An Author in the Light
Penelope: Nicola Coughlan
Costume Designers: John Glaser, George Sayer & Dougie Hawkes
Season four of Netflix’s hit Regency Romance dropped in two parts in early 2026. Following the third book “An Offer from a Gentleman’” by Julia Quinn, the season follows Benedict ‘slove story with Sophie, a maid. As also while Bridgerton has seasonal leads Netflix takes a lot of liberties with book narratives to create an ensemble piece.
After being the leading lady of season three, Penelope finds herself in a position in society. She is now married and the mother of the new Lord Featherington however she is also publicly known as Lady Whistledown which means her job as a covert observant gossip monger is made harder. Also making her job harder is the Queen who views Penelope as her personal source for gossip. It’s a balancing act that Penelope hadn’t considered and doesn’t seem to relish.
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The Joining of Green-ish Blues with Gold
As Penelope is now is her happily ever-after phase her costumes are a little more subdue, still pretty but she is no longer the leading lady thus her costumes reflect that she is back into supporting side of the ensemble.
Mostly her costumes are greens and blue with either flower patterns or gold metallics This showcases the blending on her Featherington fashions with the Brighton style sensibilities to create a look of her own.
The majority of her costumes feature appliqués overlapping neckline creating a lot a visual interest. Much like in season three her waistlines are lower but it’s still an empire waist unlike a few looks from season three. And of course, with exception of one costume, all her dresses have puffed sleeves, not including coats or nightwear. Penelope has consistently had puffed sleeves on her dresses and gowns since season one but the shapes and sizes have varied.
Penelope has around 20 costumes this season with at least one repeat.
How I Ranked Her Top 10 Costumes
This is a ranking of Penelope’s 10 best costumes from season 4 of Bridgerton. The costumes were ranked on aesthetics, memorability and how well they reflect Penelope’s character and sense of style.
List is Subject to change
Spoilers for Season 4.
10. The Masquerade Costume
In departure from the book, the show dresses Colin and Penelope up like pirates for Violet’s Masquerade Ball. A theory behind this change was the fans liking Colin’s season three wardrobe to a pirate. So the costume for them is a wink and nod to the fan-base.
Penelope goes all out with her costume even wearing a blonde wig to avoid notice in the hope that she may get gossip unobserved by the other members of the ton.
In addition her pirate costume is made from a black and gold fabric with a vintage floral scarf worn at her hip. Gold Jolly Rogers are used as closures for the glitter long sleeves outer layer as well as adorning her chain belt.
Her matching gold and black is very large and has a 3d beaded octopus as the focal point.
There is a lot going on with costume but it a Masquerade Ball, the character should be going all out.
9. The Light Green Dress with Light Purple Flowers
From the beginning of season one Penelope was put in brighter citrus colors but sometimes she wore pink and it always looked great on her even if the fits were less than flattering.
While this day dress of her’s in green and pink it favors the pink pattern quite a lot and the color really pops from the more muted tones of the greens and blues of the fabric.
Unlike some of her other costumes there are no appliqués at the neckline instead there are embroidered flowers along the neckline as well throughout the dress.
It’s rather pretty charming dress that she wears twice in season four.
8. The Light Green with Peach Flowers Dress
In Benedict’s quest to find the “Lady in Silver” he enlists both Eloise and Penelope. Both are key in the search but with Penelope it’s her work as Lady Whistledown that is critical.
As the three formulate a plan for how Penelope can utilize Whistledown for Benedict, Penelope is in the midst of people wanting to share gossip with her in the hopes she will publish their tidbits. Her costume as she spend her day at home entertaining a myriad of visitors is a very light green dress with muted rose-gold flowers. The fabric also has a subtle leaf pattern along with a hint has some metallic in the weave.
It’s charming and relaxed look for Penelope, either fussy or too glamorous.
7. The Muted Metallic Turquoise Dress
As both Penelope and Francesca are both married they tend to talk to each other and confided in to one another. Mostly these scenes focus on Francesca’s martial issues as Penelope doesn’t have any problems in her marriage.
So in a scene where Francesca visits Penelope to discuss a bedroom matters Penelope wears a softer outfit. Her costume is muted almost turquoise dress with a sheer gold metallic overlay. Her sleeves are actually a smaller puffed sleeves and are made from the sheer fabric.
