksenss]

Definitely. The costume designer says this in an interview

[@dorothyfielding8209]

Agree with you 100% in every category you cover. The blush pink wedding dress is the bomb.

[@camillakrack6735]

Her blush wedding dress took my breath away!

[@a.moment.of.exhale]

Also, @ellie you're amazing and inspiring in the best ways! The way you've built your brand, carved your niche, created your own style roots system, and how you are committed to evolving in your knowledge by willing to concede past errors is something we can all learn from. My only question is where you find the time to do everything you do!

[@elliejeanroyden]

Thank you so much this is such a lovely comment, the community we have here is so wholesome and you all mean so much to me ♥️♥️

[@caprietje]

Nicola has done a makeup tutorial for Vogue where she looks into the camera without makeup: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faq5cn6OpbJ_fKcsi=EU8Sj4wSSxvknwS- I am very interested in your opinion on her colours season ☺️✨

[@carlachaffin6936]

Some color analysts believe in saying that light summers can borrow colors from light spring palette because both seasons have lightness as their main characteristic even if they don't have the same undertone.

[@fricane]

I think teal might have also been chosen because it appears very differently depending on the lighting in that scene: when she’s not on the dancefloor, the light is warmer and the colour of her dress appears greener, but when she is exposed and has to take the „limelight“, she steps onto the dancefloor, where the light is cooler and makes her dress look bluer/more garish/more intense.

[@samanthamartin9654]

This is one of my favorite videos by far. I love your color analysis as close reading of the show. You're treating it like a passage for a literature analysis and I can totally see the influence of your comparative literature training. As an anthropology major myself this nerdy fashion crossover is exactly what I'm here for. Your passion for being thorough really shines through in your videos. Keep being the beautiful you we've come to know. Thanks Ellie!

[@elliejeanroyden]

I appreciate this comment so much you have no idea!!! Thank you ♥️♥️

[@madelainedusseau4293]

I think she looks good with red hair and that is part of my ambivalence about the 4 seasons color systems. Im supposedly also a summer but as a fair skinned person was able to carry off red hair. I do love the pink wedding dress that reminds me of the one my mom designed and made for herself around 1950.

[@bip5395]

I think what people often get wrong about color seasons are: 1) 12 color types leave some people with no perfect fit, 2) 8 are not fully warm not fully cool, they need a mix, 3) usually perfection doesn’t look good on humans - if you’ll take soft summer and dress it in perfect colors: soft, medium and neutral to cool, it just looks nice but boring - there needs to be something that breaks the rules to make outfit truly amazing

[@mysilverscreendiary]

I like her red hair too. Maybe not the dark red lip though

[@a.moment.of.exhale]

Yess!!! This is the hot take I was waiting for!! Let's gooooooooo!!!

[@fayedooley6170]

I think any makeup we don’t enjoy is intentional because we too also slathered on Maybelline when we first stepped onto the scene lol

[@irelandfarlow7627]

Ellie-Jean looks gorgeous in this video!

[@elliejeanroyden]

Oh thank you so much! ♥️

[@hermina_grayson]

You look amazing with you natural hair near your eyes!

[@mv1714]

Girl I don’t know who or what influenced you into this hair color, but it suits you soooo well! I’m immediately taking your content more seriously just by how aligned your appearance is to your counsel

[@sagieaesir13]

I've been waiting for this video!! Now I know why I love her in soft colours and thought the dark green and teal dresses didn't quite work for her. It also works narratively. Costume designers and makeup artists would definitely know about colour seasons tho, they're professionals like you :) EDIT: I also love at the end of the season how Pen colour matches with her mom! idk which colour season Portia's actress is, but I thought that was a nice detail too. I think it might be because Pen wants to make her mom proud, so they're finally working together and 'matching' each other's energy, since Portia finally started to accept Pen in the 2nd half of the season

[@sieksenss]

The Bridgerton colors are (light) summer. The costume designers talk about what they want to say with their colors and there’s a whole psychology behind it. It’s not about her color season

[@YumeraChauque]

😮,that makes sence!! Most characters use colors of light summer, since light colors have a delicate charm and muted colors have an sophisticated quality. Dhe could be confusing bcs colors that she was given in outset was of spring palette, that didn't blend in with the rest of of the the enviroment/ambient/characters.

[@bip5395]

I think that when she is shown in those posts that suggest light spring, people are ignoring that most of color types are not completely cool or completely warm: two summer types border warm seasons and can wear slightly warmer tones. She can wear slightly warm colors, but something like those huge golden earrings she has in the part, where you talk about cool blond of her hair, clash way more than any very cool color does.

[@lynnb4348]

She's more stunning as a redhead and looks washed out as a blonde.

[@16ieebet]

girl you look absolutely wonderful with this hair color and style!!

