Top 5 Period Dramas With Lavish Costumes and Sets to Binge-Watch

There are infinite amounts of period dramas we can watch on various streaming platforms. While all these shows are majestic, one thing that we can all agree upon is that these period dramas have incredible sets and fashion moments. The wardrobe team and set designer’s dedication to historical accuracy bring the stories and characters from different eras to life on screen. Not only do we enjoy politics and love affairs, the royal outfits represent vintage glamour that we can’t get enough of. Here are the top 5 period dramas with lavish costumes and sets to binge-watch!

Top 5 Period Dramas With Lavish Costumes and Sets to Binge-Watch

The Crown (Netflix)

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown (Image by @TheCrownNetflix, Twitter)

The Crown is a period drama that showcases the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It has won various awards and has been praised for its exceptional production values. For fashion enthusiasts, The Crown is filled with many fashionable moments. The series honors the history, and the costumes and takes you back to the era of the 40s and onwards. Throughout five seasons, the wardrobe and set designer team ensure that the costumes reflect the characters’ personalities and resemble what they actually wore in real life in the past. Using top-of-the-line fabrics, jewelry, and perfect garment construction that showcase the elaborate couture costumes and sets of the British Royal family from the 40s onwards.

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret in The Crown (Image by @TheCrownNetflix, Twitter)

These gorgeous costumes are thanks to Emmy-winning costume designer Michele Clapton joined by Timothy Everest, Amy Roberts, and Jane Petrie working on different seasons. With their team of tailors and dresses who work diligently to bring the designs to life, they also work together with historians to get insights into the royal family’s wardrobe choices. 

Added to that, they researched everything, from fashion trends to particular eras and historical photographs to inspire and create this epic show. No wonder the set designs in The Crown are equally impressive, locations such as Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, and other royal residences look so authentic. A majestic period drama with glorious sets and eye-pleasing costumes, worthy to watch!

Downton Abbey (Amazon Prime Video)

Downton Abbey casts  (Image by @DowntonAbbey, Twitter)

Another Emmy-Award-winning period drama is Downton Abbey. It is not actually a new TV series, since the first season of this show was released in 2010. However, it is still considered a classic period drama that you can watch and enjoy even now, especially after ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era” dropped just last year in 2022. Exposing the snobbery and machinations of a vanishing class system, this series showcases events in the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in the early 20th century.

To recreate this British aristocracy lifestyle, Susannah Buxton and Caroline McCall meticulously researched and designed costumes that represent the fashion trends of the era. It ranges from regal outfits and elegant evening gowns to royal suits, and even traditional attire of the household staff.

Downton Abbey casts  (Image by @DowntonAbbey, Twitter)

The sets shown in Downton Abbey are also historically accurate. The set designers filled the castles where they filmed the show with priceless artifacts that makes the show iconic. The show was filmed at the now-famous Highclere Castle (used for the Crawley family’s estate), Alnwick Castle, Wentworth Woodhouse, and many other various locations across England that were turned so beautifully to bring the Edwardian era to life for the show. The dining halls, luxurious drawing rooms, and bedrooms reflected the grand lifestyle of the Crawley and definitely will keep you wanting more.

Bridgerton (Netflix)

Ruth Gemmel as Lady Violet Bridgerton and Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton  (Image by @shondaland, Twitter)

Third on our list is Bridgeton. It is a Netflix period drama series created by Chris Van Dusen and Shonda Rhimes. It is based on the novels written by Julia Quinn. Set in Regency-era London, this show follows the lives of the wealthy Bridgerton family and their social circle. Not only because this show is filled with royal romantic entanglements, elegant parties, dramatic scandals, and enormous castles with beautiful artifacts, but people are also drawn to this show because it is known for its extravagant costumes, mixing historical accuracy with a modern twist.

Watching Bridgerton is not like watching another series. The costumes, props and everything else transports you to another world. Outfits worn by the characters even play a huge role in representing their growth. They help give little insights into the characters. 

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte (Image by @shondaland, Twitter)

Costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick, created beautiful, elegant ball gowns for the aristocratic characters and vibrant outfit ensembles for the lower class characters. The late Marc Pilcher won one Emmy Award for Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling for this show. Last but not least, the over-the-top set design? Even though the production designer, Will Hughes-Jones said they dialed the set design up a few notches and not being too historically accurate, it is still looking majestic. Everything about Bridgerton is extravagant and visually pleasing. No wonder it became one of the most influential shows on Netflix and even got a prequel spin-off called Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventure (Netflix)

Wang Herun as Princess Zhao in Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures (Image by @ChasingDramas, Twitter)

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures, a six-episode spin-off of the 2018 smash hit “Story of Yanxi Palace” is actually a good start if you just got into Chinese historical drama. This romance tale is in the era of the Qing Dynasty back in the 18th century. It is China’s modern take on classic period romance, where princesses compete for love.

While Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures features deadly schemes, fights, and romantic scandals, there is more to see in this show. The production design is definitely stunning with colorful exquisite costumes, glorious hairstyles, and faithful recreation of historical details.

YANXI PALACE PRINCESS ADVENTURE ALREADY AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX 😍😍😍 Another good chinese drama hehehehe pic.twitter.com/LCQyComz1x

— 𓍼 mini 💗 (@springbliss_jun) May 28, 2020

It shows various cultural heritage crafts as well as elaborate hand-embroidered costumes and accessories. Like Tian-Tsui, a vivid blue headpiece worn by Princess Zhao (Wang Herun) in the show. Only women in the royal court and aristocrats can wear that headdress.

This glorious combination of riveting plot and exquisite costumes will make your eyes glued to your screen. It is indeed a visual feast. 

The Empress (Netflix)

Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth von Wittlesbach in The Empress (Image by @Netflix)

The Empress is based on the early years of the love story in the 19th century between Elisabeth from Austria (Devrim Lingnau) with Emperor Franz Joseph I (Philip Froissant). This series is beautiful and the depiction of Sisi’s life in this series is quite historically accurate. It successfully showcased her love of freedom in a gripping, well-scripted storyline, completed with great casts, costumes, and set design. 

From a historical point of view, the costume worn by the characters may not be perfectly accurate. Although throughout the season, Swiss designer Gabrielle Reumer crafted sophisticated costumes with luxurious fabrics and colors.

Elisabeth von Wittlesbach’s wedding gown in The Empress (Image by @Netflix)

It successfully showcases more compelling stories on-screen, it is a very adult, risky, but enjoyable period drama filled with incredible cinematography and music. The Empress brings new life and perspective to period dramas, making it easy to connect with the characters even though the present day is eras apart from them. A really binge-worthy show.

Crafting exquisite costumes and magnificent set designs for period dramas is a lot of hard work. One of the reasons why this genre is so engaging is because of the commitment to creating elaborate wardrobes and locations that definitely enhance the plot to become more iconic. What are your thoughts about our Top 5 Period Dramas With Lavish Costumes and Sets to Binge-Watch? 

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