Jacob Elordi‘s striking mutton chops first captivated audiences at a Berlin film festival last February, sparking a flurry of online reactions. His bold facial hair for the role of Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights quickly became the focus of intense discussion, marrying the actor’s name with the distinctive style in a way few expected.
The internet buzz ranged from humorous remarks such as
“I didn’t know Jacob Elordi was Amish,”
to comments envisioning him as a “great werewolf from 1845.” Renowned outlets like Newsweek labeled the look as “shocking,” while GQ praised
“The Sublime Audacity of Jacob Elordi’s new mutton chops,”
highlighting the daring choice.
Crafting Heathcliff’s Visual Identity Beyond Historical Accuracy
The mutton chops were meticulously designed by a creative team led by costume designer Jacqueline Durran and hair and make-up designer Siân Miller, who made no secret of their intention to reinterpret the classic story non-literally. The film, featuring Elordi alongside Margot Robbie’s Cathy, prompted varied reactions, particularly regarding the unconventional visual choices like Cathy’s wedding dress.
Jacqueline Durran, speaking from her home in Surrey, acknowledged the anticipation of debate:
“I knew after Saltburn that this film would conjure a lot of debate and that’s not a bad thing,”
she said.
“As a British actor once said to me, ‘we’re creating drama, darling, not a documentary.’”
This mindset reflected a deliberate move away from fidelity to the original 19th-century text, instead embracing a creative freedom to interpret the story’s essence through modern and diverse influences.
Interconnected Creatives Bringing Depth to the Production
The collaborative synergy behind Wuthering Heights was bolstered by a team that had largely worked together before on the film Saltburn. Elordi and actress Allison Oliver both starred, Margot Robbie produced, production designer Suzie Davies and hair and make-up designer Siân Miller carried over their roles, composer Anthony Willis and cinematographer Linus Sandgren also contributed to both projects.
This tight-knit group fostered an environment where visual and narrative elements intertwined seamlessly, enhancing the film’s distinctive aesthetic while building on their established dynamic.
Drawing Inspiration from Varied Artistic Sources
Rather than anchoring the film strictly in historic realism, the creative team pulled from an eclectic range of influences. These included runway fashion, Brutalist architecture, and films such as Far from the Madding Crowd, The Night Porter, and The Postman Always Rings Twice. This patchwork of references helped establish a visual atmosphere that felt both timeless and charged with contemporary sensibilities.
Siân Miller emphasized the holistic approach, noting,
“I had early roundtable meetings with Emerald, [production designer] Suzie Davies and Jacqueline, which really helped me tap into the world that they were beginning to create,”
and added,
“Nothing is pulling against the other: there’s make-up drawn from set design and set design drawn from Cathy’s hair colour.”
Shaping Cathy and Heathcliff’s Distinctive Looks
Margot Robbie’s Cathy portrays a variety of styles throughout the film, with about 35 different hairstyles crafted to reflect her character’s emotional landscape. Early scenes show her with a natural, wind-swept appearance, complemented by flushed cheeks and freckles. The simplicity of these looks contrasts with more elaborate styles that evolve as her character develops.
Miller revealed a preference for subtle, authentic touches: “Nothing is too contrived.” For makeup, products like Chanel N°1 Lip and Cheek balm in Berry Boost were used on both Robbie and Elordi, enhancing their natural features to convey vitality against the film’s rough moorland backdrop.
The transformation of Heathcliff was especially significant. Beginning as a scruffy boy with dirt-smudged clothes and scabs in his hair, his appearance grows progressively rugged yet thoughtfully detailed. Miller described how they manually applied dirt and fake blood to his exposed skin early on.
Later, when Heathcliff returns wealthy and imposing, his style becomes emblematic of regency elegance mixed with personal flair.
“We had three camps for his looks – the Jesus Elordi, the Darcy Elordi and the camp that’s both – but it was so important to show his transformation from a storytelling point of view,”
Miller explained.
The Technical Challenge Behind Jacob Elordi’s Mutton Chops
One of the film’s standout features, Elordi’s mutton chops, involved a careful process to maintain realism and durability in challenging filming conditions. Miller had to convince Fennell to authorize a painstaking hand-laid beard rather than rely on a wig. To prove its resilience, a stand-in’s beard was tested against powerful water cannons and wind machines before being approved for use outdoors on the Moors.
The sideburns complemented Elordi’s costume of cane and long boots perfectly, bringing to life an image that was true to the era and character. Additional details like a missing tooth on young Heathcliff, replaced by a gold tooth and an earring in his later, richer incarnation, illustrated the character’s progression convincingly.
Visual and Cultural Inspirations Behind the Film’s Styling
The team also drew mood inspiration from natural and symbolic sources: windswept bent trees, animal imagery from farmyards, and a visceral, earthy feeling that permeated their visual research. These moods were collected on a private Pinterest board shared among the key creative minds, ensuring consistent thematic grounding.
Miller’s reference points included classic cinematic icons such as the mood of Terence Stamp in Far from the Madding Crowd to shape Heathcliff’s confident return, alongside fashion inspirations like Vivien Leigh’s towering hairstyles from Gone With The Wind, reinterpreted here to signal Cathy’s growing strength and complexity.
Inviting a Modern Audience to Reimagine a Classic
The creative team’s approach was consciously fresh and non-traditional.
“I didn’t really delve into [the book],”
Miller said, explaining how the film embraces Emerald Fennell’s unique perspective rather than strict adherence to earlier adaptations or the original text. She described the process of collaborating with Fennell as drawing from a vast cultural and historical knowledge pool, resulting in a distinctive reinterpretation.
The variability in hairstyles and costumes encourages viewers to see Wuthering Heights as a living, breathing piece of art open to imagination rather than a rigid period piece. Popular culture has even picked up on some of these looks, with fans recreating Margot Robbie’s braids on social media platforms like TikTok.
The Impact and Anticipation Surrounding the Film’s Style
Jacob Elordi’s mutton chops have not only ignited social media but also symbolized the film’s larger commitment to bold artistic vision. The combination of visual innovation, layered storytelling, and a strong collaborative spirit among the cast and crew sets Wuthering Heights apart from traditional adaptations.
With the film now in cinemas, audiences have the opportunity to experience this unique rendition first-hand, which promises to generate further conversation and inspire new interpretations of a beloved classic. The styling choices hint at a lingering influence on fashion and beauty trends, potentially encouraging fresh street styles referencing the movie’s rich visual language.
