Get the Wuthering Heights Style!

Get the Wuthering Heights Style!

If you’re obsessed with Gothic style and fantasy retellings, you’ll certainly have heard about the new Wuthering Heights movie. Based on the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, this dark and twisted story follows the lives and misfated romance of Cathy and Heathcliff as they haunt each other across the shadowy landscape of the English moors. While this story has always been a classic, the new movie by Emerald Fennell is certainly causing a stir thanks to its star-studded cast and controversial adaptation. Chief among the movie’s most striking elements is the wardrobe, full of bold and colourful pieces that have raised plenty of questions among the audience. The film’s costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, has made it very clear that, despite the specific era of the novel, the film’s costuming inspiration was drawn from a range of historical times. The inspiration for Cathy’s huge, Gothic dresses and wedding pieces was taken from a variety of places, from 1950s fashion magazines to Tudor paintings, and even old Hollywood. While this is certainly unorthodox for such a historical piece, we can’t deny the dramatic impact of the film’s clothing.

If you’ve seen just one still from the film, it’s likely to be Margot Robbie in her billowing wedding dress, face covered by an enormous veil, or maybe her cellophane-inspired iridescent wrap dress, which took the internet by storm. Did you like the bold and eye-catching pieces? Or did you find them out of place for such an austere story? Either way, we’re sure that you, like everyone else, are curious to hear more about the Wuthering Heights costume design. And maybe, just maybe, you’re also curious to find out how you can replicate the style yourself.

In today’s blog, we’ll go over all of the main costumes from the movie, their key aspects, and how you can recreate them in the modern world!

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Cathy’s Looks-

Our main character, Cathy Earnshaw, sports a range of bold, daring, and enchanting pieces throughout the movie. According to Jacqueline Durran, 45 to 50 outfits were created for Cathy’s character alone, and we can certainly see the effect of this! From huge ballgowns and corseted latex pieces to shimmery veils and hoods, Cathy’s fashion is as iconic as it is varied. With references varying from the Tudor period to the modern day, Cathy’s clothing is a little all over the place, but that’s what makes it so fun to recreate; you can take any aesthetic and turn it into your perfect Wuthering Heights look!

Here are the key elements you need to get Cathy’s style:

  • Big, billowy skirts

  • Corsets

  • Shiny and shimmery fabrics

  • Oversized accessories

  • Maximalist jewelry

 

Look 1- The Milkmaid Outfit

The first outfit that we see on adult Cathy is a German-milkmaid-inspired look. This is made up of a checkered skirt, puffy white blouse, and gingerbread-colored corset. This look was intended by Durran to lay out the intentions of the film’s costuming as a whole, pulling in all the different aesthetics to create one definitive look that depicts Cathy’s character. The corset and blouse reference Gothic themes, while the color is reminiscent of contemporary fashion as well as old Hollywood. Want to get the look? As we said above, both dresses and corsets are essential to the costuming in this movie, so our first recommendation is our Desdemona Corset Dress in white. The flounces and frills of this white Gothic dress are perfect for getting a historical look, while the corset top is ideal for a milkmaid aesthetic. 

You can also pick out one of our black corsets and pair it with any skirt or dress, for that fit-and-flare Gothic silhouette that’s present in the entire movie. The Vixxsin Dahlia Gothic Corset, for example, is one of our bestsellers, and for good reason. This black corset is the perfect staple piece to bring a historical look together, with some dark trimming to accentuate the Gothic vibe.

 

Look 2- The Red Latex Dress

One of the film’s most iconic looks is the red latex dress that Cathy wears in the library. The huge latex skirt and open blouse are intended to replicate the setting around Cathy, with the red and white colors and the shiny surfaces. This is another striking outfit that relies on colors and textures, but how else can we get the look? A key element of Cathy’s fashion throughout the movie is her jewelry and accessories. In this look, her hair is tied back by a big red bow, paired with large, dangly earrings. In the rest of the movie, we see her penchant for huge hats, chunky jewelry, and ribbons. You can get your very own Gothic accessories by trying something like the Blue Banana Large Spider Hairclip in black, perfect for adding a spooky touch to your updo. 

As for jewelry, try the Skulls & Crosses Choker, ideal for a maximalist Gothic look. The jewelry in the film is full of extreme pieces and Biblical referencing, so this cross-themed, layered choker is perfect for getting the style!

 

Look 3- The Wedding Dress

Of course, we couldn’t talk about Cathy’s fashion without mentioning her wedding dress. Iconic since the first trailer came out, this huge, billowing wedding dress is the perfect dramatic piece to depict Cathy’s bold character and strong emotions, especially on her wedding day. The white ballgown features a fitted bodice (naturally) and large puff sleeves, with a stylish off-the-shoulder neckline that’s reminiscent of old Hollywood designs. Cathy’s neck is left bare, while a thorny tiara holds in place a huge white veil, creating that timeless billowing look that we’ve all been obsessing over. The silhouette of the dress is based on Tudor fashion and style, which you can get with a piece like our Amara Velvet Maxi Dress. This dark, velvet maxi dress is perfect for a Tudor-inspired statement look!

Want more volume? Shop our Penelope Petticoat in black or white for a large and billowy look that Emily Brontë would be proud of!

 

Look 4- The Red Riding Hood

When returning to Wuthering Heights, Cathy wears a red velvet cape with a large hood. Inspired by 50s melodramas and fairy tales, the hooded cape is perfectly Gothic! It looks especially dramatic in the movie, standing out starkly against the white snow of the moors. Want to replicate the blood-red effect? Try our Hell Bunny Mourning Dress, which provides a Gothic silhouette while also using the same frosted red velvet material.

Or, get ready for your own snowy winter with our Black Trim Pea Coat in red, perfect for getting that bundled-up, blood-red look!

 

Accessories-

Now that we’ve gone over all of the main looks, you should know where to look for the essentials of your piece. Remember- it’s all about big, dramatic silhouettes, bright colors, and lots of accessories! Speaking of accessories, we have a couple more options for you to have a look at. First, to replicate Cathy’s chained looks, you can try out our Vixxsin Steam Siren Corset, perfect for adding a Steampunk spin on your Wuthering Heights style.

Want a subtle touch to your look that adds to the Gothic vibe? Check out our Large Spider Tights, perfect for adding more spookiness to any outfit.

Finally, Cathy doesn’t only accessorise with jewelry and hats- her summer and outdoor accessories are plenty iconic, and none more so than her red sunglasses. Get the Steampunk look with our Curved Bridge Sunglasses!

 

So, are you ready for a Wuthering Heights spring? Whether you’re looking to replicate Cathy’s Gothic style or prefer to shop our coats and jackets for a Heathcliff look, we’re sure that you’ll find everything you need on our website. Want a piece that helps you fulfil your Gothic fantasy while still remaining in the modern world? Browse our velvet tops here

And if you’ve found all of the pieces you need, then put your Wuthering Heights look to the test by tagging us @bluebananauk! We’re so excited to see your take on this dark and dramatic trend. 

Whatever souls are made of, our hearts will always beat for Gothic fashion!

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