Bridget Jones’ Wardrobe Is for the Fans + Hi, Kiefer Sutherland
Hey WNVM-ers,
Surprise: We’re out early this week!
We know you already watched Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, and want to talk about it — especially Renée Zellweger back in her tiny cardies and cute mini-skirts. So Fawnia, who’s cried a LOT at movies this week, talked to costume designer Molly Emma Rowe about it all, including, yes, that Leo Woodall ode to Colin Firth’s 1995 pecs.
And, Cheryl rounds up what You Oughta Know this week, from a perfect SNL ‘80s music video to Javier Bardem’s spot-on casting.
PS: You may need to read the entire newsletter on your browser and SPOILERS below!
Modern Love
All the heartfelt and sob-inducing sartorial homages in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’
By Fawnia
I admit, my cynical, jaded-ass self went into a screening of the fourth Bridget Jones installment with low-investment expectations. (I never even saw 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby, which killed off, then thankfully resurrected, an absent Hugh Grant’s cad-bro, Daniel Cleaver.) But, barely a few minutes in, a tear slow-dripped down my cheek and I proceeded to cry like FIVE MORE TIMES up to the end credits.
In a familiar scenario to start, widowed mother-of-two Bridget fumbles through her cluttered home, sets pasta ablaze, and needs her son Billy (Casper Knopf) — or “little Darcy” as “Uncle Daniel,” aw, says — to help zip her teal Victoria Beckham dress. I immediately remembered why we all fell in love with Renée Zellweger as the lovably chaotic protagonist in the first place.
“Renée and I wanted to reminisce about when Bridget and Mark Darcy [Colin Firth] got together in the third movie,” says costume designer Molly Emma Rowe. “She was wearing a green dress at the christening.” Because Bridget’s recognizable style, and wardrobe Easter eggs, also welcome us back into the tight fold — like we’re throwing back cocktails with Tom (James Callis), Jude (Shirley Henderson), and Shazzer (Sally Phillips), who of course is a podcaster in 2025.
“The most important thing was to speak to Renée, because she is Bridget. A lot of people find themselves within Bridget. I know that I certainly feel like I do,” says Rowe, also referencing the character’s relatable style. (Ministry of Pop Culture’s Erin Carlson also shares a cute anecdote about once spotting Zellweger having a very Bridget moment.)
“Bridget's not label obsessed. She doesn't wear logos. She never has, and Renée is very clear about that,” continues Rowe, who, for authenticity, shopped Zellweger’s wardrobe in thrift and consignment stores in Hampstead Heath, where the Darcys settled. “There's always something a little bit off, and that's something that's really endearing about her. Because it never looks like she has a stylist or a costume designer putting together the perfect outfit.”
As Bridget determines how to “live life!” on her own terms, her self-expression through style grows up, too. “Previously in the Bridget Jones films, there have been moments whereby her clothing has been part of her motivation for embarrassment,” says Rowe. (See: the infamously awkward Tarts & Vicars sexy bunny costume.) “That's not something that was within our script, because this story is so emotional and intense.”
Ahead, the London-based costume designer spills the tea (har har) on Bridget’s breakthrough looks and all the #IYKYK messages for the fans.
But First, the Elephant in the Room
In Helen Fielding’s 1996 bestseller, and the 2001 movie, Bridget’s fixation on her very normal 130-pound weight was an integral part of her character, story, and era. “I always saw it as a satirical, quite smart comment on how ridiculous it was [for women] at that time,” says Rowe, who experienced the unrealistic pressure first-hand as a stylist in the early-2000s. She explains that the movie’s team decided “early on” that 2025 Bridget had progressed, along with society (hopefully, but probably not): “We didn't want to talk about it, so we didn't.”
I took the scene, when Bridget chucks her shapewear briefs aside, in favor of a lacy pair, as a metaphor for dismissing the damaging standards of that era. Plus, it's just not part of Bridget’s story now. “Her grief is so extraordinary, and that's really what's being dealt with throughout this film,” continues Rowe.
Heartfelt Mark Darcy Mementos
Just like us, the forever-relatable Bridget relies on her go-to comfort pieces when she needs the extra boost. To face the still-smug marrieds at a dinner celebrating Mark, who died four years ago on a humanitarian mission (*sniff*), Bridget swaddles herself in the fuzzy gray coat that she wore when she first met him in the opening scenes of the 2001 movie.
