With the boredom of a third lockdown, the UK is turning on their TV’s for yet another need for escapism. This year it’s all about Bridgerton on Netflix – a show that reached over 63 million households in its first four weeks, and newcomer to UK TV screens, The Great on Channel 4. Both are visually stunning to watch; stylistically en pointe with costumes ranging from the Regency and Baroque era, to the Enlightenment period, both set in palaces, grand estates and beautiful scenery. This is apparently just what we needed to drag ourselves out of the tie-dye tracksuits and into something a little more decadent; From cottagecore to cabincore, introducing the Regencycore trend, dubbed by fashion search platform Lyst.
According to the Lyst report, in the same timeframe these TV shows have been watched, viewers have sent searches for corsets (+123%), pearl and feather headbands (+49%), long gloves (+23%) and empire line dresses (+93%) soaring on google. The most sought after pieces are; headpieces by Simone Rocha and Magnetic Midnight, corsets by Rasario and Dion Lee, and dresses by Brock Collection and Erdem. The effect has also been noted on eBay, with searches for corsets up 39 per cent, puff-sleeve dresses by 26 per cent up and crystal earrings by 34 per cent, while shopping services such as Like To Know It and Lyst report searches for corsets have increased by more than 100 percent within the past month.
Bridgerton Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick expertly reimagined the dress code of Regency London whilst adding a contemporary twist to its characters, breathing new life into outfits from the 19th century with the addition of vibrant colours, opulent jewels and mismatching outlandish prints. Speaking with Harpers Bazaar U.S., Mirojnick said she was hoping to overlay the look of the Regency era “with a bit of a modern sensibility, make it aspirational, intriguing, and with somewhat of a layer that would actually be very imaginative.”
Fashion stylist Rebecca Lockwood says; “Recencycore encapsulates luxury and what more could we need to lift our spirits after a difficult year in 2020 than some opulence, elegance and sophistication.” Luckily, you can easily incorporate the trend into your wardrobe. Not to say you’ll start seeing people walking down the street in corseted dresses and full 19th century regalia, but with some simple styling pieces and an ornate headband will instantly elevate your look. Although this recent renaissance can be attributed to more than the period dramas – last summer saw celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa embrace the ‘summer corset’. While traditional corsets are notoriously uncomfortable, things have considerably improved since the 19th century.
Keep an eye out for long dresses, made of either floral or silk-like material and empire line cuts which are fitted under the chest and produce an elegant A-line silhouette. Low square necklines are also a great way of bringing a hint of ‘Regencycore’ to your normal wardrobe. For puff-sleeve options, opt for a garment with a square or sweetheart neckline, dresses in block colours like aqua, cream or mint green, or bold motifs give the silhouette a modern finish.
Debutant, Duchess or Empress – whatever your newfound title, this new trend looks good enough to catch the attention of the Duke of Hastings (and his spoon).
Sufiyeh Hadian-Clarke
