Summary

  • Outlander's costumes accurately depict 18th century Scottish clothing, including tight corsets and padding for women and traditional kilts for men.
  • The show's attention to detail extends to smaller details like Jamie's tam and kilt, which are historically accurate.
  • While the costumes are mostly accurate, there are some inaccuracies, such as the drab colors of clan tartans and the use of Victorian-era accessories like chatelaines.

One of the most popular aspects of the series Outlander is its costumes, and they are usually accurate to the real-life history that the show is covering. Debuting in 2014, the hit historical romance follows Claire Randall who is transported from her time back to the 1700s where she falls in love with a Scottish Highlander named Jamie. Over its near-decade on the air, Outlander has grown into a TV sensation due in large part to its amazing costume design and attention to detail. Though it isn't perfect, series costume designers Terry Dresbach and Trisha Biggar have recreated the 18th century as closely as possible in their amazing costume creations.

However, costumes can't be accurate to the time period all the time, and sometimes the designer or actor is bound by real-life necessity, even if it doesn't entirely fit the period. Nevertheless, the show has frequently scored high marks for its costuming and even scored an Emmy nomination in the category. Though the cast of Outlander are usually the ones to steal the show in each episode, the actors are supported by amazing costume design that allows them to delve deeper into their characters and the time period they live in.

RELATED: Outlander's 10 Best Quotes From Incredible Female Characters

Outlander Costumes That Are Historically Accurate

Accurate: Scottish Ensembles for Women

Claire stands in the woods in Outlander

The first season sees the characters spend the most time in Scotland. The costumes take influence from the landscape, as the colors are all very earthy and dark. Women's ensembles are also fairly accurate to the 18th-century period. Tight corsets and extra padding for panniers, also known as bum rolls, were used in women's clothing in the 1700s, and this is shown in Claire's (Catriona Balfe) dresses (via Silhouettes Costumes). Another fun fact is that all the extras wear corsets in every scene shot because there weren't any zippers or velcro during the 18th century.

Accurate: Demonstration of a Kilt

Jamie and Claire together in Outlander

Early in the Outlander timeline during season 1, Jamie (Sam Heughan) demonstrates the proper way to put on a kilt, which is really an extremely large blanket in a family's tartan colors. Luckily, the proper way is also the historically accurate way, which involves laying the kilt down, laying on top of it, and rolling yourself up (via Kilts & More). Kilts are usually made of woolen cloth. Of all the Outlander costumes it was especially important that the kilts be accurate, as the show's main premise rests on the promise of Scotland as a romantic place with romantic men like Jamie.

Accurate: Jamie's Ghost

Jamie looking up, out in the highlands in Outlander

In season 1, episode 1 "Sassenach", Claire's husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) sees someone outside her window when he's returning late at night. He doesn't know who it is at the time, but the audience is quick to figure out that it's Jamie. His long kilt and tam mark him clearly as a Scottish Highlander, and they are both accurate to the time period as well. The tam is a woolen hat of Scottish origin that was named after the eponymous hero in the 1790 Robert Burns poem: Tam o'Shanter (via Hat Guide)

Accurate: Army Wear

Jamie charges into battle in Outlander

During the rebellion against the English to put the real life Outlander figure Bonny Prince Charlie (Andrew Gower) on the throne in season 2, Jamie's men don't wear any sort of armor. The Outlander costumes stand as a good reminder that the Highlanders were poor. Their clothing is ragged, and they carry few weapons, even to war (via Nicolson Kiltmakers). Sadly, this trend was to continue after the failure of the rebellion at the battlefield of Culloden Moor. All the men wear their individual clothes, and it's easy to see that they are not a specially trained fighting force.

Accurate: Dougal's Trews

Dougal McKenzie looks on in Outlander

Early in season 1, Claire finds herself in the midst of a group of Scottish men, many of whom wear kilts regularly. However, Dougal (Graham McTavish), the brother of the laird of clan Mackenzie, wears trews, or trousers, proving that they are also an accurate choice for clothing during the 18th century. Dougal's trousers also serve to separate him from the rest of the men. Since he's the muscle of clan Mackenzie, the outfit helps to define him as a fighter. Trousers are something you can absolutely around move in (via Frock Flicks).

Accurate: Jamie's Kerchief And Waistcoat

Jamie and Claire stroll in Outlander

Though much ado was made about Outlander's historical accuracy overall, debates over the many Outlander costumes has taken center stage. Once Jamie, Claire, and company moved to the British Colonies in the New World in season 4, the demands on the costumes shifted subtly as well. By season 6, Jamie begins dressing accurately to the time including his kerchief and waistcoat combination that was essentially standard issue dress for 18th century colonists before the Revolutionary War (via American Centuries).

