Sophie Baek: The Lady in Silver & A Maid
Sophie: Yerin Ha
Costume Designers: John Glaser, George Sayer & Dougie Hawkes
Based the book series of the same name, Netflix’s Bridgerton Season four is based on the third book “An Offer from a Gentleman.” This time the trope is a Cinderella-like story with the focus being of class division as second son Benedict falls for a seemingly lower ranking maid Sophie Baek
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Bridgerton’s Take on Cinderella
Sophie is a Cinderella-type character as she is forced to be a maid under her step-mother. She also sneaks into a ball when she meets Benedict. However since it’s a masked ball he doesn’t know the identity of the lady that he fell for and goes on quest to find her only to meet and fall for Sophie. It’s a love triangle with two people.
Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of The former Earl of Penwood and a maid. She was raised under the cover of being the Earl’s ward, which offered her a more secure repeatable status in the eyes of society but her step-mother Araminta lied to her after the Earl died and forced into being a maid. So while Sophie is very educated she exists between to realms of society.
Sophie’s Costumes
The vast majority of Sophie’s costumes are different than the rest of the Bridgerton ladies. First difference is that has she only have 11 total costume changes, not counting her childhood flashback, outwear and her nightwear. Also unlike most of the other Bridgerton characters most of her costumes are either uniforms or borrowed from other characters. Only three of her costumes are her own style choices. That is not to say that her costumes are not nice or flattering on her, some really lovely. When Sophie does dress to get own style the looks are simpler and more grounded that the other characters especially when compared to the past leading ladies. Maybe in season five will see her style evolve.
This page lists Sophie’s 5 best costumes from Bridgeton season four. The costumes were ranked on aesthetics, memorability and how they reflect Sophie as a character maybe not so much to her own sense of style but more how they fit her overall arc. Plus one honorable mention.
I do try to objective but subjective opinions do affect the rankings. So you opinion may differ.
List is subject to change
Also spoilers
5. The Wedding Gown
Initially there wasn’t going to be an on-screen wedding for Sophie and Benedict. The season was going to close out with their final waltz in the gazebo which would have book-ended their romance but the show-runner and director fought for a wedding scene and the compromise was post credits scene.
Ultimately for Benedict and Sophie their wedding is actually very important to the overall conflict of the entire season. Marriage gives Sophie the respectability and stability she craves so their wedding scene was necessary to close out their season.
Their nuptials take place at their country manor house “Our Cottage” formerly “My Cottage” the site where they first fell in love as Sophie and Benedict. As it’s a country wedding the styling takes on a more simplistic rustic aesthetic. Sophie’s wedding gown was described “magical” in the script and costume designer added in “romantic” while keeping to Sophie’s grounded sense of simplicity.
Her wedding gown is a combination of heavy weight silk with a sparkling beaded skirt. The bodice has warped detail at the bodice that extends into a long train. This silk material is also used has short puffed sleeves and the bodice and train are both embellished with tulle flowers.
The skirt is embellished with white beading and sequins which echos Sophie’s masquerade outfit.
Her accessories are also very in keeping with Sophie’s character as she wears her mother’s amethyst necklace with earrings that complement. Her long veil is also tied in bow which is very reminiscent of her mask from the Masquerade ball.
The dress does have Sophie sense of simplicity but also her ethereal charm. It’s also great to a look for her that is all her own not borrowed and an outfit of joy and celebration.
4. The Cavender Maid Uniform
Sophie has three different maid uniforms in season 4 but it’s the Cavender uniform that makes this list. This dress is the closest to an actually Regency look that we might get a leading lady wearing in this show, it looks akin something a Dashwood sister of Sense and Sensibility might have worn minus the slight shiner fabric which works for Bridgerton and quick side-note I adore the 95 movie version of Sense and Sensibility .
The Cavender uniform is deep almost in some lighting brownish purple plaid and it looks lovely on Sophie. Oddly this color ties in to the purple color associated with her necklace. The darker color stands out because it’s more an autumn palette which is new this season.
he sleeves are three-quarter with pleated cuffs.. The white sheer fichu collars add softness and works to hid her necklace from view. It’s also an element of the period and adds touch romance and etherealness.
This dress was also a lot in promotions.