The appliqué’s at the neckline are very angular and embellished with green pearl-like beads and pink tulle.
Much like the costume she worn to Lady Danbury’s soiree the bodice is let fairly unadorned while the skirt has a floral overlay which was used for the appliqués at the neckline and just a few at various points on the bodice.
6. The Light Green Dress with Light Purple Flowers
As previously mentioned season four focuses on Benedict and Sophie’s love story which ultimately means a love match followed by marriage – ie the very thing Violet wants for all her children. So when Violet catches wind that Benedict is serious about a mysterious lady she taps Penelope for information on the subject which Penelope caves in and tells to her mother-in-law everything she knows.
Penelope’s day dress is made from a mottled muted green and blue fabric. Layered over the green and blue base fabric is a semi-sheer overlay that has pinkish purple embroidered flowers which matches the trim at the waistline. The neckline is squared and is one of the few costumes that doesn’t have appliqués at the neckline.
The result of this costume is bright and cheerful costume.
5. The Danbury Soiree Gown
Lady Danbury likes to host ladies’ nights and while she hasn’t hosted her “Den of Iniquity” since season one she does host an exclusive ladies only soiree with the Bridgerton ladies and with Alice Mondrirch.
Penelope wears a green evening gown with what looks like a metallic overlay The green fabric is a little more saturated than she typically wears but it’s not too brighter either. The skirt and puffed sleeves have a an added flower overlay with gold sequins. Leaf appliqués decorate the neckline.
It’s quite a pretty gown that combines all of Penelope’s fashion signatures together perfectly.
4. The Queen’s Ball Gown
The final episode of each season of Bridgerton culminates at a ball. For season four it’s a ball hosted by The Queen given in Lady Danbury’s honor. While Penelope herself is removed from the season’s resolution she attends and dances with her husband.
Penelope’s ball gown is a slightly metallic green-ish blue with a mottle like design on the fabric. It’s heavily beaded with lace like leaf appliqués. As is standard with most of her season four costumes there are appliqué sewn just over the neckline.
3 The Teal Dress
This teal day dress of Penelope’s is another example of her wearing a more saturated color which looks lovely on her. The fabric has lace-like pattern. It’s embellished with beaded appliqués that are placed along the neckline. The beads are small and green and used throughout the dress along with sequins.
Despite the heavy use of beaded appliqués this dress is quite thought in its execution and is a nice combination of refinement and playfulness which adds the more humorous scenes in which Penelope wears this dress.
2. The Turquoise and Gold Patterned Outfit
Season four kicks off with Francesca and Eloise arriving back at Bridgeton House after staying in Scotland for a while. As a new member of the family Penelope is there to greet her returning sisters-in-laws.
Penelope’s first costume of season four is a green turquoise and gold patterned day dress. It has 3d flowers made from tulle and gold leaves at the neckline which overlap the neckline ever so slightly thus setting-up her new style signature for this season.
Her sleeves are smaller puffed sleeves and this is the only costume she has this season where the sleeves have an inverted pleat.
Bonus points for the matching pelisse she wears after she summoned by The Queen. The coat also has 3d flowers on the lapel but these flowers are made from fabric that matches the coat and dress, it might even be made from the reverse side of the same fabric.
1. The Penwood Ball Gown
At the end of season three, Cressida is sent away to Wales. However her story did not end there instead she made a brilliant match and returned in season four as the newly married Countess of Penwood. To mark her return to society she throws a ball dubbed “Penwood in Pink Ball.”
At the ball Penelope makes a declaration to the entire ton that she is giving up Whistledown as being in the spotlight has caused more hardship to the column than secrecy. Thus freeing her up to write unencumbered by society or The Queen.
Penelope’s ball gown is made from a very mute pale gold with a slightly green undertone. There is also a semi-sheer floral embroidered overlay. While it’s a color she doesn’t wear often it still suits and plays off her delicate features.
The gown is embellished with crystals and some gold metallic embroidered as well.
Penelope looks radiant as she both upstages Cressida as well as distracting the Ton’s focus away from the fact the Queen didn’t show up to the ball.
This gown was also used in season four’s promotion.
Want more on Penelope’s Costumes? Try These Articles!
- Penelope’s Season One Costume Ranking
- Penelope’s Season Two Costume Ranking
- Penelope’s Season Three Costume Ranking
