- Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy was released on 14 February
- Bridget Jones is now in her fifties with two children
- The film’s costume designer Molly Rowe defended Bridget wearing miniskirts at her age
Justice for miniskirts, at least that’s what Molly Rowe, the costume designer for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is saying. It’s been a good week for Bridget Jones, the sequel smashed the box office record and is now smashing the patriarchy…kind of.
In an interview with Variety, Rowe spoke about the costume choices for the latest Bridget Jones flick. The fourth installment follows author Helen Fielding’s novel of the same name as she navigates being a widow and raising her children. The fourth novel was released in 2013. Fielding first released her novel Bridget Jones’s Diary in 1996 and the movie followed in 2001. It instantly became a pop culture staple.
Read More: Bridget Jones star Leo Woodall talks ‘toyboy’ role
Costumes have always been important in Bridget Jones. The trends and ages have changed, but it’s intentional that Bridget’s wardrobe hasn’t at least with those fundamental things like her penguin pjamyas. Join us in breaking down Rowe’s interview where she defends Jones’s short skirts and talks all-things-costume.
What did Molly Rowe say?
First of all, it is important to note that each film had a different costume designer. Rowe began her interview by saying the defining aspect of Jones’s costume was “always the short skirts.”
In the first film, she wears a short skirt to a work event and gets embarrassed by her attire. However, she uses them to add to her femininity and to attract the attention of Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). Cleaver is Jones’s charming playboy boss she has a casual relationship with. In one of their first flirtations, he writes her a message calling them her “sexy little skirts”.
And yes, the skirts did get her noticed, if you’re wondering.
Significance of skirts in Bridget Jones.
Her skirts are also significant because they remain constant throughout her wardrobe as fashion trends fade. In the 2000s, mini skirts were insanely popular and worn by Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and other ‘it’ girls. Short skirts are featured in the third film when she gets pregnant, symbolizing that fashion knows no age or life stage.
“She was always in skirt, skirt, skirts,” Rowe told the publication.“It felt like a very subtle but important opportunity to think about why wouldn’t a woman in her 50s still be wearing short skirts. We can’t meet her 10 years later and she’s suddenly in a lounge suit or long skirts and whatnot — that’s not Bridget.”
In a scene in a classroom of all places with her new love interest Mr Walaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor) she wears a blue skirt, although it doesn’t compare to the iconic one on Bridget Jones’s Diary film poster.
Rowe continues, “It was an opportunity to say that we should all be wearing what we want. Times have changed and we should be embracing clothing that makes us feel confident and happy and good about ourselves.”
Iconic Bridget Jones costume staples & recreations
You have to see it to believe it but Jones’s costumes have evolved, but she always sticks to her staple boots, cardigans, and skirts. It’s very fashion-forward and mom-safe.
The costume designer also hints that the choice to recreate some iconic costumes was intentional. Bridget is going through grief after the death of her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), so she isn’t all about fashion when the movie begins.
“When we meet her, she’s trying to get through the day so it felt very important that there was nothing kind of new and unworn and pristine,” Rowe told the outlet.
In terms of her costumes for the film, many were thrifted and found in charity shops in North London, close to where our fave frazzled English woman lives. Speaking on fashion labels, Rowe says the decision not to dress Zellweger’s character in designer clothes is intentional. Jones was always written to be relatable, so having her dressed in designer “makes her feel inaccessible”.
Who would she be if she was dressed head-to-toe in Loewe? Come on, people.
What happened to Bridget’s penguin PJs?
But here is the shocking part: the iconic penguin pajamas no longer exist, according to Rowe. Yes, the costume team had to buy fabrics and test them to see if they matched the red tone of the pajamas. The cute penguins also had to be remade by the fabric department, and the make-do pajamas were played around with to make them look old and worn.
Just like her to keep pajamas for 25 years, isn’t it?
Some other costume staples made the cut – Bridget’s grey sweatpants are alive and well!
The interview with Rowe reflects that even after almost 25 years, Jones’s style hasn’t changed. The character has aged and gone through life changes, but she refuses to change who she is. We love her for it.
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is in theatres now.
