Margot Robbie’s striking appearance in the latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights has drawn widespread attention due to its clear connection with a popular TikTok trend. The film, released in early 2026, sees Robbie embodying Cathy, with her makeup influenced heavily by social media aesthetics, merging contemporary beauty culture with the classic story’s mood.
Sian Miller, the movie’s makeup artist, revealed that her inspiration stemmed from the 2024 “pomegranate girl” TikTok trend, known for a clean, flushed look that perfectly reflected the weather-beaten characters in the film. This approach extended to both Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, who plays Heathcliff, as well as their younger versions to maintain consistency.
“With Cathy, I was inspired by the ‘pomegranate girl’ TikTok trend of 2024; that clean, flushed look.”
— Sian Miller, Makeup Artist
Tools and Products Behind the Iconic Makeup
To achieve this delicate yet robust look, Miller selected products that enhanced the natural glow and weathered appearance of the characters. Among these were Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush shades ‘Hope’ and ‘Happy,’ Merit Flush Balm in ‘Apes’ and ‘Postmodern,’ and Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush. The blending of subtle lip and cheek hues was further perfected with No.1 de Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in ‘Berry Boost.’
For Robbie’s lips, the team employed Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in ‘Rose’ to provide a gentle sheer color, alongside Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in ‘Pillow Talk’ to deliver a soft matte finish that complemented the overall aesthetic.
Costume Design Melds Historical Eras with Modern Sensibilities
Alongside makeup, the film’s visual identity was heavily shaped by costume designer Jacqueline Durran. The Oscar-winning designer crafted outfits that blend multiple historical periods with a contemporary style, embracing a deliberate stylization rather than strict historical accuracy. The opening scene features Margot Robbie in a dress reminiscent of a German milkmaid, purposely intended to set the tone for the film’s unique visual narrative.
“As the film opens, we’re trying to lay out our intentions – this is a stylised version of Wuthering Heights, and it’s difficult to nail this look because it has a nod to the period, a nod to contemporary fashion and also a nod to Old Hollywood.
It has all the themes that we want to bring in visually to the movie, so it was about meshing it all together. It’s a costume and you know it’s a costume – and it’s not necessarily realistic or unrealistic.”
— Jacqueline Durran, Costume Designer
Diverse Influences Inform Costume Imagery
Durran worked closely with director Emerald Fennell to incorporate a wide assortment of influences into the costume design process, assembling mood boards that pulled inspiration from eras spanning the Tudor period through to the Victorian age, as well as mid-20th-century fashion and cinematic interpretations of period attire.
“She had this massive range of references, which had a bit of everything – the Tudor period, the 1950s, contemporary things sprinkled throughout.”
Vintage names like Mugler and Alexander McQueen influenced Durran’s approach, though the costumes do not specifically replicate these designers’ works. The broad spectrum of references allowed for a distilled visual style that served the film’s narrative ambitions.
“The challenge was to distill that into looks that told the story that Emerald wanted to tell.”
— Jacqueline Durran, Costume Designer
Exclusive Chanel Jewelry Pieces Add to the Film’s Visual Depth
Another layer of authenticity and luxury was introduced through vintage Chanel jewelry, sourced specifically for the film. Fennell and her team coordinated with Elsa Heizmann from the fashion house, who meticulously explored Chanel’s archives to provide exquisite pieces for Cathy’s character.
“I contacted Elsa Heizmann [at Chanel] and she went through their archives with a fine-tooth comb, uncovering the most wonderful vintage pieces. When the packages arrived we were beyond thrilled.”
— Emerald Fennell, Director
The jewelry’s blend of historical presence and modern sophistication underscores the film’s thematic fusion of past and present.
Analyzing the Impact of the TikTok-Inspired Look
The choice to incorporate social media trends like the “pomegranate girl” style into a period film signals an evolving intersection between traditional cinema and contemporary digital culture. Margot Robbie’s TikTok look in Wuthering Heights not only refreshes the iconic character of Cathy but also resonates with younger audiences familiar with online beauty trends.
As viewers and fans engage with these visual elements, the film’s blend of historical motifs and modern aesthetics is likely to spark further conversations about the role of style in storytelling. This innovative approach paves the way for future productions to harness social media influences while respecting the source material’s essence.
