Prepare Your Corsets, Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ Is Inspiring A 2021 Twist On Regency Era Dressing

While we typically look to the runways to dictate our evolving fashion picks each year, the past several months' sartorial rotations have been unusually swayed by the ongoing pandemic—seeing a skew from the traditional in favour of loungewear and athleisure, as our time spent at home warranted comfort over glamour. 

As we, partially, head back into a normal sense of dressing, our fashion is being skewed once again—but this time not due to the pandemic, but rather Netflix's latest viral sensation, Bridgerton. 

Since its release on Christmas Day, the worldwide phenomenon has accumulated more than 63 million views around the world (and counting), making it no surprise that the romantic-drama has formally entered the zeitgeist. 

Based on the romance novel series by Julia Quinn and produced by ShondaLand—the powerhouse production company created by Shona Rhimes and force behind Grey's Anatomy—the story follows the Bridgerton family as eldest daughter Daphne makes her debut into Regency London society in hopes of finding a “suitable match.”

And while the opulent scenery, orchestral renditions of Ariana Grande hits and of course, the Duke of Hastings (played by Regé-Jean Page), were enough to have us hooked, the Regency-era drama has caused a new spike in popularity for the fashion from the era, which Lyst has aptly titled “Regencycore.”

The fashion search engine has reported that since the show's premiere, online searches for corsets—an essential garment in the show—have surged 123 per cent. Pearl and feather headbands have seen a 49 per cent increase, and empire-waist dresses, the defining silhouette of the era, have risen 93 per cent in popularity.