Accurate: Brianna And Roger's '80s Looks

Brianna and Roger talk in the '80s

Jumping from time period to time period, season 7 of Outlander sees Jamie and Claire's daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) back in the 20th century and raising her children with Roger (Richard Rankin) in the 1980s. Though many period movies set in the '80s capture the experience through the most outlandish fashions and bright colors, the pair are often seen dressing smartly in contemporary clothes. Unlike the bright neons that have become the cliché 1980s looks, Brianna and Roger often sport more subtle, but period-appropriate outfits, that would make sense for mature adults to wear at the time.

RELATED: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Secrets You Never Knew About Outlander's Makeup

Outlander Costumes That Are Historically Inaccurate

Inaccurate: Drab Colors of Tartans

Jamie and Claire kiss in Outlander

The accuracy of the Scottish clan tartans is something often picked apart when discussing Outlander costumes, and it is not always correctly shown in the series. Clan Fraser historically had two branches, the Lovat branch to which Jamie belongs, and another lower-ranked branch of the family. Lovat tartans should be bold red and green (via The History Press), but in the show are depicted as a dark gray and blue. Dresbach argued for her color choice by commenting that she didn't think dyers would aim for perfection, especially with such bright colors, and when there were so many other things to worry about (via Elle).

Inaccurate: Brianna's Wedding Dress

Brianna looks on in her wedding dress in Outlander

Though Outlander left details out about Brianna and Roger, their beautiful wedding in season 5 was a nice touch. Brianna's wedding dress is a deliberate mix of styles, time periods, and cultures since she herself is much the same, but it is not technically accurate. Though she did find the fabric at Aunt Jocasta's (Maria Doyle Kennedy) in season 4, the orange blossoms (as a nod to the 1960s and 1970s) aren't really typical. It's also true that white and cream wedding dresses weren't really worn until after Queen Victoria married Albert in 1840 (via Vogue). Therefore, though Bree looked beautiful, her dress isn't strictly of the 18th century.

Inaccurate: Geillis' Lover's Eye Jewelry

Geillis wears a lover's eye in Outlander

In season 1, Claire's friend Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) wears a particular piece of jewelry: the Lover's Eye, as a brooch holding the sleeve of her dress up. Though its one of the most beautiful Outlander costumes, this type of jewelry isn't accurate to the time period, as it was mainly popular from the 1790s to the 1820s in the affluent families of England, Russia, France, and America (via Artsy). Lover's Eyes served the same purpose as lockets, as they hid portraits from prying eyes. It's a good indication that Geillis has a few tricks and secrets up her sleeve.

RELATED: 10 Facts About Time Travel From The Outlander Books The Show Leaves Out

Inaccurate: Claire's Chatelaine

A closeup of Claire's jewelry in Outlander

One hidden detail about Claire's costumes in Outlander season 2 is that she wears a chatelaine while in Paris. This is a set of short chains attached to the belt of a woman's dress and is used for carrying keys and other such small items. However, it's actually Victorian in origin (via Jewelry Guide), so isn't accurate to the time period. It could be argued that Claire was simply pioneering new fashions while in Paris, since she had the benefit of hindsight, unlike the contemporary characters. However, Dresbach mentioned falling in love with the piece, while acknowledging its historical inaccuracy (via Buzzfeed)

Inaccurate: Claire's Dressage Dress

Claire strolls in a garden in Outlander

During season 2's Paris sojourn, Claire wears a patterned ensemble that more accurately belongs in the 1940s, as a chintz fabric, according to the costume Dresbach (via Buzzfeed). The flower pattern fits other patterns of the same era, which makes it a bit too forward for the other Outlander costumes of the time period. However, the dress does match the fashion-conscious side of Paris, as well as the outdoor scene where Claire wears it. The fabric apparently came from a store in San Fransisco, which could help explain why Claire has access to it in the 18th century.

Inaccurate: Claire's Coat

Claire and Jamie look on in Outlander

Throughout her time-traveling journey in Outlander, Claire has often bucked the fashion trends of the time which has resulted in quite a few inaccuracies. Living on Fraser's Ridge during Outlander season 6, Claire is often seen sporting an ankle-length trench-style coat which is quite in line with men's fashion at the time. However, women rarely dressed that way in the 18th century, and in the winter months, they usually wore capes and hoods (via American Centuries) to stave off the cold. While not totally impossible, it is inaccurate to how women were expected to dress in Colonial America.

Inaccurate: Claire's Buttoned Vest

Claire is put in a hangman's noose in Outlander

The details of the Outlander costumes may seem minute, but they help to bring the world of the show to life with stunning realism. However, Claire's season 7 costume features a few subtle inaccuracies that don't make it congruent with women's fashion in the 18th century. Though her petticoat ensembles have been largely accurate, Claire is often seen sporting a buttoned vest which, according to American Centuries, would have been a faux pas. As silly as it sounds, women in the 18th century rarely wore buttons in any of their outfits as it wasn't seen as ladylike.