BELLE OF THE BALL

As the popular show is ready to release its third season, costume designer John Glaser and make-up artist Erika Okvist share their insights on bringing the characters of Bridgerton fo ife

- PRATIKSHA ACHARYA

Penelope Featherington has decided. She is to take a husband this year, and it is to be non-negotiable. If you have been hooked to Shonda Rimes’ period-drama, Bridgerton, which gave us the swoon-worthy ship of Kathony (Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton) and the passionate romance between Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Bassett, you know that the third season is right around the corner. This time around, Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope, who has been a supporting character so far, has all eyes on her as she pursues a possible coupling with her long-time crush, Colin Featherington. Whether their slowburning romance will be endgame is yet to be seen, but the trailer for the show has got tongues wagging, as it looks to be the most sensational season so far.

For starters, Penelope finally decides to stop dressing like a canary, and takes over the narrative as she comes into her own. A close look at the trailer shows how she breaks away from the constraints of her family’s over-the-top persona, and makes a trip to the modiste to get a new wardrobe. Her tightly strung curls have given way to soft, auburn hair that frames her face in a much more flattering way. “She is desperately trying to get herself married off and so we’ve got all those lovely waves in her hair. And then, of course, we added those lovely little kiss curls, which is a telltale sign that she wants to be kissed,” says Erika Ökvist, the hair and make-up visionary behind the regency era drama as she joins us over a Zoom call along with John Glaser, the costume designer, to break down the looks from the third season.

PLEASANTLY CHANGING