3. The Silver Gown
Arguably the biggest costume moment in Bridgerton is Violet’s Masquerade Ball. It’s pivotal in the book series as well in the show. This is the ball when Sophie and Benedict first meet and fall for one another. Only issue that Sophie conceals her identity at every turn via her vague non-answers and her nearly full coverage mask. This is because she snuck into the ball so while she trying to not to stand out instead opting to just enjoy herself it’s her joy that makes her stand out to Benedict.
Much like in the book Sophie wears a silver gown giving her the alias as ”The Lady in Silver.” Unlike the book the show’s version opts to forgo the typical Cinderella big full ball gown silhouette and went to an earlier Regency style effectively making this her aunt’s old gown instead of her grandmother’s old gown.
The gown is more simplistic compared to the other ladies of the ton which suits Sophie and also makes her stand out to Benedict. The neckline is slightly-off-the shoulder and rounded. The sleeves have bow-like adornments with sheer white pleated tulle layered under creating a soft romantic look. The gown also uses some vintage pieces in its construction.
The gown is embellished in with silver crystals which add to dreamy romantic look that the production wanted for this costume. The gown creates a blurry soft look as it made from silver lame with sheer beaded embroidered tulle layered over which adds interesting and texture to the lower portion of the skirt. This gown is much prettier in motion than the earlier photos however it wasn’t the grand costume moment from the books it’s much more a softer, pared down intimated outfit.
Another factor that is debate around this costume is the nearly full coverage beaded mask. In the show Sophie made it 10 minutes before the ball as replacement mask for her haughty step-sister Rosamond and while it is prettier in motion it is a point of contention for many fans. It does add plausible deniability as to why Benedict couldn’t recognize Sophie sooner.
This costume was used for Sophie’s Funk Pop figure.
2. The Mourning Outfit
During a flashback scene Sophie learns that her father didn’t provide for her following his death. This the reason Sophie is forced into becoming Araminta’s unpaid maid. In reality this was a lie told her from her stepmother, Araminta, Sophie’s father did leave her an amble dowry and a stipend for her care.
This scene occurs right after her father burial so Sophie is in mourning. Her black outfit is actually her more cliche look. It’s hard to make all the details but she wears a black velvet shawl. Her dress has long sleeves and appears to have black sheer overlay.
While it hard to make out the detail of this costume her earrings have a silver setting with either a red or purple stones. She wear black sheer netted gloves. And finally her hairstyle is gorgeous.
1. Borrowed Blue Day Dress
After reconnecting at Cavender House where Sophie had been working and Benedict was attending a party. Sophie is dismissed after saving her friend from her employer’s son’s advances and Benedict gets caught up and injured in defending Sophie. Benedict convinces Sophie to leave with him back to London, as he fears for her safety walking alone at night. On route it rains, forcing them to take shelter at Benedict’s cottage simply named “My Cottage.” However they get waylaid longer by the injury he got while defending Sophie.
During their time at “My Cottage” Benedict offers her the use of his sister’s old dresses. This particular dress is imagined to be Daphne’s old dress though it defiantly created for Sophie especially since the production has to make multiple of the costume for the shoot.
The dress is a soft blue which is the classic Bridgerton color. It has short puffed sleeves with silver embroidery on the sleeves, waist trim, and on the white sheer skirt overlay.
It looks very much like season one approach to costume as it grounded in the recency in its silhouette but there is a touch to the emblisshlemnt but not overly textural or overly patterned as season 3 and 4 have been.
It’s soft and pretty and is a great combination of Sophie blending to the Bridgerton’s aesthetic.
Honorable Mention
The Lake Scene Dress
Another one of the dresses Sophie borrows while she is staying at “My Cottage” this time it’s Francesca’s old dress. This costume is actually a reused costume from season three as it was the dress Francesca wore under her tweed spencer when John paid her call. The distinct fabric pattern line up perfectly. Sophie wears this dress for the iconic lake scene. The pared down simplicity does work for the scene but pattern is little too much in an odd way.
Also shout-out the borrowed for the other blue dress with pink flowers she worn for a brief moment in episode 8.
Note – Given the amount of costumes Sophie has in season 4 compared to the other character I thought about just ranking all her looks but instead I went for a top 5.
