Sense and Sensibility’s Costume Designer Breaks Down the Film’s Regency Fashion

Go behind the scenes of ‘Sense and Sensibility’ with costume designer Grace Snell as she reveals how she and her team brought the film’s Regency-era fashion to life. From creating natural dyes using everything from onion skins to elderflowers and carrot tops, to sourcing authentic antique fabrics, discover the painstaking craftsmanship behind the film’s richly textured, historically accurate costumes. See how Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Elinor Dashwood incorporates period-accurate menswear, while George MacKay’s Edward Ferrars balances the elegance of an upper-class gentleman with the rugged charm of country life. Plus, star Caitríona Balfe, who plays Mrs. Dashwood, explains how the costumes do more than recreate the past, making the characters and their emotions feel immediate to modern audiences. From the actresses having to change their deodorant to protect the delicate natural dyes to Snell meticulously recreating blackberry stains across multiple versions of the same dress, this episode of Behind the Seams reveals the unexpected challenges of making period costumes feel authentic, imperfect and lived-in. 'Sense and Sensibility' is now playing in theaters. 0:00 Behind the Seams–’Sense and Sensibility’ 0:39 The Regency Period 1:19 Mrs. Dashwood 2:31 The Control of Color 3:38 Barton Cottage 4:26 Marianne Dashwood 4:44 Elinor Dashwood 5:53 The Fabrics 8:55 Wearing Natural Dyes 9:27 Edward Ferrars 10:34 John Willoughby 10:58 Crafting Authentic Period Costumes Subscribe to InStyle