Cathy's Closet — THE EDGE

“Wuthering Heights” just hit theatres this past Valentine’s Day, and not even a week later it has been declared the #1 movie in the world. Filled with foggy moors, years of yearning and Jacob Elordi, this movie was the perfect watch.

Director Emerald Fennell has been under a lot of fire recently, with the internet critiquing her for her stylistic choices with the film. In many situations, she has reiterated the fact that this movie is not a direct adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel, rather a reimagining to the new level. Let’s not forget this woman did Saltburn either…

The costumes for Wuthering Heights (2026) were designed by Jaqueline Durran, who has won both Oscars and BAFTAS for her costume design in Anna Karenina (2012) and Little Women (2019).

Let’s unpack the film, shall we?

*Spoilers ahead!!!*

Loving him was Red

Red is an important motif in this film, and a lot of it is expressed through Cathy’s clothes. The first we see of Cathy as a grown up, portrayed by Margot Robbie, she’s seen sitting in a windowsill wearing a red Scandinavian-vibe dress. When she returns from Edgar’s, we see her in a new red dress, one she gets complimented on. This represents the differences between her and Edgar, and how part of her will always belong to Heathcliff. Another dress we see is the red skirt, this time in Edgar’s home. Her skirt blending into the floor shows her ties to her new husband, and that she’s morphing into something new for him.

Chains of Love or Braids of Love?

Hair in this movie is next-level, especially when it comes to Cathy’s. These two braids caught my attention, the interwoven piece of string peaking my interest. We see it on two occasions, in red and blue. Red symbolizing sexual maturity, fatality and passion, the blue representing her transition to Edgar’s manor.

Tighter!

Cathy demands Nelly (Hong Chau) tighten her bridal corset, echoing the scars on Heathcliff’s back from a beating he sustained as a child when defending her. But this tightening also signals that by marrying Edgar, she is trapped.

In another scene, Heathcliff casually lifts Cathy by the strings of her corset, getting her to eye-level with him. Nothing to note about the fashion except for the fact that Elordi is strong, but not as strong as those strings on the corset!

Margot Robbie as Cathy & Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in *Wuthering Heights* (Photo from Pinterest)

Cathy on her wedding night (Photo from Pinterest)

Here comes the bride

After Cathy’s wedding to Edgar, we see her in a plastic, nude dress, complete with a bow. Wrapped up in this fabric, Cathy is seen as a present to Edgar, showing the viewer that she was an object of appeal in Edgar’s eyes, one he won.

Veil or cell?

The opening shot of the film is a man being hanged, with fabric covering his head. Cathy is seen in a veil in two situations, her wedding to Edgar, and at her father’s funeral. The veils on their heads show that a man’s life ends when he dies, and a woman’s life ends when she is married. By lifting the funeral veil for a kiss, and kissing through the veil, Heathcliff and Cathy dance on the edge of loyalty.

Healthcliff’s slutty little earring

This one is more just for fun, but Elordi’s little earring caught my eye time and time again. Appreciation for the earring is due.

Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in *Wuthering Heights* (Photo from Pinterest)

All in all, a beautifully shot and produced film, but I can see where the literary lovers have their reservations.

Did you watch the movie? Did you like it? Any costumes stand out to you?

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