Nicola Coughlan On Her “Bridgerton”-Inspired Corsetry and Red Hair for “Barbie’s” London Premiere

The pair reached out to Wiederhoeft’s founder and creative director Jackson Wiederhoeft—who has also dressed the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Solange Knowles—after being drawn to his metallic designs. The result? A silver corseted gown, covered all over with Swarovski glass crystals that reference the Barbie’s diamond eyes. “The dress is based on our core ‘wasp’ corset style with embroidery laid over,” Wiederhoeft explains. “I’m excited to have Nicola in a really signature look – corsetry and embroidery are two mainstays of the brand.”

Of course, Coughlan—who stars as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton*—*is no stranger to a corset, a style she’s increasingly turning to on the red carpet. “I’ve had the privilege of wearing so many incredible costumes on Bridgerton, especially in season three,” she says. “I really got a new appreciation for corsetry and Aimee and I said it would be so nice to start incorporating the corset [on the red carpet]. It’s a little bit of a bridge between Barbie and Bridgerton.”

Made from Tencel, a sustainably-sourced wood-based fibre, the dress’s eco-credentials were a core aspect of Coughlan’s Barbie premiere look, too. “I pitched the idea to Tencel after seeing the film Fashion Reimagined, which follows designer Amy Powney [as she] creates a sustainable collection,” Croysdill says. “She inspired me so much to try and make my processes as sustainable as I can.”