Eloise’s Season of Ruffles and Muffs
Eloise- Claudia Jessie
Costume Designer – John Glaser, George Sayer & Dougie Hawkes
May 2024 Netflix dropped first part of the third Season of their hit romance series Bridgeton. Under the direction of a new show runner, season three follows the fourth book in the Julia Quinn Bridgerton book series Romancing Minster Bridgerton which is Colin and Penelope’s love story.
This post is an updated version my article that was on hubpages
Eloise’s 2nd Season in Society
Following Eloise’s and Penelope’s blow-up fight at the end of season two, season three picks up with Penelope alone and in want of a husband while Eloise tries to fit into society along side a friendship with Cressida Cowper. Eloise’s friendship with Cressida was odd but they actual seemed like good friends at the start.
Eloise’s costumes in season three reflect a conformity as she keeps mostly to the Ton’s fashion of textures, ruffles and bows as well wearing Bridgerton soft blues. She has also maintained her familial color palette but she does wears more greens, purple and pinks in previous seasons. She still wears those colors but more often than not she wears blues.
Eloise has around 27 costumes with an occasion repeat. Also Claudia Jessie broke her wrist early in filming which is why her hand is so often covered by what the production dubbed a “Summer Muff.”
How I Ranked Her Top 10 Costumes
The costumes were ranked on aesthetics, memorability and how they reflect Eloise’s character.
List subject to change and spoilers for season 3.
10. The Engagement Gown
Eloise goes antagonist at Penelope and Colin’s engagement party as she has given Penelope till midnight to come clean to Colin about being Lady Whistledown. While putting the pressure on Penelope, Eloise’s gown reads sweet and more in line with Cressida’s aesthetics. It’s a short puffed sleeved beige evening gown with a gold thread weave in the
fabric and pink three-dimensional floral accents.
While this dress however is a little more Eloise under Cressida’s influence it’s as the party that the friendship sours.
9. The Blue Day Dress
One of Eloise’s more demure looks, she wears this when she is at home with her family when John Stirling introduces himself to the Bridgeton. She also wears this on an outing to book collection.
The day dress is a light gray-blue with a woven white serpentine pattern running down the dress. Three blue fabric flowers adorned the each of the puffed sleeves adding to the sweetness. This dress feels like Eloise conforming into society but it still feels in her style sensibilities as a Bridgerton.
Plus it was cute how she tried to dodge John thinking he is calling on her and being in awe of Francesca and John’s silent interaction, classic Eloise.
8. The Blue Pleated Waistcoat Dress Combo
Much like in previous seasons, Eloise wears outfits comprised of a waistcoat with a matching dress. However in season three the combinations skew more feminine and less like menswear.
The outfit she wears in episode five as she comes to terms with both Penelope and Colin’s romance and not knowing that they even had feeling for each other is one such outfit.
It’s a muted blue dress with a soft geometric pattern. The waistcoat has a rounded double wide pleated trim along the neckline and the cuffs adding a refined touch.
Unlike so many costumes in season three it doesn’t have a lot of texture or excess of trim so it feel quieter and edited which reflects Eloise’s mood.
7. The Dankworth/Finch Ball Gown
Bridgerton season three culminates in the Dankworth/Finch Ball hosted by Penelope’s sister. The ball centers on the color purple and orange with crystal, gold, hundreds of flowers and of course bugs.
Quite a lot of set-ups and pay-off happens at this ball but one smaller set-up is Eloise asking her newly married sister, Francesca, if she can accompany her to Scotland.
Eloise’s ballgown is a sparkly teal gown with short puffed sleeves. It’s enveloped in green iridescent sequins and silver beading. The beading as bird-like design, symbolic of Eloise going to Scotland to spread her wings.
6. The Sheer White Dress
This sheer white day look of Eloise is one her softer looks. She wears it twice in season three once in episode one and again in episode eight.
The look is soft and diaphanous with a light muted blueish design that adds just a hint of contrast. Another bit of contrast is the low-high neckline. There are also some embroidered flowers on the outer layer. The under dress is white and sleeveless.
This outfit does look very modern but still works within Bridgerton and for Eloise’s styl
5. The Tweed & Plaid Outfit
Following in the vein of some her previous season looks, Eloise wears a charming tweed waistcoat with a blue plaid dress in episode two to the modiste with her sister and mother.
The tweed-like fabric is cream with blue details while the dress is light blue with white plaid pattern. The fabric of the dress is used as a bow at the neck.
A lot the costumes in season three try to invoke Chanel by way the Regency era mixed 1980s flair. Some costumes work better than others. This one is less 80s and more Chanel and it does work within Eloise’s style.
4. The Presentation Attire
Much like past seasons, Bridgerton’s premiere episode coincides with start of the London season and the presentation of the debutantes. Also like in past seasons this means one of the Bridgerton daughters is presented to the Queen and in season three it’s Francesca’s turn.
Eloise is this time is on the sideline thus not in the line of fire. For Eloise’s season opening look she wears a pale muted blue ensemble. It has three-dimensional floral appliqués on the skirt. The sleeves are long sheer white with three-dimensional floral appliqués. The most notable part of this costume is the two-tier white collar with bow with a silver crystal brooch. It read as an update to her previous chemisettes.
This look was heavily used in promotional material and has been liken to Audrey Hepburn’s costume from My Fair Lady because the collars are so similar.
3. The Green Lotus Coat with Purple Dress
Though Eloise wears this coat with two different dresses it one her most memorable outfits from season three. The long coat is green has white lotus embroidery with silver metallic embroidered circles and leaves. The sleeves have tier ruffle godets in a coordinating green color. The green of the coat is contrasted beautifully against the light pinkish purple dress which matches the infamous “summer muff.”
The colors are tied together with the striped ribbon used as a crisscross closure at the neck and a bow at the back.
The crisscross is secured beaded brooch. A different crisscross ribbon is used to the match the other dress paired with this coat in episode three.
Eloise and Cressida had an odd yet compelling friendship at the start of the season.
2. The Blue Floral Dress
After it gets out that Penelope enlisted Colin’s help to attach a husband, Eloise feels responsible as she told Cressida and it was overheard by a debutante eager for gossip. She apologizes to Penelope by paying her a visit. In this scene she wears blue with contrasting white sheer puffed sleeves which matches the trim at the waist along with some three- dimensional floral appliques.
It’s a peak Bridgerton family day dress. Claudia Jessie’s injury is hidden with a lovely blue lace shawl. Once you notice the production concealing the injury you can’t unsee it.
This dress was used in promotion material for season three.
1. The Celestial Geranium Ball Gown
Hands-down one of Eloise’s best costumes in all of Bridgerton is the ballgown she wears in the second episode to the Full Moon Ball which has a celestial theme.
Her gown is green with silver beading and sequins. The standout detail however are the large scale sheer fabric flower appliqués all over the gown. The flower aregeranium pratense is a hidden detail that hints to her book in the series.
Her crystal necklace has vintage retro flares which pick up the sparkles of her gown.
This gown was one of the first pictures of Eloise from season three and it made quite the impression.
