The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Margot Robbie and Jacqueline Durran Break Down The Costumes in Wuthering Heights

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Chloe Malle, Radhika Seth
Guests: Margot Robbie (star, producer), Jacqueline Durran (costume designer)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the making of Emerald Fennell’s highly-anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights, centering on the creative process behind the film’s striking costumes and vision. Vogue’s Chloe Malle and Radhika Seth speak in-depth with Margot Robbie (leading actress and producer) and Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran. The conversation uncovers the collaborative journey, unexpected inspirations, and boundary-pushing choices that shaped the film’s unique take on a literary classic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Unique Vibe and Reception of Wuthering Heights

• Event Film Status:
  • Radhika Seth describes it as “camp, it’s funny, it looks stunning. The sets are incredible. …It’s like a film you want to eat.” (04:21)
  • The film draws on the legacy of melodramas; Seth likens its aesthetic and emotional excess to classic ’50s melodrama (“should be studied for its over-the-top, gloriousness.”) (04:54)
• Premiere Audience Reactions:
  • Margot Robbie notes that men were especially eager to discuss the “aesthetically cinematic,” “funny," and “strange” nature of the film, which defied their expectations of a “big, sweeping romantic epic.” (06:08)
  • The premiere had moments of spontaneous audience applause, particularly during sensual or “bizarre” scenes.
  • Notable Moment:
    • “The biggest first clap happened when Heathcliff puts her fingers to his mouth... All the women in the audience, I feel like they were saying, like, ‘take note, men.’” – Margot Robbie (07:20)

2. Comparing the Press Tour to Barbie

• Energy and 'Buzz':
  • Margot says the excitement surrounding Wuthering Heights reminds her of the “wholesome” energy pre-Barbie release, despite “steamy, provocative elements.” (08:06)

3. Family-Friendliness vs. Intimacy

• Surprising Intimacy:
  • The film is R-rated, but Margot observes, “There’s no nudity other than Jacob not having a shirt on… No swearing and no violence. …It feels so thrilling and at times like I shouldn’t as an audience member be privy to this moment—it’s so intimate.” (09:03)

4. Fashion Moments: Red Carpet Meets On-Screen

• Schiaparelli Couture Premiere Dress:
  • Margot’s stylist, Andrew Mukamal, custom-designed a dress inspired by the movie’s signature red lacquered floor.
    • “Andrew wanted it to feel like it was kind of soaking up the floor and almost absorbing it into the dress…” (10:29)
  • The dress’s ombre effect and layered materials mirrored the film’s lush production design.
  • Easter Egg: Necklace once owned by Elizabeth Taylor.
• Dallara Snakeskin Corset:
  • Outfit referenced the film’s line: “I’d rather be hugged by a snake.” (13:10)
  • Matching between Dallara and Wuthering Heights described as “a match made in heaven.” (13:13)
• Press Tour as Extended Storytelling:
  • Margot and Andrew keep an eye on couture collections, seeking new elements that fit the evolving narrative.

5. Assembling a Dream Team

• Intentional Collaborations:
  • Margot details Emerald Fennell’s “very intentional” choices: Charli XCX for music, Susie Davis for sets, Jacqueline Durran for costumes.
    • On set design: “We needed to create sets where real livestock could be in there… It’s like stepping into Oz and Technicolor.” (14:17)
    • Over 1000 real roses for a “wall of scent” (15:48)

6. Casting Dynamics

• Jacob Elordi Cast First:
  • “Jacob was the very first casting piece. …He looked like the illustration of Heathcliff on the cover of the book that [Emerald] read when she was 14.” – Margot Robbie (16:05)
• Robbie on Her Own Casting:
  • Margot read the script before reading the novel, choosing not to bring preconceived notions to her performance. (17:32)

7. Artistic Discovery & Acting Process

• Finding ‘Kathy’:
  • Margot candidly shares self-doubt: “It took me a couple of weeks before I feel like I really found her. I kept turning to Emerald after every take and being like, ‘I don’t think I have her!’” (19:02)
  • Emerald’s direction: “Kathy is only ever in the room that she’s in…She’s so extremely present. I just need you to be present.” (19:38)

8. On-Screen and Off-Screen Chemistry

• Margot & Jacob’s Gifts:
  • Margot gave Jacob a book of poetry, roses, and a retro gas lamp. Jacob (in character as Heathcliff) wrote her notes, made a clay tombstone, and brought Australian snacks. (21:03)