[@heatherinde]

Oh I love this breakdown of Penelope’s Transformation! I only wished I had seen this video while I was painting her. I hadn’t thought of the dress as not being her best color. I painted her because I love the color of the dress but I would have mentioned her possible color season in my voiceover of the video I made if I had seen this. It might have also affected the way I portrayed her overall features (basically what I exaggerate or minimize.) As an artist we get to manipulate color and shapes to suit our vision and although I study color (and now Kibbie and co. because of your channel) for my own wardrobe…. I have yet to apply it to my paintings. After watching this I’m going to pay more attention to undertones when I’m painting portraits. I love that you love Bridgerton as much as I do. Also I pre-ordered your book a few days ago. I’m in the USA so I have to wait a while but I’m looking forward to it!!!!

[@aussiemiss1442]

I saw utube video that some of the choices are absolutely done for impact. The first reveal they know is too bold that was purposeful hair from Rita Hayworth. The confession scene is Jessica Rabbit hair and lips they aced that look. I think the soft green in the mirror scene and the lip colour in the cake eating scene suit her best. There was a pretty mauve dress in the first season when she attended a ball with her father that was particularly well suited to her skin tone. I think she was perfectly cast as pen Small, rounded, with peaches and cream complexion etc. The closest to the characters so far. Probable the only season where the leads mirror the books.

[@Marshmellow25825]

Please do more movie character analysis they are so much fun!

[@gingercollier7949]

I agree with Nicola playing Pen as a redhead. She would have looked better as a strawberry blonde. It’s pretty unusual for one family to be all redheads. Although I do know one and the parents are both redheads. I also thought the soft pastels looked the best on Nicola. The teal green she wears in the big reveal I didn’t think it was flattering at all, plus I didn’t care for the dress. The soft pastel blues, greens and violet are Bridgerton colors as well.i also didn’t care for the red lipstick, which would have been worn by women in the brothels. I’ve been saying some of the same things as you have. I think my credibility with a degree in Fashion Design, I worked as a Visual Merchandiser at Nordstrom for 10 years and am currently a plus size. I’d love to hear you opinion on Nicola’s media tour outfits.

[@lucy__v]

I think the Penelope ball look is so gorgeous! Why is everyone feeling it’s not as good! They aren’t forced, they’re just not super soft. I think it suits her glamorous romantic undercurrent and looks very Rita Hayworth old Hollywood. You don’t always have to be mimicking your colouring to look gorgeous

[@awsome182]

I *HATED* her final look at the ball. Overall I really liked her makeover (mostly, wasn't a big fan of her with loose hair, I preferred her updos, at least in public gatherings), but that last look definitely wasnt it. The berry coloured lipstick didn't suit her and the dress was over- and underwhelming at the same time. Also, her blush at the wedding was way too much (but that was an overall issue in this season, poor Francesca almost drowned in ill fitting orange coloured blush).

[@CosimasNiehaus]

I feel like the LW reveal dress was still somewhat acting like armour for Penelope - she needed strength to do what she did and the bold look helped her bring her LW energy to the front. In the epilogue, yes it's not a ballroom look, but she softens quite a lot again. I honestly think her best looks were in episode 2 with the sage green with black detail during her lesson with Colin was just so beautiful and perfect for her, and her library dress. I wasn't a massive fan of the gaudy dresses in episode 7 and 8, but again I think it was a feigned boldness and confidence during her time of stress with her relationship being strained.

[@irenareine]

I want to cry! Where is your video about gamine romantic? About dark fairy vibes, analysing Helena Bonham Carter's style. This was my favourite video, and I wanted to rewatch it for inspiration, but now I don't see it.

[@redrover2370]

Love the Nanny McPhee example

[@adorablebelle]

Love your earrings!

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

There were ways to dye hair even in the medieval period. It would be a really cool twist if she is a blonde but she dyes her hair red to try to fit into her birth family, because her mom thinks it will bring her more attention or something like that, but them it turns out she is a natural blonde

[@Pr0fessorScience]

I assumed that Pen's initial transformation was supposed to be a bit clumsy and not entirely there yet because she was still learning what flattered her. I was so excited when we got to the library/book collection scene with Lord Debling (outfit at 7:36 in your vid) because I was like "FINALLY, Pen has figured out her new style - makeup, hair, clothing, everything is working - and she looks gorgeous." But then the season continued and they REVERTED. Her look for her sisters' ball with the bright teal dress and red lips was WORSE than her makeover reveal look and just so jarring against Nicola's features. The most bonkers part of all of it to me is that in bts/interviews production said they played around with different looks to find what worked best and settled on old Hollywood glam but, like, when and who...? Daphne's style inspo was Audrey Hepburn, which worked because they both have delicate bones and facial features. With some of the looks they put on Pen, it felt like they just did a grab bag of looks from PLUMP/CURVY old Hollywood starlets instead of old Hollywood starlets who actually have similar structure and features as Nicola. Like...you support your actor not losing any weight for this season because f*ck fatphobia, but also you stereotype her aesthetically based on how large she is...?

[@aussiemiss1442]

@@Pr0fessorScience I think the really Ariel mermaids colours and bright lipstick were intentional. It was a time when she knew she would be the centre of possibly very negative attention. Th3 over bright was a form of armour and protection. But also the ultimate standing out boldly in the centre instead of blending in. To be wearing pastels at this time would have completely killed the scenes impact. I think she looked the most beautiful in the garden when shaking hands as friends with Colin. The gown colour and her makeup were perfect for her Irish peaches and cream complexion.

