This curious beige and brown tartan waistcoat is quite a mystery. The first, worn by Michael Fassbender as Edward Rochester in the 2011 adaptation of Jane Eyre, is double-breasted. The second, which is worn differently and has pockets that the first does not, was worn by Fionn Whitehead as Branwell Brontë in the 2022 Emily, working as a post-literal Brontë figure alongside Fassbender’s literal Brontë character.

The fabric for the waistcoats is exactly the same, but the alignment of the stripes, is somewhat different, with one placed at an angle. The stripes evoke a double set of bars, possibly underlining how both characters, in their own unique ways feel trapped by their circumstances. 

The fabric on the back of the waistcoats appears different as well, but this could be due to lighting. Both pieces were designed by Michael O’Connor, which is further evidence of the possibility of them being at the very least from the same production. 

So what do you think? Were they both made for Jane Eyre and is one a duplicate that varies slightly? A piece that was unused? Or is this simply a case of O’Connor having the same material lying around and utilizing it for a waistcoat twice?  

Love a waistcoat? Check out some of the other waistcoats we have documented on the site.

Explore more reused costumes in productions of Jane Eyre here!