‘Bridget Jones’ Costume Designer on Recreating Those Iconic Penguin Pajamas and Bridget’s Mini Skirts: ‘Why Wouldn’t a Woman in her 50s Wear Short Skirts?’

variety.com:

real adult well into her 50s. But the millions of adoring fans of the “Bridget Jones” universe, which began as a book series in 1996 before being adapted into the hugely successful movie franchise in 2001, will be happy to know that some things stay the same — including Hugh Grant as the impossibly charming bachelor, Daniel Cleaver.

Other facets of Bridget’s life that endured with time: electric blue cocktails, penguin pajamas, red leatherbound journals, cashmere cardis, denim jackets.

For costume designer Molly Rowe, though, “It was always the short skirts.” “She was always in skirt, skirt, skirts,” she tells Variety. “It felt like a very subtle but important opportunity to think about why wouldn’t a woman in her 50s still be wearing short skirts?

We can’t meet her 10 years later and she’s suddenly in a lounge suit or long skirts and whatnot — that’s not Bridget.” “It was an opportunity to say that we should all be wearing what we want,” Rowe continues. “Times have changed and we should be embracing clothing that makes us feel confident and happy and good about ourselves.” Many of the most pivotal scenes in “Mad About the Boy” feature Bridget in the sartorial triad seen in the original movie poster and that has inspired many a Halloween costume over the years: skirt, cardigan, boots.