Sales on Bridgerton-inspired goods are up, proving we’ve truly lost touch with reality

I’ve seen my fair share of unusual shopping trends during the pandemic, but Regencycore corsets and four-poster beds take it to the next level, writes Ellie Fry

‘Bridgerton’ has just been announced the most popular Netflix show of all time (Netflix)

Be it a cordless drill, a luxury loungewear set adorned with feathers or a pair of hair clippers, most of us have dabbled in a lockdown purchase that we would have never bought otherwise. But when shopping habits become directly influenced by a period drama set in the 19th century, you know we’ve truly lost touch with reality.

Bridgerton has just been crowned the most popular Netflix show of all time, and you don’t need the investigatory talents of the infamous Lady Whistledown to understand why, as the show’s regency glamour, paired with the scandals of higher society, makes for the perfect antidote to the bleak times we find ourselves in.

The lavish jewels, beautifully embroidered gowns and satin elbow-length gloves from the historical show have inspired a new sartorial trend, known as Regencycore, with eBay reporting that searches for Bridgerton-inspired corsets are up by 39 per cent, puff-sleeve dresses by 26 per cent and crystal earrings by 34 per cent since the show aired. Reader, who is wearing a corset in the middle of a pandemic?

But it’s not only in the fashion sphere where the period drama is influencing our lockdown shopping habits, as Argos revealed that sales of four-poster beds on its site have surged by 300 per cent since November, meaning the show’s extravagant decor has now reached the homes of viewers across the UK.

As an editor on a product review section, I’ve seen a fair few unusual shopping trends crop up during the pandemic. Our readers went mad for Bernie Sanders’ mittens last week. Virtual escape rooms, unsurprisingly, have been a huge hit. But the latest regal influence truly underlines the fact that as consumers, we’re looking for the ultimate in escapism right now. And if that involves wearing a feather headband to my next Zoom call, perhaps from the luxury of a new four-poster bed, then so be it.

Yours,

Ellie Fry

IndyBest deputy editor