We need to talk about the costumes in Bridgerton

[@bookhoarding]

And if you wanna know more about Bridgerton I made a cheat sheet! bookhoarding.wordpress.com/2020/12/20/bridgerton-cheat-sheet/

[@elinat2414]

I’m watching it now. And the tone it has overall is that of a historical fantasy/alternate universe. It’s a fun, lighthearted show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Considering this, all choices regarding music, costumes, dialogue etc work really well. Sure, historical inaccuracies would be jarring if this show was covering real events and be a Serious Period Piece (I think things like the Tudors are guilty of taking themselves very seriously and thus, having jarring inaccuracies). But Bridgeton has a clear direction and vibe and I think all choices that were made were consistent with that.

[@alimenendez3476]

exactly! I totally agree :)

[@genevievemorgan7821]

I absolutely agree. It's an alternative universe and really refreshing. I loved seeing people who look just like me being being represented in every level of society. It's not real but so so much fun. I binged watched the whole thing in a day and a half and am rewatching it with my teenaged son and daughter ( late teens btw) They're both really enjoying it so much.

[@embracethebright1587]

This is au (alternate universe ) so anything goes with casting. IMO

[@RhaeyaCreations]

As a costume designer and avid book reader, I loved the Bridgerton show. Yes the costumes were not HA. But the show is based on historical fantasy fiction, they kept the script very close to the book, even plotline wise with very few deviations. I was looking for the entire show. But the essence of it all, set, costumes, diverse cast, world-building. All fabulous! These are my three complaints. 1. Lack of smocks under corsets. 2. Perpetuating the tight lacing myth. 3. That weird corset wound in one scene. That’s it, enjoy the show. I hope for a season 2! Do the next book! The Viscount who loved me.

[@vainpiers]

I don't even think metal eyelets were around in that period and there isn't much boning so the idea of tighlacing is even more bizarre because its just not possible.

[@RhaeyaCreations]

@@vainpiers It doesn't take much for waist reduction, you could do that with a simple belt. As for the grommets, you're right. Metal ones weren't a thing back then. As for boning, the boning and the amount of it shifts depending on the era. The 18th century went through a few different incarnations of stays, at the very minium of three. Because they went through two very dramatic shifts of fashion. From the Marie Antionette gowns to the sheer regency gowns. So the stays were changed to accommodate the styles that were in popular fashion at the time.

[@vainpiers]

@@RhaeyaCreations regency era stays generally weren't made to reduce your waist as the styles were heavily inspired by Greek and roman art, which was more naturalistic, they were mostly using cording instead of boning. Tightlacing isn't the act of reducing your waist, it's the act of lacing tightly to reduce your waist significantly. You should read Valerie Steeles work on corsets. I'm writing my dissertation on corsetry.

[@RhaeyaCreations]

@@vainpiers MFA in Costume Design & Historical Costumer for 13 years. Have you looked into Norah Waughs Corsets and Crinolines? or POF by Janet Arnold. Lots of goodies in there, but Norahs will give you a good timeline of all of them in period, as they take all of their sources from Extant examples. But I am well aware of the dresses from the Neoclassicism revival of the 18th century. :) If you'd like to talk ideas for your dissertation, I would be happy to help.

[@vainpiers]

@@RhaeyaCreations Costume Design BA but I'm planning to study a MA in Dress History. regency era is not my strength, I never really was a fan until I saw Emma a couple of nights ago. I love Janet Arnold, I hear her patterns of fashion may be getting reprinted which is exciting considering how expensive the current editions are XD. My areas of interest is Tudor, Georgian and Victorian (with a general interest in undergarments)

[@Sarcasmhime]

I'm not really into the costumes for this show, but I get what they were going for and filmmakers have the prerogative to do their own take on things, as you mentioned. My only real beef is how it repeats the very tired 'corsets are torture!' trope that films and shows keep hauling out again and again, which bears no relation to reality and IMO could *discourage* people from getting into historical costuming.

[@sarabowmer1329]

And the utter lack of linen under the corsets ............

[@Pierre371]

Yea and the fact that, they’re forcing her into a small waist meanwhile the empire waistline look doesn’t even put the focus on the waist in-fact it hides it which just makes it unnecessary.

[@fashionhistoryhub]

I know right. Tightlacing only started in the 1840s and it really goes against the styles of Regency fashion.

[@St-ik5zb]

I think it was more to do with the family and how it separates penelope from her mom and sisters (aka she is " too big", which is a part of her character) The bridgertons don't have "tightlacing scenes", because violet is not so overbearing

[@charlie2.048]

The corset thing angered me too. The show is trying to position itself as progressive and boundary-breaking and yet they chose to push a harmful and regressive sexist myth with the corset scenes.

