Wuthering Heights: Costumes Defy Time, Embrace Fun

Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights' is drawing attention for its deliberately anachronistic costumes, a trend increasingly embraced in contemporary filmmaking. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran explained that the vision was not to represent a specific historical moment but to use fashion as a storytelling tool. The mood board for Cathy's costumes included diverse influences from historical periods to high fashion, resulting in looks like a cellophane-like wedding dress meant to symbolize her as a gift.

This creative liberty in costume design is not unique to 'Wuthering Heights.' Films such as Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Yorgos Lanthimos's 'Poor Things' have also featured costumes that play with period accuracy, utilizing modern fabrics and bold aesthetics. Critics suggest that this trend, possibly amplified by the "Bridgerton effect" since 2020, offers audiences a form of escapism, particularly during global crises. For instance, the 1940 film 'Pride and Prejudice' provided an escape for audiences during World War II.

However, some experts argue that the emphasis on anachronisms might be overstated, noting that costume design has always reflected the era of its creation. True historical accuracy is nearly impossible to achieve due to the unavailability of period-accurate fabrics and evolving design interpretations. Ultimately, costume designers aim to serve the film's narrative, sometimes injecting elements of fantasy or anachronistic moods, like punk-inspired designs in a 1930s setting, to enhance the storytelling and create a unique cinematic experience.