9. Is This a Love Story?

• Multiple Interpretations:
  • Margot: “It always was a love story… Love can lead to jealousy, anger, revenge… It’s not possible to reach that level if you didn’t love so deeply to begin with. …It is a love story, a very tragic one.” (22:02)

Costume Design Deep Dive with Jacqueline Durran

10. Emerald Fennell’s Vision: Rethinking Period Costuming

• Jacqueline recounts her first meeting: “I took all these things that I thought would be Wuthering Heights related... then realizing that everything I brought was wrong… You just need to come at it with a clear mind and be ready to take on Emerald’s vision.” (25:07)

11. The “Inch” – The Delicate Aesthetic Balance

• Collaborative Fittings:
  • Margot: “We did so many fittings… squeal-inducing! …Kathy pretty much only wears red, black and white… over 50 costumes.” (26:05)
  • Constantly calibrated the visual tone with other departments (“the inch”) so it was neither too much nor too restrained. (28:14)
• Emerald’s Maximalism:
  • “Almost every time we thought we were being crazy and too much, then she’d be like ‘I think we should just add…’ and decorate me like a Christmas tree.” – Margot Robbie (29:28)

12. Logistical Challenges & Iconic Pieces

• Corset Strength:
  • The “picking up by corset strings” scene required a specially made leather corset for functionality and visual effect. (29:52)
• ‘Nude Dress’ Difficulties:
  • Layered tulle dress for moor-running scenes soaked up water and brambles:
  • “I carried half the moors in that dress.” – Margot Robbie (31:50)
  • Had to be repeatedly trimmed with a pocket knife after takes. (39:14)

13. Favorite and Most Researched Looks

• Jacqueline’s Favorite:
  • “The costume on the swing…It comes from a Winterhalter painting of a Swiss peasant… Velvet bodice, white blouse, chains, black skirt.” (32:49)
  • Margot: “We were so fascinated by this same outfit being recreated or repainted by various painters… Was she the original Kim Kardashian?” (33:48)
• Imagined History:
  • Costumes blend historical silhouettes with modern fabrics—“not quite a period film”—anchored by childlike invention and maximalism. (37:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s camp, it’s funny, it looks stunning. … a film I wanted to eat.” —Radhika Seth (04:21)
• “I didn’t realize it was going to be as strange as it is… There’s so many layers to the film…” —Margot Robbie (06:08)
• “It’s not possible to reach that level if you didn’t love so extremely deeply to begin with. …It is a love story, a very tragic one.” —Margot Robbie (22:02)
• “You just need to come at it with a clear mind and be ready to take on Emerald’s vision…” —Jacqueline Durran (25:22)
• “We were all so giddy about it… Squeal inducing!” —Margot Robbie on fittings (26:05)
• “Almost every time we thought we were being crazy and too much, then she’d be like ‘I think we should just add…’” —Margot Robbie (29:28)
• “I carried half the moors in that dress.” —Margot Robbie on the tulle dress (31:50)
• “It’s going to be like a 50s soundstage musical.” —Emerald Fennell, paraphrased by Margot Robbie (37:03)
• “We could never decide it in the fitting room before you got to set; we always had to bring a tray [of jewels]…” —Jacqueline Durran (36:45)
• “We had to keep cutting it with, like, a pocket knife…” —Margot Robbie on the ‘nude dress’ (39:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Film Overview & Reception: 04:21–07:49
• Costume Design Process: 25:07–28:14
• Red Carpet / Fashion Choices: 09:52–13:13
• Favorite Looks and Historical Reference: 32:49–34:19
• Logistical Challenges of Costumes: 29:52–32:04
• Not a Typical Period Film: 37:03–38:00
• Final Thoughts, Book Recommendations: 34:19–35:30

Closing Thoughts

This episode offers a fascinating look at the artistic and practical collaboration that brought Fennell’s Wuthering Heights to life. Margot Robbie gives listeners a candid, funny, and thoughtful perspective on acting, producing, and fashioning a new classic. Jacqueline Durran’s insights reveal the painstaking detail and daring creativity behind every layered tulle and velvet look on screen. The film, like this conversation, is maximalist, intimate, and dazzling in every detail.