The Edgy Outfit That Landed Nicola Coughlan On The Worst-Dressed List
No celebrity wants to land on the worst-dressed list for any event, but especially not one that's centered around fashion. Unfortunately for "Bridgerton" star Nicola Coughlan, one of her 'fits at Paris Fashion Week 2025 did just that. In head-to-toe Dior, the actor showed us exactly how not to wear the unexpected and cyclical jacket trend that's taking over 2025 fashion: the windbreaker. The garment was complete with shoulder cutouts and was zipped over a matching midi dress. She accessorized the monochrome look with opaque black tights and pumps, an all-black pair of sunglasses, and a handbag.
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This ensemble was a miss for a few reasons; for starters, wearing the jacket zipped up completely intercepts the intentional silhouette, and the nylon creates a wrinkled, unfitted one. Second, Coughlan is petite, standing at 5'1". Putting her in a skirt that extends past her knees not only skews her proportions but also makes her legs appear shorter as well. This, combined with the stark color of the tights, makes the actor appear shorter than she is. Perhaps she should take a note from our book and check out our tips on how to rock the oversized clothing trend when you're petite.
Nicola Coughlan hasn't had the best luck in dark ensembles
The third reason why Nicola Coughlan's Paris Fashion Week look didn't work was the all-black factor. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time Nicola Coughlan's outfit just didn't work, and many of her worst fashion moments came when she was wearing darker color palettes. The actor is fair-skinned, so her Paris Fashion Week ensemble came off looking especially harsh against her pink undertones, which would be more suited to muted colors like baby blue or yellow.
For Wimbledon 2024, she once again aimed for the oversized trend, but came up empty. In her Instagram post from the event, we can see she decided on a floor-length trenchcoat with a matching maxi dress underneath, white slide-on shoes, sunnies, and a handbag. Not only does the silhouette have the same effect as the one from Paris Fashion Week, skewing her proportions and making her look shorter, but the event itself typically calls for vibrancy and pops of color. While black is one of the most worn and loved colors in fashion, the monochromatic look is simply outdated. When Coughlan steps out of the box and incorporates bits of color, it pulls focus from the rest of the look and counteracts this dated effect. Her 2024 photoshoot with "Bridgerton" co-star Luke Newton in Brazil proves this. However, not even pops of color can save her black 'fits all the time.
Another post shows her stepping out to do "Bridgerton" press in June 2023, where she opted for a fitted black midi dress with a sweetheart neckline and structured sleeves and pointed-toe pumps, so we're already off to a better start than her other all-black looks. However, Coughlan decided to accessorize with a pair of powder-blue leather gloves. Posing against the rest of the ensemble, they just stuck out like sore thumbs, no pun intended.
Nicola Coughlan has struggled with bulky outfits, too
It's tough to have a skin tone or body silhouette that goes against a fashion trend you love, and that clearly seems to be the case with Nicola Coughlan. She leans toward dramatic silhouettes and darker colors that, unfortunately, tend to swallow her whole and wash her out, including at Paris Fashion Week 2025. Another unforgettable example was the burgundy gown she wore to the ERDEM show during London Fashion Week in 2024.
Between the overly crinkled fabric and the exaggerated puff sleeves, not even her stunning face could save the look. And to make matters worse, the thin strap exposed the lack of proper support and coverage for her chest area. Fashion hack? Shop for the best bra options for thin-strap or strapless dresses before you need them, so they're always on standby.
Coughlan made yet another bulky misstep at the 2022 Met Gala, this time wrapped in what looked more like a dozen layers of drapery than a red-carpet look. The black-and-pink gown, complete with massive puff sleeves, trailing feathers, and overwhelming fabric, leaned more into costume territory than high fashion. And though the theme for that year's gala called for flamboyance, there were more fitting ways to do it. We love Coughlan, and her Instagram proves she can serve when the styling's right. Our advice? Keep experimenting and having fun, but maybe retire the all-black and bulky looks. They're doing more harm than haute.