Peggy Poised for a Force for Change
Peggy Scott: Denée Benton
Costume Designer: Kasia Walicka-Maimone
HBO’s third season of the “The Gilded Age” premiered in June 2025. It picks up six months after the end of season two, roughly early spring of 1884.
After quitting her job at the Globe due her romantic vibe with Mr. Fortune, Peggy is more of free agent who focused on her stories and her getting chapters published in newspapers. Along with her writing, she is still a secretary at Van Rhijn/Forte household as well getting involved in the Women’s Suffrage movement which is very passionate about. However Peggy’s main storyline is her romance with Dr. William Kirkland, who is from prominent Newport Family.
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Peggy’s Season Three Costumes
Much like in the past seasons, Peggy’s costumes often very chic and sophisticated as they highlight her drive, ambition, and intelligence.
Much like the past seasons, Peggy’s wardrobe is more about quality over quantity. She has about 8 new costumes this season with some rewear from the past two seasons. While she has fewer costumes than the other leading ladies they are all lovely and less decisive in terms of design. She also gets another ballgown this season.
This is a ranked list of Peggy’s 5 Best Costumes from Season Three of “The Gilded Age.” The costumes were ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they reflect Peggy.
This ranked list tries to be as objective as possible but subjective opinions can get in the way.
List Subject to Change
Spoilers through Season Three
5. Green and Orange Dress
One of the hallmarks of Peggy’s costume is asymmetrical draping and details. She wears as asymmetrical detail for her more professional looks. She wears this dress with a myriad of asymmetrical aspects when Marian and Peggy are trying to arrange a new location for an AWSA meeting with Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a prominent suffragette.
The dress is made from a green mottled fabric layered over a bright orange for both the skirt and the bodice. The sleeves are made from both fabrics adding to very colorful contrast.
The shock of color is very youthful but the asymmetrical makes it’s chic for the times.
4. Yellow Lace and Floral Dress
In an effort to spend as much time as possible with Peggy, William takes her to friend’s baseball game. Peggy had never been to baseball game before and had a great time watching the sport. While the two have a fun time together it gets a waylaid by Peggy running into Mr. Fortune who offers her the chance to do an article of women suffragette, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Peggy accepts the assignment despite the fact that she doesn’t work for The Globe anymore.
Peggy’s costume that she wears to the baseball game is an outfit made from yellow lace bodice that also makes up a shorter asymmetrical draped bustle. The yellow garment is layered over a muted mottled lavender floral dress.
She styles it with a matching hat that has a wide moire silk ribbon along with calla lilies.
It’s a bright, charming, youthful, and slightly romantic look for Peggy.
3. Newport Floral Dress
At the start of the season Peggy gets very sick after traveling in the cold across New York. Dr. William Kirkland is sent to attends on her. As part of her recovery she goes to Newport to convalesce by the sea, as well as spending with family and giving a speech. It also happens the young handsome doctor also spends a lot of time in Newport as well.
All of Peggy’s Newport clothing are lovely. Her first look is a white floral bodice layer over a white lace inset. Her skirt is a mustard yellow which matches some of the flowers. The skirt is also embellished with white lace.
It’s an airy and pretty yet practical outfit that is also quite charming.
2. Red Poppy Newport Dress
As Peggy gets to know William better they spend time together walking the cliffs, as well drinking lemonade at his parent’s house. For these outings Peggy wears a beautiful white dress with red poppy flowers. It has a trio of solid white chevron patterrn waist bands, cuffs and a solid white side bustle which adds her signature asymmetry.
She styles it with a white hat with white feathers and red-orange flowers.
She look effortless, chic, and stunning.
1. Pink Newport Ballgown
Season three concludes with two Newport Balls. One is hosted by Bertha Russell for the 400 of New York Society while the other Balll is hosted by The Kirklands for the Black elites of Newport which Peggy attends with her family. She was supposed to attend with William and his family but his mother caught wind of Peggy’s past which she told William. Peggy after William hears the whole story from Peggy she assumes that it’s over between them so she is rather surprised when William proposed at ball.
The concept of this ball is that it’s lit with candles so the attendees wear soft pastel colors making the whole affair very chic, soft and romantic – perfect for a proposal.
Peggy’s Ball Gown is made from a soft pink silk. It’s has silver beading that trails down one side of the gown. The neckline rounded and is off-shoulder with sheer silver tulle. The tulle is layered the other side of the bodice opposite of the beading It’s quite a soft dreamy look.
This gown bears a striking resemblance to the gown worn by Lisa Colt Curtis’ 1898 portrait by John Singer Sargent who was featured on the show painting Gladys Russell Portrait.
She doesn’t wear a lot of jewelry as she is nursing a broke-heart but it all ends well for the couple. She does have a lovely feathered hair ornament.
She looks like a princess.
Hopefully in season four we’ll get Peggy’s wedding gown.
More Peggy Scott Costume Rankings
- Peggy’s 7 Best Costumes from Season 1 of The Gilded Age
- Peggy’s 5 Best Costumes from Season 2 of The Gilded Age
