Francesca Bridgerton’s 10 Best Costumes from Season 3 of “Bridgerton”
Francesca Bridgerton -Hannah Dodd
Costume Designers – John Glaser, George Sayer & Dougie Hawkes
The third season of Netflix’s Bridgerton released in two parts with part one starting in May 2024. The third season was based on the fourth book of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series which follows Penelope Featherington and Colin’s love story.
This post is has been revised from my original Hubpages article
Francesca Bridgerton: The Season’s Spakler
Season three starts with the third daughter and sixth overall Bridgerton sibling, Francesca, being presented to Queen Charlotte. Francesca in season three is characterized being different from her siblings as she is more introverted, is focuses on music, likes quiet and doesn’t like to be the center of attention.
Also unlike her siblings, Francesca needs a lot of set-up for her eventual season when she is the lead. The first step in her story is her relationship John Stirling. Her relationship with him is easy, comfortable and both enjoy silence together which a nice break from all the passion filled angst that normally occupied Bridgerton Romances. Only time will tell if Francesca’s season will have the same levels of drama, angst and yearning, most likely will have all that and more.
Francesca costumes in the pass two seasons had her in pinks but season three has her more in blues, some pinks and metallic elements. She also wears a lot of Chanel inspired spencers. This season defiantly take more artistic liberties with the costume mixing Regency fashion with bits of the Victorian period, 1950s, 60s and 80s. The costume can be a lot but some are pretty.
The costumes were ranked on aesthetics, memorability and how they reflect Francesca. List could change. Spoilers for Season 3.
There also an honorable mention.
10. Blue and White Lace Dress
When a Bridgerton wants to blend in they wear blue. As Francesca is loathed to be the center of attention she opts to wears blue when she’s in the company of her family.
Her short sleeved day dress is a light blue dress with large scale white lace appliqués that resemble Wedgwood which is so on-point for a Bridgerton and is quite pretty.
She accessories it with her signature pearl necklace which she wears a lot in season three.
9. Metallic Blue Spence & Dress
One of Francesca’s staple outfits are speaker, short Regency style jackets paired with a coordinating dress. Typically her Spencers often channel Chanel with the fabric choice and in their construction.
This Spencer & dress combination is what she is wearing when she runs in John Stirling on the street. While the conversation takes an awkward tun it does lead-in to a romantic gesture later in the episode.
Her outfit in this scene is a muted blue Spencer that has a metallic weave. The front closure is a large flower, which is a signature for Francesca. The bronze colored flower matches the dress which also features a floral pattern with what looks like small pearl beads.
This outfit has many signature hallmarks of Francesca’s sense of style.
8. Dark Blue Dress & Matching Spencer
Much like her older sister, Daphne, Francesca wears a lot of blue costumes. She also wears few costumes that have Chanel Inspired Spencers ( Recency short jackets.) This reflects a refinement in Francesca’s costumes.
This dark blue Spencer dress combo she while walking with John Stirling, The Earl of Kilmartin. It has a sheer which gives it a metallic quality to the weave. The Spencer is fastened with a large floral flower and some rhinestone details that matches the rhinestones at the wrists.
She also wearing her signature pearl necklace which she wears multiple times throughout the season.
This costume is good example of a lot of Francesca costume elements converging together in scene where John pretty much proposes to her.
7. Purple Lace Dress
At the start of the season Francesca is set on finding a match so she can set-up a house that is quiet and peaceful. This leads to an attachment with John who is also fond of peace and quiet. While their relationship doesn’t have the exciting passion that Francesca’s mother wants for her children John and Francesca’s relationship hits a refreshing note that is very engaging.
When Francesca and John announce that they are to wed, Francesca wears a purple lace day dress with puffed sleeves. There is a slight metallic weave to the fabric with fits her style.
6. Hawkin’s Ball Gown
Overwhelmed by Lord Samadani declaring he wants eight children and a house filled with chatter, Francesca escapes a ball for the quiet outside. In that quiet she meets John who is also in search of some silence and suggest they enjoy the silence together. This charms Francesca and thus begins her relationship with the Earl of Kilmartin.
This all is referred to as both The Hawkin’s Ball and the Innoventions Ball. To this Ball Francesca wears a gold metallic gown with a splash of blue. There are some appliqué in the same metallic fabric at the neckline The metallic pattern look beautiful is the firelight as she stand next to John.