“When we meet Bridget, she's very deep within her grief,” says Rowe, who found the piece, by ‘90s indie brand Copperwheat Blundell, in the studio archives.
Rowe looked back to her teenage years when her father passed, and her mother found comfort in his clothes. “That was something that I took to Renée and our director, Michael Morris, to see if they liked that idea — and they did,” says Rowe. “We came up with a whole backstory of clothes that Mark Darcy would wear at home with Bridget and the kids.”
When Bridget becomes overwhelmed with her two very restless children on a weekend afternoon — right before hunky Roxster (Leo Woodall) rescues them all from a tree — she’s wearing Mark’s old oversized gray cardigan (actually Rowe’s cashmere knit). “Bridget wears it over a traditional Turnbull and Asser shirt that Mark would definitely have had,” says Rowe. “We made the collars and the cuffs a bit threadbare, and I had his monogram embroidered, which is not on screen.”
Beloved Repeats and Easter Eggs
To also honor the preceding Bridget Jones costume designers1, Rowe incorporated sneaky archival pieces — Bridget’s plum scarf, with the pink holiday concert wool coat custom-designed by Rowe (and made by tailor Chris Kerr), accessorized her hooded gray coat in the first film. Bridget’s knee-high boots worn to Billy’s holiday concert are from the third movie. But, Rowe remade Bridget’s penguin PJ top, the sheer shirt and black bra during her outfit montage (“Too see-through?” she asks Shazzer), and Mark’s reindeer sweater, which Billy proudly wears to the New Year’s Eve party. (*Sob* — again!)
“At the end, she's wearing a little headband with silver baubles, which was our reference to when she's drunk-singing karaoke in the first movie,” says Rowe. “There's little subtle things, but they're very Bridget-y.”
Bridget’s First Date Outfit
After text flirting with Roxster, Bridget finally accepts an in-person date with the 29-year-old biochem student and “Tree Adonis.” With input from Shazzer, she lands on a blue floral Ralph Lauren ‘90s-style wrap dress and a cropped cashmere cardie by Brora.
“What is Bridget's iconic style? It’s definitely short skirts and little cardigans,” says Rowe, who’s in her mid-40s. “She's in her early 50s. Why should she not wear a short skirt? I wanted to really celebrate the idea that we can wear what we like at any age. As you get older, you get comfortable with the parts of your body that you're comfortable with, and it's always seemed to me that with Bridget, that's her legs.”
Bridget also throws on a timeless H&M denim jacket, which continues her signature style over four movies, as well as dropping another reference for the fans. “One of my favorite outfits from the first movie is when she goes on her mini-break with Daniel Cleaver, and she's wearing her denim jacket,” says Rowe. “Ultimately, the most important thing is: It's her first step to living her life with her grief, and we wanted to make her look cute, comfortable, and confident.”
Bridget’s Pivotal Floral Dress
After a The Idea of You-esque summer with Roxster (and really good Levi’s jeans), Bridget plans to introduce him to her friends at talk show host Talitha’s (Josette Simon) swanky birthday soirée on an estate out of “Rivals.” Perfect nanny Chloe (Nico Parker) even compliments Bridget on her floaty, floral Ralph Lauren dress, with a customized neckline, and vintage Alaïa belt.
“As we go through the film, I wanted to bring her back to life [through a color palette journey],” says Rowe. “Pink feels like a very Bridget color, and it really did to Renée. It felt like the right color for that moment to kind of play with Bridget’s confidence a little bit.” Roxster shows up fashionably late, which felt like a harbinger for his sloppy-drunk admission that he may not be ready for an adulting relationship, and his ultimate ghosting.
Roxster’s Colin Firth See-Through Shirt Tribute
But, Roxster does make a strong first impression with Bridget’s friends, and gives us one of the best callbacks of the movie. (Honestly, Woodall really has a lock on the swoony fuccboi roles, but with varying degrees of menace and cocaine sweats.) The second Roxster runs toward the fountain to save Talitha’s dog, I knew he’d emerge completely soaked, like Colin Firth in his 100% transparent white puffy shirt, as Mr. Darcy in 1995’s series, “Pride in Prejudice.” Right?
