Entertainment

Secret meanings behind Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights outfits – including dress made with hair

David Benjamin
‘Margot Robbie’s dress is made of hair’ is not necessarily something you might expect to hear after the star previously dominated headlines for her Barbie inspired picture-perfect outfits. The polarizing film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights has seen a fair amount of publicity recently; from Jacob Elordi practicing that Yorkshire accent in the bath, to the ‘co-dependent’ relationship between the two co-stars. But fans of Robbie’s method dressing have been tuning into the Wuthering Heights promo not just for the interviews but to watch her, and stylist Andrew Mukamal, embrace the Gothic and the romantic essences of the film, which include…a dress braided with hair extensions. (Picture: Getty/PA/Reuters)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock (16514048en) Margot Robbie 'Wuthering Heights' film premiere, London, UK - 05 Feb 2026
That’s right, for the UK premiere of the film, directed by Saltburn’s Emerald Fennell and scheduled for release on Friday, Margot Robbie wore a sheer Dilara Findikoglu gown along with a corseted bodice, adorned with braided golden-brown ropes of hair extensions across the bodice, shoulders, and even down the long skirt. Not only did the dress contribute to the earthy, gothic feel that has followed Robbie’s method-dressing for this press tour so far, the braided hair detail was actually inspired by a mourning bracelet worn by Charlotte Brontë, sister of Wuthering Heights writer Emily Brontë. (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock)
Hairstylist Claire Moore told Allure the braided hair detail was even specifically colour-swatched to match the hair from both Emily and Anne Brontë – as the bracelet was a replica of the original. The hair stylist made swatches of the color which Findikoglu, the designer of the dress, then took to the Brontë Parsonage Museum to compare with the original bracelet band for complete accuracy. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Though it did not seem as if Robbie chose to pair the look with the matching signet rings the two co-stars have, the look did nothing short of cause a sensation. Her hairstyle was deliberately minimalist so as not to to take from the spectacle of the dress, with hairstylist Bryce Scarlett pulling her hair back from her face and twisting it into a low updo with tiny curling tendrils on either side of Robbie’s face. (Picture: cecejewelleryofficial/instagram)
The method-dressing doesn’t stop there, either. At the world premiere last week, Margot paired a glamorous blood-red and black fishtail dress – custom Schiaparelli – with Elizabeth Taylor’s huge heart-shaped Taj Mahal necklace. Her stylist sourced the gem after being inspired by the line in the book: ‘I have not broken your heart – you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine’, which references the pair’s mutual destruction, toxicity and heartbreak. Elizabeth Taylor herself was known for a tumultuous love life, and Margot gushed over the £5.7million piece of jewellery after it was lent to her by Cartier. The necklace was gifted to Taylor by her fifth husband Richard Burton, who famously quipped: ‘I would have liked to buy her the Taj-Mahal but it would cost too much to transport.’ (Picture: Olivia Wong/WireImage)
Another common theme of the star’s method-dressing wardrobe have been corsets, for obvious Victorian reasons, including a snake print corseted gown by Dilara Findikoglu (referencing the moment Heathcliff tells Catherine, ‘I’d rather be hugged by a snake’, while stating he ‘detests’ her). There was also a micro-mini black dress by Thom Browne, with a garteresque detail that attached at the mini skirt’s hem — paired with the moody rain decorating Paris and co-star Elordi in contrasting white. (Picture: Pierre Mouton/Getty Images for Warner Bros Pictures / Partipris)
And these are not the only times the star has incorporated Victorian elements, with her show-stopping Chanel gown custom-made by Matthieu Blazy having a full skirt that is a clear homage to the period, and even a matching red to the red carpet at Le Grand Rex. (Picture: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP via Getty Images)
However, the looks haven’t just been inspired by the Victorian, with many having a modern, edgy twist to them, too — a nod to the more modern take on the classic novel the film seems to be taking, perhaps. In Paris, a Maison Margiela look combined clashing prints in earthy tones straight from the 2025 Fall runway, meanwhile the very first press look from LA was a velvet-trimmed Roberto Cavalli minidress, with a deep square neckline and bell-shaped sleeves, which seem more historical, paired with a very short hem – much more modern. Margot has also taken to wearing a lot of large necklaces and chokers. This pendant features a large, rich red gemstone, surrounded by intricate gold detailing, looking more like a treasured heirloom from a bygone era than something worn in 2026. (Picture: cecejewelleryofficial/instagram)
No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Warner Bros/Everett/Shutterstock (16446471m) WUTHERING HEIGHTS, from left: Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie, 2026. ? Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection Wuthering Heights - 2026
Much of the clothing Robbie has been opting for references the reds, pink and black that make up the colour palette of the film, with red especially being a key colour for character Cathy. The fashion in the film had already caused a stir before the press tour, too — not many imagined they would see latex in the film, for example, and fans have been up in arms about the adaptation, especially the costumes, since the trailer dropped. (Picture: Warner Bros/Everett/Shutterstock)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock (16514048q) Charli XCX 'Wuthering Heights' film premiere, London, UK - 05 Feb 2026
And Robbie isn’t the only one method dressing. Charli XCX wore a dramatic pink bridal-style gown when attending the Wuthering Heights London premiere. The singer penned the soundtrack to the film and has joined the promo trail along with Robbie and Elordi. (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Margot Robbie, Director Emerald Fennell and Yinka Bokinni speak onstage during the global content creator Q&A for "Wuthering Heights" at Claridge's on February 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
And as for the movie? Out this Friday, it has received mixed reviews, but Metro’s own Tori Brazier has praised it, writing: ‘As the director of the deliberately provocative Saltburn, there’s been much pearl-clutching from purists over this adaptation after Fennell insisted there was ‘enormous amounts of sadomasochism’ contained within the novel’s pages and fans dubbed the raunchiness of the trailer ‘50 Shades of Brontë’. But Wuthering Heights has been reinterpreted more to stir souls than to shock and titillate (although it does that too), softening some of Cathy (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff’s (Jacob Elordi) monstrousness to allow them to be redeemed more by their doomed love.’ (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)

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