At the end of season three there was mention of a Masquerade Ball. The mere mention of this particular ball was the ultimate clue that season four was going to be Benedict’s season as the Masquerade Ball is from his book.
The first big set piece of season 4 is Violet’s Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball.
The idea behind of the costumes is that some characters tried harder than others which is why some characters are just wearing masks instead of an opulent fancy dress style costumes*.
This is a ranking of the costumes from The Masquerade Ball of the named character only who attended the ball. This based on my own subjective opinion and which characters made an effort. List subject to change.
Spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of Season 4
12. Queen Charlotte
Costume – Herself
Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) bluntly states that she wasn’t going to wear costume to the Masquerade Ball, “I have no interest in dressing someone other than myself.”
While her headpiece does have an Elizabethan shape but she’s really is just herself and this costume sans mask is just a regular costume for Queen Charlotte.
In the Book – Queen Charlotte does not appear in the Bridgerton book series so she didn’t attend the ball.
11. Araminta
Costume – Herself
A new addition to season four is the Dowager Countess of Penwood, Araminta Gun (Katie Leung.)
Araminta serves as the wicked step-mother. In owning to her cruel formidable personality Araminta wears only black. Her masquerade costume is also black but she does add a sheer fabric black mask so she did try a little bit to elevate her outfit. She also could trying to not call attention to her in favor of her daughter whom she hopes to land a advantageous match like the last remaining marriageable Bridgerton son on the marriage mart.
In the Book – Araminta’s costume was Queen Elizabeth
10. Francesca
Costume -Herself
Costume designer John Glazer basically stated that the Countess of Kilmartin, Francesca (Hannah Dodd) is unimaginative and went as herself.
Her gown is light pink with beaded floral appliqués and sheer puffed sleeves which is a very typical Bridgerton style ball gown under normal circumstances. She does wears an angular white lace mask making it look like she was dress as something unspecified except she is not.
In the Book – In book three which season four is based on Francesca is not yet out in society therefore she wasn’t at the Masquerade Ball.
9. Hyacinth
Costume -Herself
Hyacinth’s costumes (Florence Hunt) gets some leniency because she crashed the party and gets caught by her older sister. She defiantly doesn’t want to call attention to herself hence why a regular floral sequin ball gown in shades of blue and pink works.
Her mask has a harlequin pattern which is very classic for a masquerade. Also the masks a little more hand-made quality which works for her in this instances.
In the Book – Wasn’t mention attending the ball
8. Penelope
Costume: Pirate
As a nod to Colin’s wardrobe in season three, which was liken to a Pirate and also a cowboy, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) dresses as a Pirate. Her costume is black with gold accents including Jolly Rogers and flowers on the over-skirt.
On her impressively large hat there is a 3D beaded octopus. She also wears a blonde wig which does make her harder o recognize for the attendees which is funny as Nicola Coughlan is a blonde.
In the Book – One the only deviations between the book and show as Penelope did attend the ball in the book but she went as a leprechaun. Much like Posy’s costume, Penelope’s leprechaun costume wasn’t a hit amongst the party-goers and it might not have landed well in the show as given Nicola Coughlan is Irish.
7. Sophie
Costume: A Silver Ingenue?
The leading lady of season four is Sophie (Yerin Ha) who is also a Cinderella-type character. She is a maid who crashes Violet Bridgeton’s masquerade ball wearing a silver gown. In the show the gown previously belong to her aunt and has a Recency silhouette though is still out of fashion.
The neckline is rounded and slightly off-shoulder with bow-like adornments at the sleeves with pleated chiffon layers under making it look soft and dreamy. The gown is embellished in with silver crystals which add to dreamy romantic look that the production wanted for this costume. Her mask is one she made in haste for Rosamund but who didn’t even up need in it for her costume. Like the gown the mask is beaded and lacy with some asymmetrical flourishes.
Sophie is not quite wearing her normal clothing but it’s still a Regency era ball gown and she’s not specifically dressed at anything. Benedict calls her “A Silver Ingenue” which could be a costume but she isn’t so much in a costume so much as a nice dress with a mask but for her it was spur of moment decision so she didn’t have any time canonically to plan and execute a costume.
