Terry Dresbach, the costume designer for Outlander seasons one through four, really outdid herself with the Paris fashions in the series. The fashions worn in Paris in the 18th century were vastly different than what was worn in the Scottish highlands during the same time.
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The Paris fashions are much more decadent and risqué, reflecting the culture in the city at the time. Dresbach and her team reportedly created over 10,000 pieces for the Paris storyline in season two, and the hard work paid off beautifully.
10 The Dark Red Dress
No, not *the* red dress. Still, this one is lovely in its own right. Claire changes into this wine-red gown for a dinner party she and Jamie are hosting in another attempt to thwart Prince Charle's rebellion.
She pairs the dress with a necklace she was gifted by Master Raymond, a stone that is supposedly able to detect poison.
9 The Burgundy Look
Claire looks very stylish in this burgundy ensemble, which she pairs with two different black hats in two different scenes. The first time she wears it is to visit L'Hôpital des Anges, the charity hospital in Paris run by nuns and volunteers.
This ensemble has her stick out as a woman of upper society, making her look out of place in the hospital, and causing shock at her skill and her desire to work. She wears it once more to go visit Mary in the aftermath of her attack, to see how she's doing and give her a medical checkup.
8 The Grey Vest Over White Ruffled Blouse
Claire goes for a bit of a gender-neutral look here, which fits with the way her character embodies both traditional female and male roles in the 18th century. She wears this lovely ensemble to visit her friend Louise de Rohan, where she meets Mary Hawkins for the first time.
She gains an invitation to a ball held by the King at Versailles, where she and Jamie hope to forge connections that might allow them to prevent the Rising.
7 The Jade Green Dress
Claire dons this gorgeous dress for a private audience with the King. After Jamie is arrested for dueling, which is illegal in France, Claire learns that the King grants pardons in exchange for sex. Claire goes to him, willing to do whatever she must to free Jamie.
The rigid bodice and trailing cape of the gown add to the formality of the occasion, as well as help illustrate Claire's state of mind, the bravery she must have in this scenario. She ends up conducting an impromptu trial for witchcraft against two men, and luckily her poison-detecting necklace comes in handy.
6 The Brown Floral Look
Claire wears this perfect ensemble to promenade around the grounds at the gardens of Versaille. She cuts a striking figure and looks both striking and demure.
This outfit is what's she's wearing when she runs into Black Jack Randall again for the first time since he tortured Jamie at Wentworth Prison.
5 The Dior-Inspired Look
Dresbach was inspired by the iconic Dior Bar Suit for Claire's look during her first outing in Paris when she meets Master Raymond, the apothecary who would quickly become her friend. This combination of 18th-century fashion with 1940's fashion perfectly encapsulates Claire and feels true to her character.
This is the first Parisian outfit we see her in, and it provides a stark contrast to the woodsy tones she wore while in Scotland. It's definitely one of the most gorgeous looks the costume department has created.
4 The Puffy-Sleeved Dress
This gorgeous dress is made out of a dark grey material that subtly shines. The puffy white sleeves and cross-body chain stand out the most and provide a contrast of the soft and feminine and the rigid and strong, both of which fit with who Claire is.
She wears this dress briefly in season two, episode two, "Not in Scotland Anymore," and once again in the last Paris episode, "Faith," during her confrontation with Jamie after losing their child.
3 The Red Dress
Now for *that* red dress. Claire wears this gown to the ball at Versailles, where she and Jamie hope to attract the attention of influential people in the French court.
Caitriona Balfe wows in this show-stopping dress, complete with gorgeous earrings. The deep cut, modern bodice and the huge hoop skirt combine Claire's modern sensibilities with the Parisian fashion that was en vogue at the time.
2 The Purple Dress
Claire pairs this relatively simple, but lovely deep purple gown with a matching jacket embroidered with pink to confront Master Raymond after she's poisoned at Versailles. It's here that he gives her the necklace for protection, assuring her that he would never intentionally let harm befall her.
She later wears the gown, sans jacket, to visit Louise and Mary, where Louise confides in her that she is pregnant with Charles' child and wishes for Claire's advice.
1 The Yellow Dress
This rich golden-yellow gown is absolutely stunning. Claire wears this dress to visit with Louise and Mary, and later dons a matching cloak when out and about on the streets of Paris. If this gown is one of the most traditional and least modern of the ones Claire wears, it's fitting for the scenario, as she contemplates feeling rather idle in Parisian society, during a time where women like her didn't often practice medicine.
This beautiful gown is repurposed in season three when she and Jamie need to dress in formalwear for a ball at the governor's palace in Jamaica.
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April 19, 2021 at 05:30AM