[@NadineZed]

My biggest gripe with the costuming (with almost all period pieces) is with stays & corsetry. I just think the entire period piece production community needs to move past “stays were a torture device made to keep women in control” as well as the tight lacing. My vision for modernization within a period piece has always been to keep the traditional silhouettes and cuts of clothes but with modern fabrics, colors, prints, and embellishments. But that is just the way my brain has always been.

[@fashionhistoryhub]

Harlots is one of my favourites as well, because it's diverse. Its like people think that diversity wasn't a thing until recently. Don't people understand that trade and travel have existed for thousands of years? If you were suddenly taken back to 18th century London, you would see people from Asia and Africa just going about their business. And yes while it was majority white, it doesn't mean that people of other races weren't there.

[@flyingwind66]

I thought Reign, the recent Little Women, and the recent Anna Karenina looked like garbage and refused to watch them... If a story isn't fantasy (like Cinderella) my brain only has so much threshold for bad/historically inaccurate costuming. My biggest problems with the costumes in Bridgerton are the lack of chemises, tightlacing, and the fact that the Queen and her court were about 20 years out of date. I actually did not mind the colours, the super extra embroidering, and glitter. I think it would be wrong to categorize Bridgerton as "Historical Fantasy" so much as "Historical Fiction"

[@labrette]

You absolutely fool me! I came to your channel looking for a costumes review and I get something more precious tan gold: knowledge and a well versed opinion on a very important subject. Thanks a lot. 💖👏🏼🔥✨

[@sugarcoatedgoggles]

"There's a difference between a fair critique and punching down..." Yes, this exactly.

[@xKT]

I was really excited to see a diverse cast in what is also a period drama. I must admit though, as an avid fan of fashion history the costumes and styling completely took me out of the period aspect of it and it felt as though the bare minimum of research was done. I would have enjoyed it much more if it were a lovely romance period drama with more consideration for maintaining the regency era fashion of the time. Since that's something I get really excited about it ended up being too distracting for me. 💔 Diverse casting and wonderful historically accurate costuming/styling would be the dream! 💕

[@fashionhistoryhub]

That's the thing that irritates me as well, when the costumes are distracting. This is why I absolutely adore the movie The Favourite, because even though they use modern fabrics, the film is very stylized and the "modern" element works for the story they were trying to tell, so the inaccuracy didn't distract me.

[@FairyRosee_]

I thought this was gonna be about how there is simultaneously regency and 18th century costumes.

[@bookhoarding]

This was made before the show came out to talk about racism and gatekeeping. If there’s interest I can talk about the costumes themselves 🥰

[@FairyRosee_]

@@ealusaid oh that's so interesting! I would assume the monarchy would be leading all the fashion trends, but I guess not in this case.

[@miriamlewis2345]

@@ealusaid Thinness was not considered desirable in the period--another anachronism.

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

@@bookhoarding yes! Talk about the costumes!

[@hotjanuary]

@@ealusaid, it’s still a lazy plot device to throw at the modern audience: “oooh, look!, tight-lacing! See how oppressed women were!” It’s done over and over again in period dramas and it perpetuates a myth in the modern audience about how female undergarments were worn and misrepresents their purpose, painting a very different life. Instead of the public outraging that the producers purposely tortured the actresses by tightlacing them and having the corsets against bare skin, the audience believes this is some kind of historical accuracy so the film industry doesn’t get a boycott until they stop the torture in the name of symbolic art.

[@DezMarivette]

Brilliant! Beautiful! You used your voice excellently in so many arenas, and I loved watching what you shared! So much love from here! 💕😁

[@elarnesen]

After reading the Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn two years ago, I was delighted to see that it was coming to film! I have read lots of Regency romance novels (I mean MANY) and I found the first few episodes easy to relate to! I guess I don't look at the costumes as so much the point, as a part of the story, the ambiance, the setting in London, so many other variables make it enjoyable and realistic in my mind! Thanks for the video and the message. Well said. I agree.

[@bookhoarding]

Yeah, after watching it it’s clear that the focus was capturing how it feels to read a Regency romance. And it did it well! Thanks for watching ❤️

[@nienkehuijbens301]

Regarding the diverse cast, i don’t even think it matters whether black people would have actually been dukes and queens or not. It’s not like the show was all that historically accurate in other departments either. If that’s what you’re going to critique, i’d prioritize costumes, setting, social norms, dialogue, and any anachronisms that will give the viewer the wrong idea of what this era was like. These people are not real anyway. Unless you have actual clones of real people who lived then at your disposal as actors, i’d it doesn’t matter too much what they look like. Having a diverse cast is at least a deliberate choice, and it certainly doesn’t take away from historical accuracy any more than those random 18th century dresses they threw in there.

