Spectacle Over Silence: Designers Embrace Fantasy Over Period Precision

The piece argues that contemporary costume designers prioritise storytelling and visual impact over strict historical accuracy in period films, using Wuthering Heights and other titles to illustrate a trend toward modern fabrics, bold influences and anachronistic looks. While some historians warn it may stretch realism, designers say such freedom creates a distinct mood and time-travel feel, with Bridgerton cited as a catalyst for expanding the fantasy of period dress.