Outlander Wardrobe and language

[terry dresbach]

Hi Terry,
Has being in Scotland inspired your work on the series? How much time do you have to explore on you free time?

It has not inspired my work, it has defined it. I had designed the show, more or less before I came here, and then threw it all out the window after two weeks of living here. For one thing people would die from exposure wearing the clothing of other parts of 18th century Europe, and more importantly, the Scottish landscape is just so present, it does not sit in the background, it demands attention. Stunning and raw.
All of my designs, colors, textures, fabrics, trims, even buttons took their cues from the environment I live in every day. That green and black tartan dress that was referenced here, was inspired by a branch I saw alongside a path I was walking on.
We live in a 700 year old house in the Scottish countryside. I build a fire most mornings to heat the kitchen. There are stone lintels and secret passageways, there is a thieves hole. It is an incredible and intimate look into Scottish History, every single day. Our house sits on 200 acres that have been held by two families. I walk the dog every morning through an amazing landscape. It is untouched and unspoiled, and incredibly informative!
Not a lot of time for travel, as we work 12 - 14 hours a day, and design and research on weekends, it is relentless. But I LIVE here, so that gives a very in depth perspective. I have been through the Highlands and all over the midlands, but not to the far north yet, where I am dying to go.
But I will get a lot out of tomorrow morning, going to pick blackberries/brambles along the river bank before I go to work.

[Bluescelt]

Kudos to Ron on wearing the kilt. I think you'll find quite a few of Xmarkers are craftsmen of one sort or another. We love celtic culture, history and the arts.

[The Wizard of BC]

Terry,

Do you and Ron move and relocate to where ever you are filming at the time? Geez, can I swap jobs with you guys?

[terry dresbach]

Terry,

Do you and Ron move and relocate to where ever you are filming at the time? Geez, can I swap jobs with you guys?

Pretty much. It has it's pluses - adventure, learning a new culture, minuses - leaving home, family (kids in school), and pets, for long stretches of time.

[Calgacus]

...I have been through the Highlands and all over the midlands, but not to the far north yet, where I am dying to go...

Oh, you simply MUST find the time to go! The stretch of the north west from Ullapool to Tongue is the jewel in the crown, as far as I'm concerned.

[Nathan]

Terry,

My understanding is that the colour scheme favoured at the time was much more vibrant, drawing upon bright reds and greens. Can you explain the artistic or practical reasons behind choosing a muted colour scheme characterized by greys and browns?

[terry dresbach]

Sorry, see below.

[terry dresbach]

Terry,

My understanding is that the colour scheme favoured at the time was much more vibrant, drawing upon bright reds and greens. Can you explain the artistic or practical reasons behind choosing a muted colour scheme characterized by greys and browns?

Certainly. We wanted to steer away from the clan tartans of the Victorian era. It just starts getting very complicated in a LOT of ways, too numerous to go into. The very first time we had all of our Highlanders walk on set, someone said, "they look like they just grew up out of the ground". scotland herself is a character in the show, and we wanted to honor her, and tell her tale and the tale of the people who so intimately lived on the land. Ron also wanted the only red in the show, to be on the Redcoats, the invaders of the land and its people.

[Nathan]

Certainly. We wanted to steer away from the clan tartans of the Victorian era. It just starts getting very complicated in a LOT of ways, too numerous to go into. The very first time we had all of our Highlanders walk on set, someone said, "they look like they just grew up out of the ground". scotland herself is a character in the show, and we wanted to honor her, and tell her tale and the tale of the people who so intimately lived on the land. Ron also wanted the only red in the show, to be on the Redcoats, the invaders of the land and its people.

Thanks for the interesting reply. I agree that you'd certainly want to stay away from any manufactured clan tartans from Highland Revival era such as the Sobieski-Stewart's spurious tome and other later creations etc...but I do find it interesting that, notwithstanding the fact that red was a prominent feature in the (pre-clan tartan era) tartans of the mid 18th Century, you chose earth tones.

The explanation that you wanted to make the people look "of the land" is a fair one from an artistic perspective. That said, the natural vegetation of Scotland made very vibrant dyes indeed. I would also add that the land itself looked very different back then than it does now. Prior to the arrival of the Cheviot sheep and the ecological and demographic havoc their boom created, Highland territory that is today earthy brown and covered in bramble was then lush and green. The sheep ate all the good grass and changed the look of the Scottish Highlands forever.

Your comment about having a colour scheme for one side versus the other does make sense though. It harkens back to cinematic traditions like white vs. black cowboy hats etc...

I do appreciate your response, Terry.

[Elf]

It hardly seems I can read this thread as fast as it keeps growing. I want to add my thanks to Terry for all the time spent writing and responding to it all.