Claire's Coat: 1940's Tailored Coat, but for -15 Winters!

What goes into reproducing Claire's tailored, 1940s coat, and how do you winter-proof it to sustain freezing winters? That was what I asked myself right around the end of 2019, as I set about my journey to replicate Claire's coat from Season One of Outlander. The goal was to have a coat that both looked just like the original, but also could keep me nice and toasty warm through winter in Copenhagen, Montreal, and... well, let's just say that I've never celebrated Christmas with palm trees!

A study of the original coat reveals that it is made in a slate blue wool gabardine, in a classic 1940s style and silhouette, and additionally (since fabric was still rationed at that point in post-war Britain) her costumes were supposedly made to the standards set by the British Government. This probably explains the limited number of buttons on the coat (a detail I will NOT be reproducing because I need this thing to close FULLY in order to keep out the cold air)!

An Outlander exhibit quotes Terry Dresbach as saying, "We wanted Claire’s costumes to reflect the hope and optimism of a new marriage, the end of a long war, and a new beginning for her life and her country".... lofty goals for a single coat, but hey, works for me!

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🌺 Videos Referenced:
1. Fashion in Rations - CC41Utility Clothing in WW2:    • Fashion in Rations - CC41Utility Clot...  
2. How to Tailor a Collar with Pad Stitching and Pressing:    • How to Tailor a Collar  with Pad Stit...  

#outlander #vintagefashion #1940sfashion