[@ViktoriousDead]

If it had been whites depicting blacks there would be OUTRAGE

[@ViktoriousDead]

@@ealusaid maybe because the majority of shows and movies depicting WESTERN history take place in WESTERN history where there are majority white Europeans participating. Also there are a FRACTION the number of black actors to whites. Your argument is a joke

[@morkmindy1749]

@@ViktoriousDead Considering that the Black actors in the show are very explicitly not playing white characters, your comment is completely irrelevant, and even stupider than it would be if your claim were the case.

[@inmaruiz4439]

When we watch period productions we want accurate sets, accurate costumes and even accurate accents, so why should physical apperance be inaccurate, then? I own that this series is not a historical one, so prehaps the question of race may be somewhat disregarded, however, what should producers do when adapting a story filled with racial issues, such as Othello, for instance? Who should play the main character, then? I don't know, maybe an Asian actress would love to play that part, or perhaps the role of Iago, who precisely uses Othello's race as a weapon against him, so would it be advisable to hire that actress for any of these roles? Would that make any sense?

[@nienkehuijbens301]

@@inmaruiz4439 i apologize in advance if this is incoherent. It’s late. What you’re forgetting here is that there’s no single ‘one size fits all’ approach to art. Choices are made based on the intent behind the period piece. If the intent is to reproduce history *exactly* - and of course that’s a perfectly valid goal - then sure, get a cast that looks as accurate as possible. The same goes for a piece in which race is a factor, as you pointed out. However, history has much more uses than that. When we write our history, we do so from a modern perspective. You can try to be as objective as possible, or you can embrace that subjectivity and use it to further modern goals. History can then be a means of reflection of our own world: for instance, by examining the roots of modern issues, judging the past from a current perspective or comparing ourselves to previous eras. The way we choose to represent our history is also a product of our own attitude. It always is, and this show is only doing it deliberately. They might be producing a period piece, but they made the choice to include a cast that’s reflective of current society. It’s a statement. Whether it means that they condemn 19th century racism, showing that this history belongs to everyone, or simply trying to be diverse, i don’t know, but it doesn’t matter much. It’s a legitimate approach to filmmaking and history writing. And it can exist alongside more traditional strategies.

[@indiciaobscure]

I mean, I like the diverse cast and many of the costumes. I respect that it's in an AU and that it's not held to the same standards as a a more strict period film because it's literally a different world. It's a lot like Reign in that it's 'aspirational'- more focus on the dresses being pretty to the modern eye than strictly accurate. But I don't think fiction in general, including modern romantic fiction, is immune from criticism about costumes, especially when they want to use those costumes in worldbuilding and storytelling. I understand 'no bonnets' but some things simply made no sense- opening with a corseting scene when Regency dresses featured in this production in no way showed off the waist. They showed that to be some sort of statement about the times, but it made no sense. I'm much more critical of shows like the Tudors that are based on actual history but internal consistency is important whatever your medium, and it's especially important to hold a fantasy world together.

[@SingingAddicted]

Thank you! As an Austen lover and biracial person I'm so glad to final start seeing period dramas with diverse casts. As a child I dreamed so much of this world and being a part of this community but always felt I could have no place in it because of my skin. Thank you for being an ally and calling people out on the gatekeeping. It means a lot and I hope this show can encourage others like this to be produced.

[@ViktoriousDead]

It’s bullshit. Victorian era England is being re-written with white Europeans being written out of it. If this was white actors portraying blacks there would be outrage

[@SingingAddicted]

@@ViktoriousDead yes because the white Europeans are not the oppressed, so having the oppressors write out the oppressed (as has been happening and still very much happens) is perpetuating the racism situation we are in that led us here. Also, no one is saying everyone was black in victoriana era Europe. They are just being inclusive and diverse in the cast of actors they use to portray characters from fiction. Clearly the importance of representation goes unnoticed to someone who has been privileged enough to have literally every major character through their childhood and adult life look like they (aka white). If you bothered to actually think about and try to empathise (means go put oneself in someone else's shoes and try to understand their point of view) with what I wrote you would realize that it does have a strong impact. If you choose to look at things from a close minded privileged exclusionist point of view, then I can't stop you

[@bookhoarding]

@@Anna-ou7or POC have always been there. You should research the whitewashing of history.

[@bookhoarding]

@@ViktoriousDead Nah, history was already super whitewashed. White Europeans aren't being written out of anything. Stay mad about it, but don't come here spewing white supremacist propaganda.

[@bookhoarding]

Thank YOU. I'm so sorry people are being racist in the comments!

[@comtesseliz]

All your points were so dead on. This is my third time watching this, but first after having seen Bridgerton. How anyone can seriously watch the series and continue to gatekeep (which I have seen) is obvious racism. Regency fans can be better. And I want to thank you for calling it out, and nurturing an Austen community that is inclusive and diverse.

[@madiis18account]

Wait so people can be totally chill with understanding people of colour playing actual people who existed in Hamilton, but if it's a fictional show that doesn't even depict real people who existed it's inaccurate and unacceptable????? I ?????

