Bridgerton Costume Designers Debunk a Popular Theory About Eloise's Flower Dress in Season 3 (Exclusive)

Bridgerton has been known to drop clues about future seasons in their clothes, but sometimes, the Easter eggs are actually just coincidences. 

Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively, Bridgerton costume designers John Glaser, George Sayer and Dougie Hawkes gave insight into all the characters’ dramatic transformations in season 3, including Eloise Bridgerton (played by Claudia Jessie). 

Though the second eldest Bridgerton daughter has been known to wear a more practical wardrobe, this season, we see her take on a much more feminine aesthetic akin to that of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. 

Of her many pastels and frills, one outfit that has caused much conversation is her shimmery ballgown, which many have theorized is a huge clue that she will be the main character in the upcoming fourth season. 

As detailed on Reddit, fans believe the dress includes Easter eggs about Eloise’s love story in To Sir Phillip, with Love in which she falls for Marina Thompson’s widower Sir Phillip Cane. 

Notably, fans have called out that the dress is a light shade of green, which happens to be Philip’s favorite color and features a flower detailing similar to that of a geranium, which is what he sends to Eloise in the book. 

While it’s still unclear who will lead season 4, the costume designers debunked the costume Easter egg theory to PEOPLE, noting that the dress was simply a coincidence. 

“People have said, ‘Oh, that's the flower from the book,’” Glaser recalls, adding that they “were surprised” by the theory and “had no idea” about the connection. 

“We'll take it, but the intention wasn't there,” Sayer adds. 

“That's what people forget. Some things are just done inherently,” Glaser continues. “It's after the fact when people dissect it, I do sometimes think, ‘I had no idea we did that.’ It just was there.” 

“It's flattering to think that we're that smart. We're not,” Glaser jokes. 

So, what exactly does that mean for the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton? The show’s creators have been incredibly tight-lipped about the lead for the new season, though author Julia Quinn did confirm to PEOPLE that she knows who will be at the center of the story, but she "can't say yet."

Perhaps the answer will be revealed in the season 3 finale.