Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 1 (Additions)

Claire has so many lovely looks in season 1 of Outlander during her time in the Scottish Highlands.  I like that most of the outfits worn during this time are *mostly* historically accurate mix and match pieces of 18th century clothing and accessories – from petticoats to stomachers and jackets, to cloaks and crocheted wool accessories.  I just want to collect them all!  I’ve certainly collected quite a few pieces in the past couple years since my first outfit, so today I’m sharing additions to my Claire wardrobe (season 1).

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Crochet/Knits

Starting with my baseline season 1 outfit (peacock jacket, brown petticoat, and floral stomacher), I’ve added some lovely pieces from KnitPlayLove on Etsy including the cowl shown above and matching arm warmers (not shown), the raspberry caplet shown below, and most recently purchased a triangle wrap (not yet worn).

White(ish) Apron & Stomacher

In the episode The Gathering, Claire wears a brown petticoat and peacock green jacket (my baseline season 1 costume) with the raspberry caplet shown above, an off-white apron and stomacher, and carries her medical supplies in a basket.  I did not have a pattern for the apron, but I had the lining of a duvet cover that my dogs damaged and whatever my arms width is (wingspan?).  I pretty much just cut a lare square the height and width of my wingspan, messily gathered/pleated it, and sewed it to a waistband from the same material.  Hemming the sides and bottom was just a simple double fold.  I tea-stained the apron as well as rubbed wine, coffee grounds, and olive oil on it to make it look dirty like Claire’s in the show.  I also made a stomacher from the duvet liner but did not make it dirty.

Basket

I had a hard time finding a basket that looked like hers, so I purchased a creel fishing basket on Amazon (Wald Imports Brown Willow Creel Basket) and weathered it.  I left it outside in the rain for several days, sanded it with fine grit sandpaper, then resorted to spraying it with paint (Rust-Oleum 261415 Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 11 oz, Metallic Champagne Mist, Champagne/Gold) and matte ModPodge (Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer (12-Ounce), 1469 Matte) until it looked well worn.  I also removed the strap and replaced it with braided rope, hated the braided rope, and then removed the trim from a throw pillow, which was a much better match.  Sacrifices must be made…

The Gathering Outfit

I wore this outfit in September at DragonCon in Atlanta for a couple hours until I got overheated and escaped all those layers.  Wool in Atlanta in the summer…what was I thinking?!  I did manage to get a couple pictures with my husband who was dressed as Captain Black Jack Randall (also made by me) below.

Cloak

Another lovely cold weather addition is Claire’s tartan cloak that she wears around midway through season 1.  I made this cloak in about a day using the pattern guide from Patterns of Time (Diagrams for 1300 – 1900’s Woman’s Long and Short Cloak).  The guide requires 5 yards of fabric for the outside of the cloak and 5 yards of lining.  Not wanting to die of a heat stroke, I opted for a thin wool crepe in mustard (chartreuse yellow?) rather than the thick wool she’s wearing in the show.  I also purchased ONE metre of Douglas Weathered Light Weight Tartan Fabric from Locharron of Scotland and supplemented the rest of the required yardage from the lining of an old king sized dust ruffle we no longer needed.  Tartan (and shipping from Scotland) is expensive and…well, I can be rather thrifty at times.  I maximized the single metre of tartan by cutting it into sections used for the inside front and hood lining, basically what would be shown the most.  And I’m okay with the rest of the lining being a solid color…it’s close enough!  I closed up the cloak with a Patterns of Time clasp (Beautiful Intricate Antique Silver Finish Cloak or Cape Clasp).  The clasp is pretty thin but surprisingly strong!

The Cloak Outfit

Finally we got some chilly weather down in Houston, so I wore this outfit to Texas Renaissance Festival during their Highland Fling themed weekend.  I wore my basic brown petticoat and peacock green jacket, a matching peacock green stomacher, and a white tea-stained handkerchief (Women’s Soft Square Cotton Blend Solid Scarf 36inx36in) with the cloak.  My husband donned his Randall costume again, and my friend Laura wore some spare 18th century pieces that I’ve made and have been stockpiling.

Spare 18th Century Pieces

Even though these pieces aren’t featured in the show, well not exactly, I’ve added them to the wardrobe so I have options in different temperatures, and even let my friends dress up with me (if you’re my size and promise to be extremely careful).  I’ve made additional jackets with different lengths and views/cuts from the JP Ryan pattern that I bought for my first Claire costume.  I also purchased a vintage Duncan tartan skirt for the sole purpose of deconstructing it for the raw fabric (way cheaper than buying tartan from Scotland).  I made a stomacher with it, and a sash…so far!  Below, my friend Laura is wearing these pieces and looks so pretty.  I love the cream jacket’s cut in the back and it reminds me of one of the jackets Jamie’s sister Jenny wears in season 3 (circa 1770s or so).

The Supportive Husband

What. A. Trooper!  Points to my husband for putting up with my sewing/costuming madness, and for getting talked into wearing Oulander’s main villain, Captain Black Jack Randall’s costume for me.  I’m sure every man wants to be Jamie, and I’m sure every woman wants her husband to be Jamie…but…well, someone has to be the villain.  My husband’s costume took me months and months and months to make, but I’m so proud of it.  The costume build for his costume is also on the blog.

Outlander inspired costumes also on the blog:

Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 1

Outlander Inspired Druid Lanterns (DIY)

Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 3

Costuming Outlander Inspired “Cross Creek” Claire

Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 1 (c. 1945)

Costuming Captain Black Jack Randall from Outlander

Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 2 (& the Red Shoes)

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