[@adeolayinka9470]

This was and continues to be the best video about Bridgerton. The conversation is tiring, and all the things you predicted are true.

[@bookhoarding]

Thank you. I’m bummed that the racism and gatekeeping in these spaces was soooo predictable, but I have seen constructive convos coming out of the fallout, so that’s a good thing. Still have a long way to go for some spaces, but we’ll get there. Or just let them burn.

[@wheretheywent]

Thank you for making this queen!!!! This is everything I’ve been thinking since the first teaser was released!

[@ymasen]

Honestly, my one qualm is why did they keep the Queen in 18th century fashion all the time??? I could see Court. But ... I would have loved seeing Golda Rosheuvel in some of the AMAZING empire waist gowns outside of Court. I think they did that to set her apart, but the actress carried her so freaking well, it was a crutch they didn't really NEED. I'm fairly sure Ms Rosheuvel would've been regal AF in a gunny sack. Also, I want more Pen next season in CUTE dresses that aren't yellow. As a plump JA fan who would look atrocious in yellow, I want cosplay ideas ;) But I do love the whole she is being made to wear ugly colors bc no one values her.

[@lolajl]

Maybe because Queen Charlotte insisted on having 18th century fashion as the standard at court in REAL LIFE? This is what happens when you throw history out of the window (especially in the educational system) and directors play fast and loose in order to set up the theme for the production.

[@vainpiers]

@@lolajl it doesn't even make sense if court dress was meant to be a decade behind because when characters are visiting the Palace they're not in the same style.

[@sarabowmer1329]

@@vainpiers www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/443112050818861472/ this was pretty much what young ladies wore in 'Regency' times on attending court. Queen Charlotte was big on hoops for everyone. Regardless of what fashion looked like in the real world :-)

[@vainpiers]

@@sarabowmer1329 you should notice she has the empire waistline despite having the hoops. But also the guests in court should be wearing court dress, it would be rude not to and they wouldn't be allowed in.

[@ymasen]

I'm a history major, thank you kindly. There are plenty of portraits, caricatures and lithographs of from 1799 and onward of the Queen that show a much more regency style than the panier-heavy 1760s-80s styles depicted. I would have loved to see her in the chemise style Marie Antoinette popularized, or a round gown, or Redingote... It'd still been "old fashioned" but less... I guess jarrong. Like I said, if it was just "Court" Proper" that's Court. But she was always dressed like it was the 60s-80s. :/ I get what the costumers were going for, but... Not what I would have done. :/

[@mystic_mimi21]

Spoilers I love the diverse cast and I love that they don’t make a big deal or explain why there are different races. But lord featherton references that the black boxer (friend to Simon) he was the son of a slave who worked for freedom. I didn’t make sense to me that. Surely that would mean all the poc characters came from a similar background. Please correct me if I’m wrong and explain to me . 2 I hated that the stays were on bare skin . Put on a shift. 3 I hated that Eloise called her stays a corset. I hate how undergarments are depicted . And push this weird idea that women were confined in their stays. Women worked fields, played sports went riding. They weren’t restrictive.

[@jemimajanvier4706]

I agree with every point that you just made. It annoys me that corsets are so incorrectly portrayed in modern television.

[@lilrummager]

Thank you for making this video!! The gatekeeping is a real problem, and it's pushing people away from historical costuming. Those parts can be fixed. We just need to continue being present, and help support whoever, or whatever is getting beaten down. Anyway, well said and great examples given on how this community can become even better : )

[@bookhoarding]

And that's my fear, that in this moment people might want to join the community after loving this show, but then see this gatekeeping and not feel welcomed, or just plain kept out of spaces.

[@elizabethredmond5517]

Representation has long been overdue for so many in the historical fiction world. You were amazing to call people out on their thinly veiled BS. Seriously, I cannot praise this video enough.

[@CShockr1]

The costume and color story in this series is amazeballs!!! So well plotted and adds to the narrative...especially in regards to the Featheringtons (new wealth) vs. the Bridgerton's (old guard) color and pattern choices

[@vainpiers]

Im not really a fan of the series because it seems to not actually want to be a period piece it just wants the oppression of women side. The queen's costumes are set a decade later than everyone else which is unusual since they'd be the ones leading fashion. However having poc actors and actresses is a non-issue, things that take me out of historical accuracy is sillouhettes, fabric, lack of hair curling over night, hair being down, lack of chemises, not skin colour. I'm even more lenient on hair accuracy for black actors/actresses as long as it looks historically inspired because you can't really aspect afro hair to behave the same as straight/wavy hair.

[@Iminawe69]

Someone mentioned George's illness and her trying to look how she would have when he was in his right mind 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@vainpiers]

@@Iminawe69 that wasn't established so it's just jarring.

[@heatherfarthing5661]

I liked the diverse cast. The actors were wonderful. An actor should be chosen for how well they portray the character not the skin color.

