Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Get the look: Claire Randall's 1940's Blue Coat.

I don't know about you, my dear readers, but one of my favorite books is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. If you haven't read it yet, it's a wonderful historical tale with a heroine you can't help but love, and a plot you can't help but get hooked on. Showtime has been slowly and quite carefully recreating this amazing series (oh yes, did I fail to mention there are several books to this tale you'll love?) into a TV show with beautiful cinematography, excellent casting, and HEAVENLY clothing.

One of the most popular looks on the show so far has been Claire Randall's beautiful 1940's coat and hat from Season 1. Recently, I saw a Facebook post asking for patterns to get the look and it got me to thinking... I have those patterns! So, without further ado, here is how to get the look!


The perfect pattern for this is Depew #4185 which can be easily adapted to look like the coat above.
Instead of three buttons as pictured below, just sew a tab and use one button. The sleeves and pockets are nearly identical but the difference is the fullness at the back.



To add that fullness, you can use the simple slash and spread method with the back of your pattern for added pleats:


And on to the hat, I have that one too! This is a great translated vintage French hat pattern from the late 1940's that has four hats included. The version to copy Claire's (somewhat hard to see) hat would be model B From Depew #1022.


How about you? Is there a TV show out there with clothing you just can't get enough of? I know some of us might consider ourselves a bit too grown up for teen dramas, but I'm going to admit, I also love to watch Reign from the CW. It's a probably definitely not-very-historically-accurate dramatization of Mary Queen of Scotts, and I could say that I just watch it primarily for the clothes, but that we be a lie... I watch it for the crazy guilty pleasure of will-they-or-won't-they soap opera drama!

But seriously though, the clothes!


Of course they've used loads of creative license (and by lots, I mean all of it) in the costuming but it's such a refreshing spin that I find I look forward to the blatant fashion historical gaffes rather than being annoyed by them.
You may now proceed with violent disagreement. It's ok, I know, I sort of deserve it. Like I said... Guilty pleasures and what-not.

xoxo







P.S. You know how we might have been talking about a bra sew-along? Stay tuned, it's going to happen soon!

5 comments:

  1. I'm recently watching "Call The Midwife" and I'm in love with Jennys wardrobe. But i also like the looks of the other girls as well, because it shows the variety of the fasion back then, fitting for every single character.
    Greetings from Germany,
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sandy,
      thanks for your comment! I agree, I'm completely in love with how the nurses (and some of the wives) dress on Call The Midwife. I cannot get enough of that show! I wish i had the nerve to dress like Trixie :)

      Delete
  2. Is this not the epitamy of past centuries of femine clothing! Anna, ( If I may use your given name), I think you have such a rich talent for picking out clothing to show on your site#A few threads loose! I sew and collect older patterns; thank-you for your funny comments and such a rich verity of found clothing that would other wise be lost!! I look forward to your next post. Sincerly ,Terrie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Enchanted April is a movie I watch for the clothes. But my favorite TV series for clothing is Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries! You MUST see it if you haven't on netflix. I also love "The Time in Between" Beautiful clothes plus the show is about a Spanish seamstress during WW2. You will love it too. I also like Trixie's clothes on Call the Midwives"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enchanted April is a movie I watch for the clothes. But my favorite TV series for clothing is Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries! You MUST see it if you haven't on netflix. I also love "The Time in Between" Beautiful clothes plus the show is about a Spanish seamstress during WW2. You will love it too. I also like Trixie's clothes on Call the Midwives"

    ReplyDelete