Daisy Edgar-Jones Explains How Berry Stains Shaped Her 'Sense and Sensibility' Costumes

How Natural Dyes Influenced Character Development

Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones has revealed how natural berry dyes created the earthy, lived-in look for her character’s wardrobe in the upcoming film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Speaking exclusively to Bustle, Edgar-Jones described the costume process as deeply collaborative, emphasizing the intentional imperfection that reflects the Dashwood sisters’ altered circumstances after losing their family estate. The approach avoided polished Regency aesthetics in favor of textures and tones that felt authentic to early 19th-century rural life.

The costumes were designed to appear „undone,” with fabrics deliberately stained using crushed berries and plant-based dyes to achieve muted, organic hues. Edgar-Jones explained that this technique was not merely decorative but narrative, symbolizing the characters’ emotional and financial displacement. Rather than relying on synthetic colors, the costume team sourced materials that would have been accessible to women of reduced means, grounding the visual storytelling in historical plausibility. This method allowed the clothing to evolve subtly throughout the film, mirroring the sisters’ gradual adaptation to their new reality.

What Does This Approach Mean for Period Accuracy?

Edgar-Jones noted that wearing garments dyed with berries and roots changed her physical performance, as the uneven textures and slight stiffness of the fabrics informed how her character moved and carried herself. She described the process as immersive, saying the costumes helped her embody the quiet resilience of Elinor Dashwood. The actress highlighted that the dye variations were intentional — no two pieces matched exactly — to avoid a manufactured look. This attention to detail extended to undergarments and accessories, all treated with the same plant-based solutions to maintain visual consistency. The result was a wardrobe that felt inherited, worn, and deeply personal.

By prioritizing natural dyes over historically inaccurate synthetics, the costume design challenges common assumptions about Regency-era fashion in film. Edgar-Jones pointed out that while silk and fine linens were available to the wealthy, the Dashwoods’ situation required a more resourceful wardrobe, which the film reflects through its material choices. She emphasized that the team consulted historical textile records to ensure the dyes used — such as blackberry, elderberry, and woad — were period-appropriate for rural England. This commitment to authenticity, she said, allows audiences to connect more deeply with the characters’ emotional journey through what they wear.

Why were berry stains chosen for the costumes? The berry stains were selected to create an authentic, earthy palette that reflected the Dashwood sisters’ reduced circumstances and connection to the natural world, avoiding the overly polished look often seen in period dramas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the costumes affect Daisy Edgar-Jones’ performance? Edgar-Jones said the uneven textures and natural stiffness of the dyed fabrics influenced her posture and movement, helping her embody Elinor Dashwood’s quiet strength and adaptability throughout the film.

Are the dyeing techniques used historically accurate? Yes, the costume team used plant-based dyes like blackberry, elderberry, and woad, which were accessible in rural England during the early 1800s and consistent with the Dashwoods’ social standing after their financial decline.