[@miriamlewis2345]

Bianca, thanks so much for this. Having binged it in two and a half days and started over again, I'm so loving it, and Duke Simon has shoved Jamie Fraser out of first place in the fictional boyfriend husband department! Having been warned before hand that HA was not a priority, I was prepared for what I saw and really enjoyed the excellent storytelling done by the costume design. Yes, there were SO MANY historical inaccuracies, but no, for the most part, they didn't bother me (except Lady F's silhouette--I couldn't get over it). The casting was fantastic and I loved that it was both part of the story line and also just normal people come in all races/ethnicities. Yay for that, I want more! Also, I don't know about anybody else, but I am an equal-opportunity critiquer of HA, depending on what it is--not whether it is a POC project. Don't get me started on Little Women. I'm a costume designer and I absolutely understand that there is much more to costume design than historical accuracy, so my critiques are based on whether I think HA is important to the storytelling or not and to what degree. And if I think the designer has done a good job.

[@pinkleish1]

I couldn’t take my eyes off the entire production. Wish people would get over that people ..... people come in different shades and sizes. That is the way it is on planet earth. Merlin was very much like this. Thank you for your video !

[@mywoodencubes]

The Great, set in 18th Century Russia, has a very diverse cast ( an Indian guy playing orlov, who was a key piece of the coup) inaccurate costumes, a whimsical comedic script and fictionalized history, yet it did not garner as much criticism as this series. They went to great lengths to say the Great is mostly a work of fiction. Or how about the rap lyrical genius of Hamilton? If things are well made, people are willing to overlook a lot and they don't even raise questions on creative license in costuming or in diverse casting.

[@courtneywalsh9780]

The show was so fun!! And as someone who loves Dress History I loved all of the Easter eggs I saw!!! You can tell there was research done in terms of silhouette and the passage of time through dress! Sure there are some anachronisms- but they support the plot!!! And the Diverse cast was AMAZING!!! My only problem with the show doesn’t even have to do with the cast or the costumes but “That Scene” at the end of episode 6! But overall I enjoyed it! I’ve binged it twice and have already started reading the books!

[@lyndaelewis]

Louder for the people in the back!

[@bookhoarding]

This video will magically be all the way to 11 for those people in particular when they watch.

[@andraste6746]

This is so well said. I have had this discussion with people. I am very tired of people disguising racism under the guise of what they say is historical accuracy.

[@lindagoulder8934]

I, agree with Bianca there were people of color who existed in Regency Enland. In London, there were over 10,000-20,000 that lived in London during the time of Jane Austen. The number has been estimated to be as high as 30,000 across England, Scotland, and Ireland.

[@GrumpyYank26]

I am a regency romance fan (Georgette Heyer, sigh, love) and a little geeky about costuming. I pick apart costumes no matter who is in the cast. 'Authentic' costuming is a goal for some productions, no matter if it is a fictional story or not. I LOVE the casting of this show! There WERE people of color in England during this time, many ppl think there weren't because of white washing etc... At first I was bummed that the costumes were so so not representative of what everyday dress was like. However, after watching for a while I started to think that these choices were made intentionally and let go of that whole thing and just enjoyed the show. I don't think critique of the costuming is code for not wanting to see color in the casting. Not for me anyway.

[@bellablow4287]

I'm so exhausted with the United freaking States of America

[@melissamoonchild9216]

Honey I dont know where you are but I think I speak for most Americans when I say, so are we

[@lindagoulder8934]

As a living historian and historical costumer who has fifteen years experience being invited to living history events, including recreating period impression ware. I have faced the same situation, with a certain faction of the reenactment community, while it is great that they are as historically accurate as they are able to be, they will never be completely historically accurate. No one living in modern society will ever be completely historically accurate, no matter how much historical research they do. While, the textiles of today come close to the textiles of the period, they are not historically accurate and trying to find the historically correct textiles of the period, to use for recreating impression ware is impossible. While, there are extant garments in museums; you definitely wouldn't want to use those textiles to recreate impression ware from. Unless, you are born in the period of time, you have a fascination with and grow up in. Including residing in that society and learning their customs and norms. Not to mention, purchasing the textiles and learning the sewing, including life skills of the time, not to mention using implements of the period and using them on a daily basis.

[@bowmanme2003]

I appreciate your directness. Ellen Mirojnick has stated numerous times and in numerous places that her designs are inspired by the Regency time period. It was never intended to be historically accurate. Her design was meant to help tell a story. It's beautiful eye candy and I hope the bullies find a new way to 1. enjoy it and 2. to develop their self-esteem instead of choosing to tear other people down in order to demonstrate superiority.

[@melissamoonchild9216]

Ok initially, I HATED the costumes, they seemed garish and overly whimsical..but now that I understand the context a little better I'm feeling a little better about it

[@JasZRose]

Hi, I was wondering if you could please add subtitles. The autogenerated ones are awful. Thanks :)

[@bookhoarding]

Oh thanks for pointing that out! They hadn't finished uploading this morning so I had no idea. Working on it now.