“Yes, it’s really, really cute,” says Rowe. “Mark and Daniel Cleaver go into the fountain in the second movie [2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason] so there's a double [nod].”
The Nepo Baby Gen X Redux
When Bridget first meets Chloe, her inner-thoughts voiceover intones, “She looks like a film star …” I immediately thought, this scripted line must be another wink-wink moment because I yelled (in my head), “Yeah, her mom!” Because Nico Parker (a.k.a. Pedro Pascal’s daughter in “The Last of Us”) looks exactly like her mother Thandiwe Newton, who broke out in 1998’s Beloved. Like her Gen Z cohorts, Chloe, in her big pants and crop tops, also dresses like I did when I first read Bridget Jones in the mid-‘90s, too — and same with Rowe.
“I really wanted to draw a bit of light to the fact that fashion is cyclical, and we're back in the cycle of when the first Bridget Jones came out,” she says. “It felt like giving the audience something subtle to see and enjoy it again.”
Bridget’s Bold New Chapter
Moving on from an unreliable Roxster, Bridget shows a nervous PA how it's done at work by showing off her trademark dance moves during a lighting test. She looks especially self-assured in vibrant, persimmon-hued Arket trousers paired with her go-to Brora cardigan and blue floral-printed shirt from & Other Stories.
“She just gets stronger and stronger,” says Rowe, about Bridget not taking a repentant Roxster — and his puppy dog eyes — back. “The orange [and the] pale pink shows you can be two things at once. Actually, you can be vulnerable, but you can also be really strong. Renée’s performance in that scene embodied that entirely. She's so absolute about her choice, but you could see the emotion in her art. You know, it was really beautiful to watch that scene being filmed.”
Bridget melts Mr. Walliker’s (Chiwetel Ejiofor, looking fine in monochrome Chris Kerr-made suits) cold, loud-whistle-blowing, and scientific facts-obsessed heart. She closes out the movie hosting a New Year’s Eve party in a lush velvet dress custom designed by Rowe and built by Simeon Morris. (The zipper moment — *SOB.*)
“The ruby color felt very rich, and maybe a bit more mature as well, which felt good,” says Rowe. “But, the dress is very playful — and Bridget-y.”
We are two Gen X journalists who celebrate people of our generation doing cool things, as well as analyze all the '80s and '90s nostalgia in current pop culture, fashion, and beauty. Read more stories like this one here!
You Oughta Know
What a pleasure to see Kiefer Sutherland in the news! First off, he’s filming an England-set holiday rom-com with Rebel Wilson called Tinsel Town. Then, for unknown reasons, he sang a waltzy version of Phil Collins’ “In the Air” for the BBC. -CW [The Hollywood Reporter; Instagram]
The SNL 50 special was a nostalgia fest, but I particularly enjoyed the Digital Short featuring Bowen Yang and Andy Samberg. They sing a banger about anxiety as an SNL cast member, with flashbacks from different eras, in an ‘80s-parody music video. It’s perfect. -CW [YouTube]
A “Cape Fear” series starring Amy Adams and Javier Bardem (amazing creepy casting) is in the works at Apple. Is this really necessary, since “The Simpsons” already did the definitive remake?? -CW [The Hollywood Reporter]
Sheryl Crow will no longer be driving everyday on a winding road, at least in a Tesla. She just sold hers and donated the proceeds to NPR, whose funding Elon Musk has threatened. -CW [CNN]
As my nostalgic guilty pleasure show — the very dumb Karate Kid spin-off, “Cobra Kai” — comes to an end this week, I have just one thought: Where is Elisabeth Shue’s midlife comeback project? Let her fuck a younger guy in a movie, too! -CW
In chronological order: Rachael Fleming, Jany Temime, and Steven Noble
Oh oops I’ve been reminded that Elisabeth Shue was on “The Boys,” (a show I actually watch and like and have zero recollection of, apparently). I guess that Homelander thing kinda counts but let’s get her a HEALTHIER version
Damn, why is the Bridget movie not in theatres? I love your deep dive into the wardrobe, thank you!💕 I saw the original in the theatre at a radio station launch- we all got light-up Bridget branded shot glasses that lit up.