Redesigning Historical Romance Book Covers to be Actually Historical PART 2! 

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The thing about generic covers is, I feel like a lot of people would be more intrigued by a unique cover than a generic one.

It’s hilarious that once “Wicked and the Wallflower” became period appropriate, it instantly became much more saucy.

She should….theoreticallybewearingabonnett Bernadette is entering her Micarah era 💀

To be honest, I feel like the generic covers have less to do with appealing to the mass market, and more to do with not wanting to pay illustrators... Lovely video as always!

13:40 "But consider this: waistcoats." YEAAAH YAYAYAH waistcoat supremacy! Have you ever seen someone look bad in a waistcoat? No, no you have not, they are just too cool for that

I feel like a lot of these have just gone 'hey, Bridgerton's popular, let's make it look like that' regardless of the period in which the plot is actually set.

Aaah that first one, sounds like putting Tommy in a dress is a complete misrepresentation of what... readers... should expect! Your cover would certainly attract MY interest!

As a writer of romance & erotica you've no idea how frustrating the issue of covers is! The heroine of my erotica series is plump & in her 40s. All the covers show a slim, 20ish woman. The publisher gave me limited choice, I ran with it. But I'm going independent for my medieval romance. Even then, when I got the cover back from the graphic designer, the woman was wearing a satin cape & had long fingernails with blue nail polish on! I had to send him images of medieval women. So, so difficult, especially as readers DO judge books by their covers!

I LOVE how Bernadette takes into account who the characters are (personality, social status, occupation) when redesigning their clothes. It just adds really nice detail

Bernadette, I cannot express (but obviously I can) how pleased I am to see the multicultural nature of this video. So few presenters realize that the historical period included more than white people. Not to get on a soapbox, but it pleases me and makes this so much more enjoyable (even though I don’t read romance novels) to see your representations and actual photos supporting your suggestions of more appropriate illustrations for these types of novels. Thank you so much.

Was not expecting to get a sapphic historical romance recommendation out of this but I'm not complaining in the slightest, ahaha

'More hinged than others' is my new favourite phrase. I will be using it regularly from now on. Thank you.

ill say it again, these redesigns help sell the "romantic" aspect. They don't look trashy and generic. The Wicked and the Wallflower redesign in particular i liked because it made it look more fun, campy, and...well...WICKED!

As someone half black and Chinese, seeing historical pictures of both majes my heart swoon! Love it! Also, I think I now have a thing for garters 😂

Your covers aren't just more historically accurate, but honestly also way more aesthetically pleasing! They're actually so pretty

You should totally get hired to design book covers because these are great! It's easy to say "never judge a book by its cover" but most people definitely do just that.

Interesting how the stockings and petticoat make the second one MORE sexy in the redesigned version

Unrelated, but those black nails you have in some shots are fabulous

I think your redo for the first one is not only more accurate for the characters, but would also be more successful at drawing lesbian and queer readers in. A real shame that cover designers for romance novels get so little information about the book and time to design the covers that they can't make something that actually expresses the vision of the author and does the job of drawing potential readers in.

In the mid eighties there was this one guy named Fabio who was on a huge number of Romance novels. The females were different but the males were all Fabio. it was weird to look at my mother’s collection (6 bookcases) and see the same guy on all the covers.

"but consider this: waistcoats." how dare you read me like an open book, Bernadette! 😂

If "wide appeal" didn't also mean "hideous bridesmaid dress made mostly of plastic your cousin made you wear to the wedding she didn't even want to invite you to," the original covers would be far less egregious. You are too generous and kind, Bernadette. Your designs are clearly sexier than these cheap raids of the discount rack. The suspenders over an open shirt on a workman! The very obvious nod to Rhett and Scarlett! The gartered stockings and visible petticoats! And the corset!!! It's all just too steamy for the masses, apparently.

1830's hair always actually reminds me of those chocolate sculpture challenges and sugar sculpture competition shows on food network that peaked in the 2000s. Hair that doesn't look like hair but abstract modern art.

I am SO glad you brought up the facial hair and sideburns! It's so easy to overlook the finer details of menswear because it "hasn't changed much", but we often don't realize how much of a difference the hair and facial hair can affect how historically accurate someone looks.

