Warning: Mild spoilers follow for the end of Season 1 of Outlander.
Jamie and Claire Fraser (Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe) are leaving Scotland behind. The first season of Outlander ended with the duo on a boat headed towards France. They’re not traveling to Paris for the food and wine; no, they’re planning to change history and prevent the Battle of Culloden, like you do. This means they have to embed themselves in the French court and perform some sneaky spy maneuvers. The change in locale means a drastic shift in attire, and a new photo from Season 2 shows off the sort of elegance that goes with living in 18th century France. Look:
Oy. The details on that dress!
Costumes have been a rich part of the Outlander story; they’ve added to the believability of the world and the performances. Costume designer Terry Dresbach has taken great care to research the fabrics and patterns of the time. She takes liberties when necessary, but she puts incredible thought and planning into the wardrobe–and the work for Season 2 sounds staggering. Dresbach told Entertainment Weekly that her team has made over 10,000 items for Season 2 of Outlander and acquired 5,000 shoes. Yes, you read that right. When you think about the outfits and duplicates necessary for the primary cast, plus the pieces needed to clothe extras, those numbers don’t seem so astronomical.
Dresbach says, “In Scotland, there is not a ton of research out there about what they wore. It was a rough place. But France [in the 18th century] was one of the most well-documented periods of fashion in the world, so you better get it right. There is no wiggle room. Everything has to be sumptuous and lavish and every inch is beaded and embroidered.”
If you want to dive into an even deeper look at the Season 2 costumes and fabrics, visit Frock Flicks.
For those of you who have read the Outlander book series by Diana Gabaldon, which costume from Dragonfly in Amber are you most looking forward to seeing on screen? Let me know in the comments.
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HT: Entertainment Weekly, TV Insider
Images: Starz