[@margotlecler6305]

I do HA clothing and like the costumes in Bridgerton. The menswear especially is beautiful. I also like how the characters reuse and update clothing. I think the costuming makes sense and thought was put into it. Even the “tight lacing” comments make sense for the genre of the source material (a modern romance). My main annoyance costume wise was no chemise under corset cause... ow for actresses. Especially cause in many scenes they obviously were wearing one, lol.

[@LauraIngallsGunn]

I really enjoyed this video, thank you! I am looking forward to Bridgerton. Is #bridgertonbrunch going to be on IG?

[@bookhoarding]

Sure! It won’t be as instantaneous there, but you can participate there if you’d like.

[@ChicoHalli]

You are a force for good. P.S., love your hair

[@oceanfaery81]

I’ve been reading Regency romance for 20 years and there’s always an element of fantasy and imagination to the stories. (How many dukes were there in Regency England? Not nearly as many as fiction wishes! 😄) While I’m not in the costume community, I’m very excited about the frothy and floral confections I’ve seen from Bridgerton so far! Accuracy in the costumes will not be what I focus on, but what they tell us about each character. And I’ll certainly call out other white people who say people of colour are anachronistic in this setting or shouldn’t be portraying members of the ton.

[@bookhoarding]

How many dudes INDEED!

[@oceanfaery81]

@@bookhoarding I've just read the first few chapters of the first Bridgerton book - and I hope people aren't upset that the Duke isn't blue eyed like in the book, because Book Daphne is not blonde! It seems more important that he has the look of his father so his legitimacy is without question. #doublestandards

[@heather3021]

Yes, let people enjoy their things! Isn't it harder to dig for and then spout such negativity then it would be just sitting back and enjoying stuff? You know what I want to see? People making videos/posts about the costumes in films that they LOVE and those with their favorites, not the best, or the most accurate or the most awarded or the costumes they are SUPPOSED to like. Personally, I get pretty irked when I hear someone take a film/costume I loved and not only say they don't like it, but actually start laughing or making fun of it. I enjoy snark as much as the next girl but come on now.

[@LibbyLeeEgan]

stfu gatekeepers let me enjoy my modernized regency shondaland fanfic. Thanks for making this video Bianca!

[@bookhoarding]

Thank you! I’m here to make room for people to enjoy things.

[@lostgirlcosplay14]

YES!!! I see this in the Disney Cosplay groups all the time

[@tyleralexander446]

Exactly!

[@carmendelcastillo7724]

My one issue but it's not so badly is that I thought this was going to be a whitney Houston Cinderella type of show. I was so down for that. That movie is a gem and it doesnt matter that the king and queen, who are a white and black interracial couple, have an asian son. Theres a quip that they added to the story that they didn't touch upon any further it was between the Duke of hastings and Lady Danbury where she says that love can change so much look at where it's got us. We as the watcher are left to infer that when the king married Charlotte that there was a plethora of black and non black poc who were able to join the ton. To which hastings says that it could be easily taken away blah blah blah. I wonder if it's a one off or if we will be seeing that be explored more in further seasons. This show and this genre while predominantly white historically could make it so that we see more diversity in historical romance and elevation of non black poc. Especially asian men who have desexualized for so long. This was long but I appreciate your input. The show was great and the diverse cast was great too. I'm hoping to read the books soon.

[@kellievans7457]

Yes! Amen!

[@bookNerd151]

So confused....I thought Bridgerton used *BLIND* casting (much like Hamilton), not casting that was intended to 'correct' alleged historical whitewashing - such as Queen Charlotte being often depicted as white. Did I get the wrong impression? I both loved and was troubled by the casting in Bridgerton. 1) Representation and seeing yourself in media/history (though Bridgerton is only very loosely historical) are essential, and a sign of progress! 2) BUT also.....blind casting tends to obscure real racial inequalities and the racially-based struggles that non-white people in regency England most definitely faced (in the series Lady Danbury even vaguely alludes to this in a conversation with Lord Hastings). 3) It just doesn't sit right with me to pretend that people of all colors and nationalities socialized, worked, and intermarried with ease at any point before....well ok, not even now! Racism is still SO pervasive, and manifests in such ugly ways in 2020 that it genuinely seems twisted to act like black people didn't struggle in 1813 London in very profound ways. 'Harlots' is not a perfect series, but it does depict the amazing things historical black Londoners accomplished (for which they're often not given credit), and also how their lives were worse in both subtle and dramatic ways because of how their white contemporaries treated them.