The waistline has a layered trim with a wide solid blue which matches the blue of the dress and tulle edging. There some silver decorative pieces along the waist line that are either brooches or some time of embroidery. The waistline extend to a bow with long flowing tails acting as train.
While it’s not a soft fluid gown it still have the essence of romance to it and fits in perfectly with Francesca’s fashion sense.
5. Silvery Flower Evening Gown
Sometimes members of the Ton attend other types of evening events other than balls, sometimes they attend evening soirees that are more low-key but still formal attired.
To a soiree at Stowell House, Francesca dons a silvery blue gown with sheer gold glittery over layer. The gown is further embellished with gold beading, white flowers and crystal rhinestones. Francesca favors metallics and flowers so this pretty gown is right in her wheel-house.
4. Blue Dress with Sheer Overlay
Much is made each London Season of the “It Girl,” that one girl that is labeled “The Incomparable,” a flawless diamond. The thought is that the Queen marks a debutante as such, so all young ladies are vying for her attention to elevate them. However the Queen signals out Francesca and dubs her “The Sparkler.” The idea being that The Queen will arrange an illustrious match for her.
The introduction comes at an Innovation event where there is a Hot-Air Balloon. Francesca is dressed in a light blue dress with a sheer light blueish-gray overlay with a texture. The sheer overlay has a collar and leg-of-mutton sleeves and large bow at the back. Francesca wears a few of these types of garments throughout season three.
Her light blue dress has a subtle blue tonal striped pattern and shot sleeves. The dress also has an overlay that has white leaf pattens at the bottom of skirt.
The effect this costume is soft, slightly romantic and quite pretty.
3. The White Celestial Ballgown
One of the best balls of season three is the Full-Moon ball in episode two. All the attendees are dress in celestial inspired gowns decorated with star and moons.
Francesca’s celestial ballgown is white with a myriad of flat sequins arranged in flower formations with crystal centers. Rhinestone are also applied all over the rest of the gown giving it a shimmering effect much like the moon itself.
2. The Debutante Gown
Following in the footsteps of her older sisters, Francesca’s debutante dress is nearly the same as Daphne and Eloise’s gown as it’s white with gold embroidery and beading. Francesca’s version has more embellishments but Eloise’s has more gold embroidery and Daphne’s is more sparkly with smaller scale dainty ornamental.
Francesca is a combination of the two as she has heavily beaded larger embroidery appliqué but they are less gold than Eloise’s version. She even wears the same gold bow tiara as Eloise.
Another difference is that Francesca is seen in her gown at garden party after the presentation but she wears it with a ruffed stole-like garment instead the train.
1. Francesca’s Wedding Gown
While Francesca has an easy comfortable rapport with John, her path to matrimony is not without hustles. First the Queen and her match-making scheme and then they have to win over Violet who believes that all romantic love should be passionate, exciting and based on friendship. However John and Francesca do wed in a quiet ceremony at Bridgerton house.
Francesca’s wedding gown is one of the loveliest costumes in season three. It’s a two-piece gown with a strapless white under dress that has beading at front which matches the beading on the sheer outer shell. The outer shell is sheer with a dotted texture pattern. It has a pleated collar and cuffs. Pearl beaded appliqués are sewn at the shoulders and in the lower potion of the gown. The neckline, shoulders, and waistline are trimmed with a silvery lace.
A crystal brooch is pinned at the center front of the waist adds some more sparkle.
It’s an exquisite gown that showcases Francesca’s low-key approach to elegances.
Honoranble Mention
The Queen’s Ball Gown
Francesca finds herself at odds between the Queen’s match for her and her own heart. The Queen’s pick is rather ill- suited for her as he wants a house full of noise and Francesca prefers quiet. Meanwhile John is an enigma that she can’t quite figure out. However during the Queen’s ball, John makes a gesture to show Francesca just how he feels and that’s enough for her to make her decision between the two suitors.
Francesca’s ballgown is a short puffed sleeved blue gown with a blue floral lace overlay. The gown is embellished with darker blue lace appliqué flowers and rhinestones.
A glittery sheer gray-blue fabric edges the neckline and is used for the gloves.
It’s a rather sweet and demure look suggesting Francesca is trying to not call too much attention to herself as she already has enough eyes on her.
