A masquerade of love and lace

'Bridgerton' Season 4 weaves romance, revelation, and record-breaking style

The ton is once again abuzz, and the numbers prove it.'Bridgerton' Season 4 has twirled straight to the No 1 spot on Netflix's global Top 10, amassing 39.7 million views in its first week. But beyond the streaming triumph, the latest instalment, focusing on the bohemian Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and his Cinderella-esque love, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), is a masterclass in lavish, story-driven craftsmanship.

The fantasy begins with the series' most opulent spectacle yet: Violet Bridgerton's masquerade ball in Episode 1. For this single event, the costume department created 172 unique looks, while hair and makeup crafted approximately 160 wigs. It's here that Benedict meets his enchanting "Lady in Silver" — unaware she is Sophie, a maid forced into servitude by her stepmother after her father's death.

Sophie's show-stopping silver gown, a last-minute creation from her aunt's altered dress, is a feat of hand-beaded artistry. "This had to be the showstopper," says senior embellisher Jack Hopkins.

The team used hundreds of Swarovski crystals, sequins, and pleated tulle on Italian silver lame chiffon to ensure Sophie, though not society's official "diamond," would shine like one.

Her disguise, however, hangs on delicate details. Her modified Jimmy Choo heels, glittering with 1940s-inspired "shield-shaped" shoe clips, become a crucial plot device. "The dress is period, and the shoes are fantasy," explain costume designers John Glaser, Dougie Hawkes, and George Sayer, encapsulating the show's signature blend of history and whimsy.

While Sophie's look screams for attention, Benedict's masquerade attire whispers romantic intention. Inspired by 'Shakespeare in Love', his dark teals and open shirts signal a "sexy Bridgerton man," not a boy, says the costume team. His signature bracelet, a complex braid of wax thread worn in every scene, hints at a deeper sentiment.

Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), ever defiant, refuses a mask entirely. "There's no point trying to disguise the queen," notes head milliner Sarah Blackmore. Her majesty's grandeur is instead conveyed through a breathtaking cage wig — a heart-shaped constellation of hair and silver leaf symbolising her love for King George—and gowns adorned with sculptural bows and fabric flowers crafted using a technique called 'ronghua'.

The romance unfolding beneath these exquisite surfaces is fuelled by a soundtrack of cleverly orchestrated pop covers, fulfilling fan requests with Taylor Swift's 'Enchanted' for Benophie's yearning moments and Olivia Rodrigo's 'bad idea right?' for a passionate, risky encounter.

As Part 1 concludes, Benedict's fantasy of the Lady in Silver clashes with Sophie's hardscrabble reality when he unknowingly offers her a position as his mistress. "You have two characters at opposite ends of a pole," says show-runner Jess Brownell. "True love lies in the middle."

With Part 2 arriving on February 26, promising more steam and resolution, 'Bridgerton' continues to reign by marrying sumptuous visual fantasy with deeply human romance—one sparkling stitch at a time.