[@ranirodriguez]

Not everything black people are apart of or cast in should have to be rooted in struggle. This is a fantasy and is very clearly not meant to be a historical retelling of events in 1813 London. It's more twisted that you use historical accuracy to tear down a production with black leading roles when you likely don't apply that same pressure to other fantasy, period piece films and shows. You're literally proving her point about the elitism and racism surrounding aesthetics and communities. If you truly believed representation matters than you wouldn't be so bothered by them sharing the same space and you would be less concerned with race and more about how well they bring their characters to life. There are countless period dramas that cast exclusively white and you should have just as much trouble with those films as Bridgerton because those movies and series altogether deleted POC from history. Saying racism happened so we have to keep it all white to show that we take POC and their struggles seriously is minimizing their current struggle in Hollywood of representation and not just playing into stereotypical or demeaning roles but showing positive and empowering images of them as well.

[@KacielNolwen]

I laughed when I realised people thought "black people isn't historically accurate" was a valid argument. This is a historically inspired at best story that is in most part not about real people. Can we please understand accuracy wasn't the goal and realise that maybe if you're that bothered about the casting, it has nothing to do with historical accuracy? Yeah.

[@teresitazegers4376]

Its funny to me that sometimes period pieces have really fantastic stuff like time travelling, wizardy, magic, etc and everyone accepts it, and yet they put black actors that are chosen because they are GREAT at what they do, all the Karens are like “but the AccURaCy” like come on!!! It really blows my mind that so many people can’t handle the fact that thankfully the show bussiness is evolutionating and choosing actors because of their skills and not just because of the way they look!

[@emjenkins464]

Honesyly they were pretty good and stylised, so only the *Wish tiaras* really pulled me out. Overall I had no real problem with it, its a stylised romance world and my recognition of the tiaras was purely down to a fandom past. (I spent too long looking at Feyre outfit moodboards back in like 2016 in the ACOTAR spaces)

[@rosemeuschke6121]

Here here! Bridgerton was delightful.

[@melaniev9446]

If this series was about the racism that existed then and the struggle non whites had to go through in London, or even just the full on ignoring their existence, then I could see a complaint on the diverse cast having a point. But that's not at all the point of the series, even the show knows this with how little they focus on such issues. It's primarily a romance series so quite obviously that is where the focus should be. As for the costumes, while inaccurate they fit the feel they are going for very well. Indeed many remind me of what we see on romance book covers, dresses that give off a feel of the time period but are heavily influenced by modern times. My only real criticism is a spoiler of sorts; Penelope still looked beautiful in her yellow dresses.

[@leeni103]

Thank you so much for making this

[@bookhoarding]

It needs to be said. I just hope it makes and difference and gets through to some people. Thank YOU for watching. 💖

[@amiflores3677]

The costumes in reign are crap, it is perfectly fine to not be historically accurate. Hollywood has made it clear that they're not interested in historical accuracy when it comes to wardrobe, but reign made their costumes not only not historically accurate they made them basic AF and super ugly. Someone once said that they look like they bought all their wardrobe off of wish and I agree. Bridgerton might not be historically accurate, but the costumes are at least beautiful (except a couple that look like prom dresses but are still really cute)

[@Chocotreacle]

What does the costumes have to do with the actors?

[@papasucre]

Well done, Bianca!

[@bookhoarding]

Thank you! I hope it helps with convos I know are gonna come up in some spaces this week.

[@melsch8740]

The plot of the show got rather boring to me after like, half of the show (I thought the center drama around Daphne and Simon boring and would have preferred more of Lady whitledown roasting people😂) Either way, the costumes and the diverse cast were one of my favorite parts of the series. It's obviously not set in real London, so I can forgive the creative liberty taken with the costumes (except for the undergarments lol)

[@rosedalinevaletine6931]

I wouldn’t call her Black, but maybe a biracial woman, as the lady in the show who played her is.

[@francescalittle]

Well said! I love that you point out the double standards.

[@Ventura0404]

Can we not just watch a movie for the The movie. I don’t care who’s acting all I care are they acting well. Why does it have to be about color. I don’t care can you do the job that’s all I care I love the movie. That’s all need to be said. Who gives a rats butt about the costumes did you like the movie did it make you feel good did it make you happy did it make you cry. That’s all it matters it’s a movie!

[@hotjanuary]

Movies don’t exist in a vacuum. The culture of the audience plays a huge part in how this movie is to be perceived. That’s why art is criticized in context of the audience of its time.

[@Ventura0404]

@@hotjanuary lol, they don’t but that are the one making them. If not like and some people think they can do better then then need to put up the money and make one. As I said, the show was very good and I love the Actors do it a great job. But to each their own.

[@meganwolf8761]

YES! THIS!

[@AnnaRoseMahoney]

Great video!

[@bookhoarding]

Thank you!