Ah, once again, I find the more historically accurate re-imaginings so much more appealling! Idk, maybe it's because of the demographics of this channel, but I just feel like wouldnt someone who wants to read something set in that point in history want something more immersive? A picture so modern looking really takes away from it and i personally would be less interested in it

Honestly your covers seem far sexier than the original ones. The more historically accurate clothing is just so much more appealing.

Maybe I'm not the average reader the publishers are marketing to, but based on the character descriptions of the first book I was way more intrigued to read the book than I would have been having only seen the very generic Regency Ladies cover art!

As a certified historian and unbashed lover of romance novels, this is MY FAVORITE THING THAT YOU DO.

I love Danny’s editing of your slight rambles, they’re such a sibling roast detail 😂

OK, SO, the way you drew and painted the couple in Rebel is so full of a soft love?? Idk but it's so lovely.

These period-correct covers are so much more interesting and eye catching than the tropish covers common with this genre. Who do we need to email to launch this movement?📖

Yes! Shoutout for waistcoats! I love them. I love wearing them, I love sewing them, I love seeing them on other people. There is no body shape on earth that is not flattered by a waistcoat.

I want to write a historical romance just to ask Bernadette to do the cover.

One thing I've been wondering lately is ; what would Cinderellas gown look like? I mean, one of the most famous depictions is Disneys blue dress but there's many depictions, the story just says that it's a stunningly beautiful dress. It can be assumed that it's so stunning that nobody looked at her face and even her own stepmother didn't recognize her and the prince didn't remember what she looked like. What would something that beautiful be in the setting and time period of Cinderella? Would it be all purple because of how ridiculously expensive that would be? Would it be all white for similar reasons? Would it be covered in elaborate filigree? I would love to see a 'period accurate' Cinderella dress, what would it theoretically look like if a fairy with unlimited budget and magic created a dress to wow and astonish more than anyone else in a full royal ballroom full of literal princesses wearing their absolute best.

"The Duke Who Didn't" is such a fun story and the redesigned cover is so lovely. Publishers need to go back to paying illustrators!

Give us what we really want: enormous sleeves!

THE LONG AWAITED RETURN OF THE SERIES 🎉🥳 Edit: Can I just say, the couples look so much happier in your covers? I love them!

Absolutely unrelated but that third lady reminded me of Amber from Sophia the First and I want someone to historically redesign Sophia the First😳😳 Children's wear is pretty fun too and I rarely see it done!

"A suitably fluffy look for everyday wear." This is my new fashion goal.

Trust Bernadette to turn a bunch of unspeakable novel covers into something I might actually buy xD

We need to bring back those old school illustrated romance covers. They allow for more variety! (I doubt they'll make a return though, because money...)

The second original cover is giving me strong AI vibes where it looks like a standing figure was machine photoshopped to move her legs to the side 😨 thank you for fixing both her clothes and her anatomy lol

I loved your recreations. I think they were way better than the orginals. Living for the 1830s restyling ❤

The italian(?) book is actually "A Hathaway Wedding" by Lisa Kleypas. Not sure why this translated version was used, but maybe the cover is different. I love Sarah MacLean, Lisa Kleypas, Beverly Jenkins AND Courtney Milan! All incredible authors in the space. I hope they see this and get a good chuckle 🤭 I need to pick up the perks of loving a wallflower too! I think Courtney Milan is self published and makes her own covers. She has written in the past about how she alters bridal stock photography for her covers. Would be cool if y'all could collaborate on her next one!

Having a really rough time with fatigue and depression. This kind of content is just what I need right now! Hugs to all! ❤

Sarah Maclean is one of my favourite authors and I’m sure she would love your historically designed cover ❤

I love romance novels and it’s fun to see a more accurate representation of the characters! Although, if I’m not mistaken, the Lisa Kleypas book is “ A Hathaway Wedding”. It’s a novella about the main character’s wedding day (their full novel was Seduce me at Sunrise.) Wonder if knowing that the groom is Romani would’ve changed his appearance for the cover, but guessing the waistcoat is perfect for a wedding scene! Absolutely love your cover for Sarah MacLean’s Wicked and the Wallflower. It seems even more scandalous than the original. Of course I enjoyed reading that book too, lol!

