Why Kate Sharma's Dresses Get Brighter Throughout "Bridgerton" Season 2

Updated on 3/29/2022 at 10:15 AM

There's no denying that Kate Sharma, played by "Sex Education" star Simone Ashley, is the "Bridgerton" character the fashion world has taken notice of since the release of season two on Netflix. Her regal, richly colored gowns are even more captivating than the ones Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) wore when she was love interest to the Duke of Hastings in season one. While Daphne wore plenty of "Bridgerton" blue and silvery shades, Kate tends toward jewel tones that speak to her sense of confidence. Kate wears shades like plum and teal, and her dresses are almost always finished with ornate jewelry, Champagne-colored gloves, or a structured jacket in a coordinating print that bears signs of sophistication.

Ellen Mirojnick was responsible for the costume design in season one, but Sophie Canale took the reins for season two. In total, the costume department produced 700 looks for the cast spanning across the eight new episodes that follow the budding romance between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate.

In an interview with Shondaland, Canale explained her vision for Kate. "You will see throughout the season Kate's costumes have a journey," she said. "We start with her arrival in darker, heavier-weight fabrics, which give her more of a rigid and uptight look matching her spinster, controlled manner. As the season unfolds and Kate develops emotions, we see her costumes become brighter in color and the fabrics become lighter. I also brought in an element of Indian inspiration with the choice of fabrics, embroidery, embellishment, jewelry, and hair decorations."

If you closely analyze each of her looks, beginning with the first episode all the way through the season finale, Kate's style evolution becomes quite obvious. Ahead, we've done just that with Kate's most memorable fashion moments throughout the season.

Kate's arrival look at Lady Danbury's is a deep-teal gown with a brocade blazer. Her collar is stiff, showing off her steely demeanor. At first sight, we immediately notice a trace of mud on the trail of her dress, since she's secretly been out horseback riding.

Lady Danbury brings Kate, Edwina, and Mary Sharma to the first ball of the season, where Kate opts for a light-sage gown with delicate lace overlay and pearl embellishments to accent her satin gloves and jewelry set, which comes complete with a gemstone tiara.

Kate coordinates with Lady Danbury in pale-gray satin as the women look on at the candidates who just may steal Edwina's heart this season and become her husband. As per usual, Kate wears a floor-length column gown with an empire waist and plenty of Champagne beading.

Kate's daywear at the beginning of season two is deep in color and thicker in fabric. Here, we see her in a modest teal dress with a floral embroidered ribbon under the bust.

Kate carries mauve-colored gowns well, and this one even comes with matching mesh gloves. Her luxe, velvet vest is cinched with a belt to portray a scene where she is more closed off and does not let her emotions shine through, as is typical of her character. The speckles of gold on the trim of her sleeves and choker help draw attention to the accessories here, which are clearly in contrast with Edwina's.

In episode three, Kate opts for yet another covering, though this time in a more playful paisley print that complements her turquoise gown and jewelry.

Kate plays pall-mall and shows off her skills to the Bridgerton family in this lilac dress with ethereal embroidery at the bottom of the skirt. It's rather telling that she ends up trailing the train of the dress through the mud to retrieve her ball, also dirtying her pink satin shoes that coordinate with the rest of the accessories she's wearing. It's through this wardrobe malfunction that we begin to see she can't keep up her modesty for much longer.

Kate's smart top hat and coordinating felt coat showcase her go-to color in episode four on Anthony's hunting party. The look helps her appear extremely confident, but is also a subtle match to the double-breasted jacket Anthony wears under his own trench coat.

At the end of episode four, Kate wears this rose-embroidered dress, which seems to blend in with the rest of the ballroom and the guests who inhabit it. As she dances with Anthony, promising Edwina she will encourage him to propose to her younger sister, Kate's melding into the color scheme, which allows us to visualize her in Anthony's arms as a romantic partner. The dress, in a sense, embodies what could be between them.

Kate experiences a moment of vulnerability with Anthony in episode five. The raindrop-like embellishments on her cyan dress speak to the clarity felt in the scene. It is one of the most simple designs she wears throughout the entire season.

Like many of the guests at Anthony and Edwina's wedding, Kate wears lavender as the maid of honor. The look is finished with intricate lace trim that sparkles as she stands behind her sister at the altar and also highlights her emerald bangle, which ends up falling to the floor to interrupt the couple's vows.

For a brief moment, Anthony pictures Kate in Edwina's wedding gown, and we get to see how she would wear the bridal look herself. We see Kate in the exact same ivory ensemble, down to the ornate choker, pearl drop earrings, and tiara-clad veil.

As the Sharmas approach an episode full of awkwardness after Anthony and Edwina's wedding, Kate's wardrobe shifts back to a more structured look. Her pieces are perfectly complementary, and we see her wearing two of her go-to shades — purple and turquoise — perhaps because she is seeking confidence and comfort.

As the Sharmas try to make the best of the harmony ball at the end of episode seven, Edwina, Kate, and Mary are coordinated, with Kate wearing the darkest shade of all to convey her maturity and commitment to responsibility.

In episode eight, we see Kate experience romantic bliss with Anthony, and she wears the deepest jewel-tone violet of the entire season. Her hair is worn down, to show she is letting loose and feeling free, and her netted gloves are a perfect match for her gown to suggest she has finally reached a point of balance.

The marigold dress Kate wears at the end of season eight is among the boldest looks we see on her throughout her arc.

The satin gown is finished with delicate gold lace that embellishes her ruched cap sleeves, and matching jewelry complements her metallic gold gloves.