Outlander Wardrobe and language

[terry dresbach]

Tartan.jpg Here is a piece of our tartan.

[terry dresbach]

I am proud of the way we have designed our kilts, and had the fabric woven especially for the show. I am proud that we did that alone with making hundred of costumes and shoes in 7 weeks. I am very proud that our actors lie down in their trailers and put their kilts on every day the way it was actually done. But as I said, we will not satisfy everyone, and I am okay with that.
We have a gaelic coach on our crew. We have shot in the Highlands and have a lot of Highlanders on our team. I am not sure why they have made the choices they have on the language front, as I am the costume designer.
Our bonnets are felted wool. We chose to have a small range of colors, for creative reasons.

[Tobus]

I was also surprised that there were no subtitles on the Gaelic.

I'm actually glad they chose not to subtitle the Gaelic. The original book was written from Claire's first-person perspective, and so if she didn't understand what they were saying, we as the audience shouldn't either. In fact, that's part of the story, as we saw in the most recent episode ("Rent"). She picks out bits and pieces of what they're saying, and finally begins to understand what it is that they're doing with the collection of funds.

Listening to the Gaelic and feeling the passion and emotion of the way they speak it is much more satisfying than reading subtitles, even if I don't have a clue what they're actually saying. I think it was a good choice to let the beauty of the language speak for itself.

Terry Dresbach, thank you so much for your explanation of how things work on the set. I completely understand the budget and schedule issue, as well as practical considerations. The French military boot explanation does make sense. I think you've done a great job overall, considering the compromises that have to happen. Aside from historical nitpicking, the costumes do look great, and I'm loving the show!

[Calgacus]

Firstly I'd like to say that I'm greatly enjoying the show. Such a pity that it's not being shown in Scotland, at least as yet.

I'm also fascinated to read about the creative process and the compromises that have had to be made. I knew there were some, and it's interesting to hear the reasons and also hear other ones I had no knowledge of.

I think you've done a great job, Terry, well done indeed.

[creagdhubh]

Interested to here what @Terry-dresbach has to say about some of the costume choices.

Sounds like the boots are a compromise "French" boot, from Jamie's service there.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...93#post1255393

And "French" boots are quite appropriate for a Fraser given their genealogy and clan history.

[creagdhubh]

I am proud of the way we have designed our kilts, and had the fabric woven especially for the show. I am proud that we did that alone with making hundred of costumes and shoes in 7 weeks. I am very proud that our actors lie down in their trailers and put their kilts on every day the way it was actually done. But as I said, we will not satisfy everyone, and I am okay with that.
We have a gaelic coach on our crew. We have shot in the Highlands and have a lot of Highlanders on our team. I am not sure why they have made the choices they have on the language front, as I am the costume designer.
Our bonnets are felted wool. We chose to have a small range of colors, for creative reasons.

Thanks for chiming in, Terry!

[figheadair]

Tartan.jpg Here is a piece of our tartan.

In the spirit of Nathan's comments and from an historical perspective, I would have preferred to see at least some traditional type designs and weave. Colours like these could easily have been achieved in the 18th Century but the fashion was for brighter colours and in particular any shade of red (from pink to rust). Almost all tartan of that period was woven in a 2/2 twill as it's structurally stonger. This plain weave wouldn't take nearly as much punishment and certainly wouldn't keep one as warm.

[Panache]

....And they are not en faire pirate boots. They are accurate reproductions of French Military bots, made by a historical cobbler, for us.

Terry,

In the other thread you wrote

...Shoes on period shows are the bane of every costume designers nightmare.

Out of curiosity is the problem with what is historically accurate is that modern audiences will react badly to it? Such as watching any Elizabethan era set movie/TV show where the men are always wearing riding boots and longer pantaloons at court instead of the slippers and short pantaloons from all the portraits that exist from the time?

Cheers

Jamie

[Dale Seago]

In the spirit of Nathan's comments and from an historical perspective, I would have preferred to see at least some traditional type designs and weave. Colours like these could easily have been achieved in the 18th Century but the fashion was for brighter colours and in particular any shade of red (from pink to rust). Almost all tartan of that period was woven in a 2/2 twill as it's structurally stonger. This plain weave wouldn't take nearly as much punishment and certainly wouldn't keep one as warm.

Terry, what Peter says here is quite true. Re: Plain vs. twill weave, I have a kilt (the one in my current profile pic, in fact) of Islay Tweed, from the same mill and in the same pattern originally created for Liam Neeson to wear as Rob Roy MacGregor. Superficially it looks very robust, thick, rustic/"earthy", warm -- and I suspect those were considerations in the choice of cloth for Outlander. But this, for me, is one of my "warm to cool" weather kilts, not something I'd want to wear in cold weather. Here's a shot of the pleating with good detail:




As far as colors and patterns of the time are concerned, here's a frontal shot of another of my kilts. This tartan is referred to as Old Culloden and is one with which Peter is, let's say, intimately familiar. ;)

[terry dresbach]

Thank you so much! Yes, this business is constant compromises, and knowing when to stand your ground and when to give in (to get what you need later). Often very frustrating if you know something isn't right.
But this show has been very good. Ron is committed to getting it right and celebrating the culture of Scotland. He is a HUGE history buff, hence things like the sequence on will waulking, that was not in this book