Bridgerton, The Gilded Age and the rise of regency-core fashion

Regency-core is trending on social media - but what is it exactly?

If one historical period is having a moment right now, then it's definitely the Regency period. The formal Regency Era spanned from 1811 to 1820 and it corresponded with the period towards the end of the Georgian era, when King George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, the prince regent took over. The period was characterised by its elegance in art and architecture, but also for its fashion. The garment most commonly associated with the era is the empire line dress, but other popular pieces include the corset, the pelisse (a full-length sleeve coat) and the Spencer (a short top coat). If these garments sound familiar, then it's probably because they're featured a fair bit in seasons one and two of Netflix's hit show Bridgerton. Daphne's penchant for the Empire Line dress defined the fashion of season one, but season two saw some even more iconic fashion moments coinciding with the arrival of newcomers Kate and Edwina Sharma. But Bridgerton isn't the only popular TV show inspiring Regency-core. HBO's drama The Gilded Age has also prompted a bit of a resurgence in late nineteenth century fashion. Moreover, the trend reigns supreme on Instagram and TikTok, with fashion creators sharing advice on how to style Regency-core inspired looks. While fashion-fanatics are hardly going full throttle and donning empire line dresses right now, Regency-core as an aesthetic is certainly growing in popularity. The fashion trend sees the wearer pay homage to the period, incorporating a nod to the Regency era while maintaining an otherwise contemporary look. More wearable accessories that qualify as Regency-core include corsets, glossy silk fabrics and pearl necklaces, and, apparently, we cannot get enough of them right now. Research from Klarna has found that sales of corsets have jumped by 1077% in April since November 2021, puff sleeve crop tops have seen a 3487% during the same period, while pearl necklaces and earrings have increased by 89% and 1108% respectively since November. What's more, it looks like Regency-core isn't going away any time soon. The theme of this year's Met Gala - the biggest night of the year in terms of fashion - is In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, while the dress code is "gilded glamour, white tie". With Hollywood's biggest names taking inspiration from the theme, we can rest assured that the Regency-core trend will linger for a little longer.