Behind the Scenes at V&A: Costume, Set and Sound Secrets from Wuthering Heights

The V&A South Kensington held a Members’ event on 6 February that required specialist handling: museum conservation teams coordinated transport, conditioning and display of screen-worn costumes so Emerald Fennell and costume designer Jacqueline Durran could present objects from Wuthering Heights ahead of the film’s 13 February release.

1. Contemporary influences inform period storytelling

Emerald Fennell cites a mix of influences that include Powell and Pressburger, Peter Greenaway, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet — but she also draws on modern behavioural patterns visible in reality shows such as First Dates. The observation is practical: social transparency translates directly into cinematic drama because characters cannot convincingly hide desire or ambition. That focus on sex, class and power ties the film to Fennell's previous work, such as Saltburn, and affects how scenes are staged and how audiences experience them in museum displays.

2. Thrushcross Grange as living architecture

At the event, Durran and Fennell discussed treating the Grange as a body: walls were designed to read like skin. Panels were printed with high-resolution photographs of Margot Robbie’s skin, sealed with latex to allow a glisten and physical tactility that reads uncanny on camera. Elements such as hairs and bulges turn interiors into Gothic textures, so the house becomes a character — a detail that translates well into museum installations and guided talks where visitors expect tactile and visual storytelling.

Costume-to-set continuity

Fennell describes Cathy’s final integration into the Grange: costume and floor colour start at the same seam, creating camouflage between figure and architecture. That decision shapes how the film’s costumes are conserved and displayed for viewers, and it offers curators a coherent visual narrative to present in exhibitions.

3. Period reference, not period accuracy

Historical accuracy was treated as flexible: emotional truth took priority over exact dating. Fabrics, silhouettes and visual motifs reference a range of eras — from Georgian shapes to 1950s melodrama and paperback romance covers — so each costume functions as a signpost for feeling more than for chronology. Examples highlighted at the talk included Cathy’s wedding dress, described as opalescent and almost like a present, and a Little Red Riding Hood-inspired cloak that reads as a costume rather than a strict 19th-century garment.

4. Wardrobe as character arc

Reportedly, trying on Heathcliff's garments sealed Jacob Elordi's casting: the costume shapes physically created the character. Edgar's wardrobe, by contrast, signals wealth and a kind of stifled respectability through sheen and pattern, a practical decision that informs how costumes are displayed for museum audiences.

5. A modern soundtrack: Charli XCX and tonal layering

Alongside Anthony Willis's orchestral score, Charli XCX composed a contemporary album that brings a modern pulse to the film. Fennell asked Charli to read the script and, moved by the material, Charli opted to create a full soundtrack album rather than a single song — an artistic choice that bridges Brontë's material and 21st-century pop sensibilities. The soundtrack release coincided with the film's opening, reinforcing cross-promotional interest and creating opportunities for themed visits and sound-focused museum programming.

Practical takeaways for visitors and curators

• Exhibit curation: Bringing film costumes into a museum requires conservation-grade handling and interpretive labels that explain conceptual choices.
• Visitor engagement: Visitors respond well to sensory storytelling—textures, close-up photography and soundtracks heighten the experience.
• Film tourism: Screen-driven interest in objects and locations boosts museum attendance and can be integrated into local cultural itineraries.

Member reactions at the talk

• “Learning about the costumes, jewellery and behind-the-scenes details was so intriguing, playful and fun.”
• “I’ve been to tonnes of events at the V&A — I always leave feeling inspired.”

For travellers and culture-seekers, the intersection of film, design and place creates compelling reasons to visit London museums. If you’re planning a trip to the V&A or building a themed itinerary around cinematic sets and costume displays, guided museum tours and specialist talks add insight that transforms a visit into a memorable cultural experience. GetExperience offers a diverse selection of tours in the area, plus secure online payments with voucher confirmations and the option to request tailored excursions from verified providers — convenient, transparent and ideal for planning a museum-focused stay. Book now. GetExperience.com

At a glance: Emerald Fennell’s V&A Members’ talk revealed that modern influences such as reality TV, inventive set treatments like skin-like walls, flexible period referencing, costume-led casting, and a contemporary soundtrack all shape the film’s world. These choices matter for museum display logistics, visitor interpretation, and cultural tourism. While reviews and commentary can guide expectations, nothing replaces seeing the objects and hearing the stories in person—Museum tours with live guides and interactive online cultural workshops often bring those narratives to life. From Travel experiences and Adventure activities to Online virtual tours, Yacht parties and Cruise packages, through Safari tours and Museum tours with live guides, there are many ways to contextualise a visit. Whether you seek Beginner esports coaching sessions or Professional esports training programmes, Adventure rafting trips for beginners or Luxury adventure travel experiences, Eco-friendly wildlife safaris or Exclusive yacht charters for events, curated experiences make trips richer and more memorable.