Who would've thought that Bernadette would post a video after the long hiatus literally minutes after me finishing my Darcy / pirate / 18th century men's shirt! Thanks B, for singlehandedly inspiring and setting me on my sewing venture ::)

I’m a historical romance reader purchaser 😆 and I would love to have accurate dress period representation in the covers!

I actually think your version of Rebel is more sensual than the original because she's completely covered and he isn't 😏

I understand publishing houses are in tight competition in this highly popular genre.- But, I also believe that most readers choose this sub-genre specifically because of the HISTORICAL aspect. Therefore that includes-- historically accurate dress or costume to add to the ambiance and feeling of romance. What a great vlog 💡 ! Luv it! More 🙏 pls!

I have just read a fun story, "The Time-Traveller's Seamstress" by Natasja Rose and all the time I was reading I was picturing you as the main character ❤

From my perspective as an Illustration major, you're a pretty dang good artist. Well done, both on the accuracy front and the actual drawing front.

It's like the 1830s was a decade entirely designed by Drag Queens! I love it!

Romance reader here! We hate these covers too! So over the photography with the cheap Halloween store dresses. I don't know who publishers make these covers for. You did a fantastic job. The Duke Who Didn't and Rebel are two of my absolute favourite books.

The fact that you have framed your NY Metro Card is so whimsical it made me smile. Fun video as always.

Time stamps (bc I'm bored). The Perks of Loving a Wallflower: 2:44 Wicked and The Wallflower: 7:14 Un matrimonio degli Hathaway: 11:49 Rebel: 15:23 The Duke who Didn't: 19:21

Waiting for a period romance novel titled “Petticoat Action” 😂

This is slightly tangential to the video, but I find it immensely satisfying when you do the line work at the end of the illustrations. SO GOOD

I really want to live in a world where Miss Bernadette has fixed everything.

Please consider doing a video on how WW1 and WW2 changed womens fashion

Bernadette: "Consider this... waistcoats" Me: "absolutely, could not agree more"

The Rebel re-draw is just so romantic. It’s like two soulmates just basking in each other’s presence

I appreciate the historical photos to accent your ideas and that the photos are of the people you are dressing.

I love this! As an author, the way it usually works for me is that my editor sends a short brief to the designer, and then the designer commissions the illustrator. I usually only get a say on the more-or-less final cover. That tends to mean things like that character's clothing and hair often end up very different to what I've described! For example I have a character who always dresses in black because her family runs an undertaker's. She ended up with a bright yellow dress on the original design 😆 I realised though that black would not work with the cover at all, so we went with dark red and she had to expand her wardrobe a little. 😂 (I love my covers but if Bernadette ever wanted to draw historically accurate outfits on them I'd be very pleased lol)

As an avid reader of historical romance, I so enjoy these shenanigans!

"Stay Calm, Bernadette" should be a comic book.

Your covers certainly look more intriguing to me! All those little details, like undone shirt, ruffles, pettycoats and stockings with little bows… they look much more sensual in a way. I think it’s because we have a glimpse of something that normally was hidden from sight.

I love your excitement over the 1830s ❤

Every single one of these is 100x sexier than the original

Props for also correcting the characters themselves! That’s pure character design dedication 🙏🙏🙏

Another fun video! Alas romance novel covers are a guilty pleasure since most of them are there to draw the eye - however, modern novel covers are getting better about it though I'll miss the "sexy" covers lol

me: damn I wish fashion in period pieces was more period accurate period piece: describes romantic interest having moustache me: …well yes but actually no

The first book is giving me serious 'Gentleman Jack' vibes!

So I just got hit with a plot bunny of a society of people displaced in time, and they decide to do a whole like time police thing. Of course a large portion of these people are in the clothing/costuming department, just making the clothes the traditional ways, and there is Bernadette, happily finishing another project by using tiny felling stitches. Don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I thought that this community would love the idea.

is it just me or do we need an updated version of Bernadettes hair updo? 🤔🥰

Degli is pronounced DEL-yee if no one else mentioned it. This is a fun topic. Thanks for revisiting the romance novel covers!