[@Lari-Ssa]

I feel her more to be a light spring

[@phyllisnunn2061]

Awesome video, I agree with all of your analysis! (LOL - not that I am a professional like yourself, but I've always enjoyed re-imagining people's looks and styles.) I have to say that every single puffy sleeve they dressed Penelope in drove me up the wall, since those just don't suit her body. But of course, the smaller sleeves that do suit her add more maturity to her look. And the producers no doubt were trying to maintain the idea that she was a young virgin in season 3.

[@epalmerbright]

The orange/red hair and the yellow looking so disharmonious is what makes me feel like she’s a summer, I think if she was a spring it wouldn’t look as ‘off’.

[@StraightEdge01]

I don’t think the big reveal moment was meant to be truly harmonious because she’s now trying TOO hard and as you said, she’s still very vulnerable and still not yet completely herself

[@ronnie-lynn]

Too much clicking in the editing Narrow Click Short Click Round Click REALLY….. ugh Made it to 2:22 counted over 35 clicks so excessive could not continue the video without being distracted sorry. I wish people would stop doing this and editing. 😫

[@elliejeanroyden]

I will share this feedback! I recently have got a new editor so she’s still learning my style xxx

[@ronnie-lynn]

@@elliejeanroydenI ended up muting it and putting on captions because I really wanted to hear your opinions on the rest of the video! ❤ sorry reading my comment back it sounded rude, but I didn’t mean it to come across that way thank you for taking it as constructive criticism!

[@SilveryRow]

Penelope's makeover is such a relief after stuffing Coughlan into all those garish outfits. However, I did find that the puffy sleeves made her neck disappear. I'm just an armchair commenter so I know I'm technically wrong, but I felt the red hair suited her more with its warmth, whereas the blonde washed her out a bit - made everything too pale. I find it difficult to parse personal preference and objectively complementary aesthetics. For instance, most of her new outfits look great on her colour-wise, but I don't think they portray her personality well. I wonder how much input the modiste had! :D Oh, and I'm that one person who thought the emerald green dress was amazing on her and the wedding dress clashed (with her hair) enough that I actually grimaced.

[@israa7364]

How is this so déjà vu ? 😳

[@elliejeanroyden]

I uploaded it yesterday but the sound was off apparently so I took it to my editor to redo ♥️

[@toty9499]

I feel she is ethereal not romantic in her interviews since season 1 beside ingenue ofcourse

[@roising.3221]

Etherals have long faces, she doesn't

[@lisayounger296]

Love Penelope I'm glad she got her man!! Why are you doing a body matrix she is beautiful just the way she is

[@jerusalempeters2645]

❤

[@mlove.1376]

I really disliked her reveal dress.

[@mh-jg4tv]

If she is soft,she' s not a spring,is she,? I thought that spring is a bright season. Of course ,being light softens but it' s still bright.? I don' t like the seasons so much,anyway.

[@MarlenaTheFae]

I'm so glad I'm not alone in being disappointed by the green dress! I feel like that shade of green on a red head is a cliche, and both felt a little forced on her. Deep green *is* gorgeous, and it does look good on red heads. But I wanted something softer and more in keeping with the 'bridgerton' aesthetic. Especially with the black lace and gloves - it made it look even harsher. Also when people are so obsessed with certain colours on people with certain colouring it gets on my nerves. My best friend has Auburn hair and everyone is constantly trying to get her to wear that shade of green. She feels genuinely limited and like nothing else suits her. I've tried to convince her she can pull off so many more colours but she truly feels she can't and only gets compliments in that colour.

[@roising.3221]

That caring for your best friend is so sweet. ❤ As a fellow redhead (warm autumn) I get the emerald green hype, but honestly red is almost as amazing and it feels daring to pull of yellows and oranges in a world that favours black clothes...

[@MarlenaTheFae]

@@roising.3221 yes! I agree. She has told me so many times that 'she can't wear red' and she's jealous of my ability to pull off red. And I couldn't disagree more. I love warm colours on red heads. I think red looks much better on her than on me. I have it in reverse. I've dyed my hair black most of my life (though I'm a Summer and I'm going to stop and go for something softer after getting so into colour analysis) and have had people kind of fetishize red on me because of the black hair. I don't like the way it looks on me at all. But green is my favourite colour. I was once wearing a forest green dress myself and a man told me it would look better if it was red because of my black hair 🙄

[@orderupgraphix6044]

"pen" ...Featherington??? it took 10 minutes to figure out who was the "gossip girl" in this period piece remake of GG. Full figured women are very beautiful but the way they trussed this girl up like a freshly roasted succulent pig, a living replica of miss piggy or petunia pig was kind of disturbing. She literally looked like they where bringing out the platter of a fully dressed whole roasted main course every "unveil" or entrance. This did the curvy girls no favors

[@nnoemi_]

Unrelated to Bridgeton, but a viseo idea: workout outfits for body types and how to find a cool/cozy outfit🥹 I usually look like a homeless in the gym but ahh I wanna do something about it😅

[@CharmingDarlingASMR]

Now I wonder what body matrix I fall under. Anyway, back to watching this great video 🩷