Stories set in the past rely on myriad details to feel believable, and clothing is probably the most significant of them. Costumes help define eras, social class, and character without a word being spoken. Therefore, when those choices feel wrong, the illusion can quickly break.

This concern has surfaced around the upcoming Wuthering Heights film, where attention has shifted from the story itself to the period inaccuracies of the production. The offering’s costume designer has now shared her take on the debate.

For Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights, two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran crafted a wardrobe that prioritizes style and character over strict historical accuracy.

“Our dates are all confused in the sense that we are not representing a moment in time at all. We are just picking images or styles that we like for each character,” Durran explained recently while speaking to British Vogue.

Durran drew inspiration from centuries of fashion, from Tudor and Georgian silhouettes to 1950s glamour, alongside modern designers like Mugler and McQueen. She created between 45 and 50 distinct costumes for Margot Robbie's Cathy alone, she revealed in her British Vogue interview. 

Each character’s wardrobe, from Cathy and Jacob Elordi’s brooding Heathcliff to Alison Oliver’s candy-pink Isabella, is deliberately stylized. The choices enhance the film’s heightened, almost dreamlike atmosphere and do not focus heavily on recreating the late 18th-century charm of Emily Brontë’s novel via apparel when the title hits theaters.

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Wuthering Heights, boasting the aforementioned power-packed ensemble, will be released in time to celebrate the love season of 2026.

Wuthering Heights will be released on February 13, 2026, strategically timed to draw romance lovers and young couples to cinemas ahead of Valentine’s Day. The date positions the film as a major seasonal event, and the release calendar for the months ahead suggests it will not have much competition in the genre on the big screens.

As anticipation builds, the film, clearly, is shaping up to be as much a visual conversation as a literary one. Whether the bold costume choices deepen the emotional pull or distract from Brontë’s world will be decided once audiences step into cineplexes.

The release is also likely to revive wider discussions about how this version measures up against earlier Wuthering Heights adaptations, many of which are still debated. One thing seems certain: This take will stand out, inviting comparison, debate, and renewed interest in a story that refuses to fade.

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What do you think of the Wuthering Heights costumes so far? Let us know in the comments.