In the Book – Sophie in the book wore her grandmother’s silver dress which was in the Georgian style, think Queen Charlotte’s style of dress. The description of the gown notes that the bodice was pearl encrusted which this costume could have despite the style change. The show’s version is pretty just not the show-stopper the book made it out to be like is standard in the Cinderella story. The reasoning is that Sophie didn’t want to draw attention which is reasonable but still let down given the escapist nature of Bridgerton and this was the moment to be fanciful with a costume.
6. Eloise
Costume: Joan of Arc
There is a rightness to Eloise (Claudia Jessie) dressing as Joan of Arc to the Masquerade Ball. For her rendition of the Joan of Arc she opts for a short wig with micro bangs which looks it took inspiration from the 1901 Albert Lynch painting.
Her costume has a silver dress as the base which looks like chain-mail. Over the dress she wears blue armor with gold accents and a fleur-de-lys. Her mask matches her armor.
It’s not that more glamorous costume but it suits her character.
In the Book – Eloise dresses as Joan of Arc in the book.
5. Posy
Costume: Mermaid
As is a trope with some Cinderella adaptations, one of step-sisters is nicer to Cinderella than the other. Posy (Isabelle Wei) is much nicer to Sophie and is all-around a very adorable character.
To the Masquerade ball Posy dresses as a mermaid. She doesn’t a very apparent tail but the over-skirt looks like a tail and it has a lot of embellishments to make it look shiny and scale-like. There is another skirt layer as well as the the puffed sleeves that has watery texture.
It’s not a grand as some as the other costumes but it’s cute and suits the event nicely.
In the Book – Posy goes as mermaid in the book as well but it’s decided less than flattering so this is an upgrade.
4. Lady Danbury
Costume: Zeus
Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) attends the ball as Zeus which matches her brother’s costumes. Her rendition of Zeus is a dark burgundy dress with a gold greek key inspired trim at the neckline and down the sleeves. She wears a gold stola drapes off her shoulders and down to her hip. She carries a lightning bolt which is classic Zeus iconography. Although her golden mask looks more like Ares than Zeus.
In the Book – Lady Danbury does attend the ball but her costume is not mentioned.
3. Rosamund
Costume: Marie-Antoinette
Araminta’s favorite child is Rosamund (Michelle Mao) and because she is the favorite she gets a royal treatment for her costume. Rosamund goes as Marie-Antoinette compete with a recreation of the “Affair of Diamond Necklace” even though Marie-Antoinette near worn the necklace. Her costume is robin-egg blue robe a la francaise gown with pink floral details and pink lace flounces at her cuffs.
Aside from the necklace doesn’t completely read as Marie-Antoinette but a canonical effort was made and it’s a very beautiful and grand costume.
In the Book – Rosamund did go as Marie-Antoinette in the book.
2. Alice
Costume: Queen Cleopatra the VII
Alice (Emma Naomi) and her family have certainly come up in the world since season one and now she and her husband attend all the society parties. Her costume to the Bridgerton Masquerade is Queen Cleopatra, very specifically the Seventh or the one every one thinks of when hear the name.
Her Cleopatra costume has style roots from the 1960s movie version staring Elizabeth Taylor. The dress is an opulently beaded gold dress with long gold fabric shoulder drapes.
It’s stunning, she looks gorgeous.
In the Book – Alice is a show character only but a Cleopatra costume was mentioned in the book.
1. Violet
Costume: Titania from A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
As the hostess The Dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) is dresses to impress. She dresses as The Fairy Queen Titania from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. Her heavily sequined dress is in shades of purple and silver with some dreamy froth tulle drapery cape-like piece at her back and drapes over her arms. Her neckline is also trimmed with the frothy tulle material.
Her mask is silver and looks very organic which suits her fairy look. According to the production her hair was inspired by the 1999 movie version featuring Michelle Pfeiffer playing Titania which is one of prettiest movie looks ever.
In the Book – Violet is wearing a costume from a Shakespeare play. It is described as Elizabethan but no character or play was named specifically for her costume.
And Another Thing
* It’s pet peeve of mine when movies has Masquerade scenes and cop-out on the costumes where it’s just a pretty dress with a mask, I hated it in Phantom (2004) and I hate it here. No one is watching Bridgerton for “real-life costume party behaviors” or historical accuracy. This was the perfect chance for going crazy with the costumes and the did for the extras but not so much for the Principe characters. Everyone should have been dressed as someone or something. None of this emulating real-world Halloween parties.