As an avid reader of historical romance, I can't tell you how many times I have been frustrated with the cover of a book, because it was "wrong". I love what you did with the new covers. As well as the diversity in your choices. Love ALL of the "time traveling shenanigans" you get up to on your channel❤❤

Very much appreciating the 1830s love. How can anyone not love the sleeves? I love Regency, but I would much rather be in an 1830s gown. And the hair is just so fun.

This video was just as fun as the first one you did on this topic! I love how you included a diverse array of romance novels featuring a LGBTQ story and others featuring people of color. ❤

I can't emphasise enough how much I love these historical drawing videos!

As a real historical romance junky I am shocked regularly about how inacurate this covers are, I mean, they often don´t get even the haircolor of the protagonists right . . . not just the style but the whole color . . . like, in the fift book of a series were the current heroin often appears in all of the four books before her own story . . . . And although I highly recomend to read all stories of courtney milan, because she wrote long before it was "trend" about lgbtq - heros, heros of colors or different heritage and even heros who would be in an retirement home in modern days with great sensibility and wit, and talked very early on about the lack of multi culture representation in such stories, her stories have the most horrible coverssometimes, like the one for "talk sweetly to me", a story about a woman of color with superior math - abilitys and an fair skinned hero (written around 2014, btw) wich covers a clearly photoshoped version of an actually white woman, but more in the skin color of a woman with indian heritage, not the very dark skin the heroin is actually written in . . . absolutly every of her wonderful stories could use such a makeover . . .

I loved that! I am especially found of that last one, I love that you mentioned that they may include some details from their own culture into the region appropraite clothes cause that is totally a thing that would be done! Particularly in the under clothes.

i love how for the characters of color you found historical images of black and asian folks as reference :)

I could watch this for hours and hours and not get bored

If you do another one, *please* do A Lady for a Duke. It's had two covers that I know of and they're both *dreadful.* eta. I LOVE this series. As a former bookseller and current librarian, there are so many painfully bad historical covers out there. Romances in particular tend to get hit hard by bad covers. (Sci-fi too but that's mostly outside the scope of your channel XD )

I feel these covers are much more intriguing then the original

I love this series! I dream of the poor authors who are finally seeing their real characters depicted, replacing the marketing department's vision that was slapped on their work.

Ok now the redesigned covers make me want to read the books Love these kind of videos

I love romance novels and would absolutely prefer realistic and more historically accurate covers

One thing I love about Bernadette's videos is the use of extant diverse portraiture, reflecting that, within and/or beyond enclave communities, people were valued enough that someone braved the luxury expense of portraiture or photography. And, I know this often was still far from the ideal of inclusivity and equality; but, when many communities still struggle for visibility and universal respect today, it's a vital reference in the ongoing effort to grow toward better. Also, feel like "Perks of Loving a Wallflower" might've had wider visual appeal with the tighter clothes on Tommy. However, will admit that the accurate rework of the chaps from "Un Matrimonio" and "Rebel" remind me of (great great great?) grandpa pics 😅 I get why they sometimes modernize styles now.

The television series "Wives and Daughters" is set (i believe) in the 1830s. The hairdos they create in it are fabulous!

I love that you do these book 're--covers'. Just as in movies, when book covers 'get it right', they _immediately_ pull you into the story. If only the cover designers got that. Thank you, Bernadette!

I've always been curious about the dissonant covers since I started reading as a child. How does the process work? How hard could it be to send a few bullet points to the cover artist, like ''Set in England in 1715, tall brunette protagonist with blue eyes, tall and muscular love interest with black hair and dark eyes''? I realize that many illustrators wouldn't have knowledge of historical fashion, but sometimes even the physical traits are SO off. It's really jarring. That's why I came to like abstract covers more, it's very rare to get a good cover depicting characters correctly.

illustrated covers are so much more fun than ones with bland models!

I happily read barely researched historical novels, and I feel like the anachronistic covers o at least usually give the right expectation - the heroes usually have oddly modern sensibilities, why not clothes? If they had your designs on the cover, I think I'd start expecting the author to have done actual research. (Although the first one definitely should have gone for men's wear for Tommy and probably a plumper model for Philippa.) Edited because I hit submit before finishing typing.

I bow down to your will to, tact for and consequence in variety and diversity. Thank you so much.

I love the little Morgan feature 😂

That one with the pink dress and the petticoats - it's so much more enticing with the petticoat and the garters showing.