[@amandadublin3129]

I loved the casting although I'll be honest I'm not sure the cast was as diverse as it could have been, for example hopefully they'll have more Asian representation in future seasons. I don't really take your point on costuming though, I almost find the video title clicbaity... As valid as your arguments are they aren't really related to costumes right. The womens costumes were almost all a bit trashy... Even Daphne who seemed to get the chicest dresses often had weird bits of cheap, sometimes odd coloured net attached to her. I thought the mens costumes faired much better.

[@bookhoarding]

Hi there! I appreciate you for watching the video but not sure why you feel the need to ignore the content of the video and then accuse me of being clickbaity? This is addressing conversations happening the costume community, and clearly says it was filmed before Bridgerton came out. I feel like I say multiple times that the point is not your opinions on costumes, but how they are presented and how they lead to gatekeeping.

[@amandadublin3129]

@@bookhoarding In a video titled 'we need to talk about the costumes in bridgerton' I was confused by the fact you spent very little time talking about that the actual costumes in bridgerton. If a title implies content that the video doesn't possess... That's clickbait. I also don't really agree with your premise... The costumes weren't great, I can say that having enjoyed the story and the cast.

[@bookhoarding]

@@amandadublin3129 Is that a video you want me to make? I could now that the show is out.

[@amandadublin3129]

@@bookhoarding I actually thought your video was great, you addressed really important topics. Do not get me wrong there. I just didn't feel it was very related to the title of the video. After hearing ignorant people who hadn't seen the show criticise it because of 'inaccurate' casting for months, I was just after a lighthearted video now the show is out. ... about how all the jewelry looked like bargain store Christmas cracker prizes, the underwear looks more lá perla than George III or how they've line Penelope up for the ultimate glow up by putting her in dresses two size too small for the first season (I'm surprised the girl can feel her hands circulation must have been so badly cut off). It wasn't the video I personally was looking for for sure, but maybe you tricked some folk into deeper thought by drawing them in with costumes.

[@TheGothicSunrise]

Well said!

[@rillaholmes6209]

Well said! Thank you!

[@bookhoarding]

thank you for watching

[@mcruz2357]

I like your argument, but if you could slow down your speech please? I could follow better.

[@bookhoarding]

that's the way I talk when excited :)

[@Gna_d54]

Aside from the obvious problem of trashing art that is painfully obviously an artistic interpretation of historical times, It should also be noted that the majority of the more popular costubers are not in any way shape or form historians. Even the darling of the community doesn't even have an undergraduate degree in history and has only been studying in this hobby for a little over 2 years. No matter what their clickbait costume trashing titles refer to themselves as - they are not authorities on history or historical accuracy.

[@nerdmaid1240]

Who do you mean by 'the darling of the community'? I've only ever watched videos on here by people who know their stuff, and it feels a little unfair to make that statement without allowing anyone to know who you are referring to, as you are criticising without chance for a response. I'd also like to know if I'm already watching them, because they are clearly someone who talks about what I'm interested in. Also, having a degree in something is not what makes you an expert in it. I have an English degree but I absolutely do not know everything about literature, because the subject is too wide and across the whole of our history, just like knowledge of historical costume. A degree only means that somebody else directed your study and that you can prove a level of knowledge on a subject. Somebody who didn't go to university is able to self-study, and it is very possible to become more knowledgeable about regency costume over a two year period by studying it intensely, than someone who attended a generic historical costume course for three years that allowed them to specialise for one or two years. Lots of people in this community make their own costumes, and many of them are self-taught in both sewing and historical accuracy.

[@Gna_d54]

@@nerdmaid1240 Referring to Banner. Sorry but the title of historian is a professional one. No you don't have to have a graduate degree in it but it also denotes someone who has published a peer reviewed study to contribute novel information to the field. Your point would be correct if I was referring to someone who had exclusively studied a regional specific area for 2 years however self-studying general historical fashion across a 1000 year time span and multiple countries for that length fo time does not make anyone an expert. The people chiming in lately to trash all these movies and shows do not have an area of expertise. They don't contribute anything new that you wouldn't get in an introductory book on fashion history. They just regurgitate the same things their friends are saying.

[@nerdmaid1240]

Ah, I do watch her, and I don't know much about her background, but I do like her videos. Sorry, I didn't mean to be in any way snarky myself, and I apologise if I came across that way. I accept that someone is not necessarily a historian if they post about history, and I would in no way want to discredit someone who has studied for a qualification. I just get irritated when people generalise about KZbinrs as if they can't know their stuff because of where they talk about it. I've seen multiple posts this week, not just on this topic, where there has been a real snobbery about KZbin, assuming that if someone uses social media as a platform, they can't possibly know what they're talking about. I'm researching a fiction book I'm writing, and KZbin has been a fantastic place to research historical costume because it's so visual. I do realise that not all information is to be relied upon though, and in that I agree with you.

[@raquelhayley]

👏👏👏

[@Candies1Creations]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@MrFWKnight]

THis is great :)

[@bookhoarding]

You’re great!