Outlander Styles – A Look At Fashions in the 1700s – Part II

This article is the continuation of our previous article written on this regard. You can read our by clicking the link : Part One

Season 4

In the wilderness of North Carolina, rugged, durable attire, made of cotton or wool, was best suited to establishing a new homestead on the raw land. Due to their remote location, trade with their Native American neighbors, the Cherokee, was vital for necessities as towns were days away. The new settlers adopted some of their fashion trends, including the use of pelts, suede, and beads to add warmth and style to their garments. [5]

Outlander Season 4 fashion
Season 5

Due to the lack of availability of cloth in the 1770 colonies, clothing and fabric were usually handed down. It was no different with Brianna’s lovely cream-colored wedding gown, made from cotton fabric given to her by Aunt Jocasta. Beautifully embroidered with orange blossoms and Scottish thistles, it features a scarf held in place by a larger thistle flower. She wears the necklace made of Scottish pearls that Jamie gave Claire on their wedding night, originally belonging to his mother Ellen. Roger is handsome in his dark blue suit with white ruffled sleeves and stock

During this period, everyday wear became simpler, made of wool, flax, and cotton. With a limited supply of fabric coming in due to the revolution, people had to create their own cloth. Spinning was one way that America could begin to manufacture for itself. Homespun originally meant “made in the USA” but became a way to show the choice of simplicity over luxurious satins and laces from England. Cloth was dyed in shades of brown, gray, green, and blue, made from various plants and fruits. [6]

Outlander Season 5 fashion
Season 06

In Colonial America in 1773, the cocked hat, also called a tricorne, made of felt, was popular among men for its flair and function. It was easily tucked into the crook of the arm when entering buildings. “The origins of the tricorne hat go back to the battlefield, when soldiers wearing broad-rimmed hats pinned the sides up in order to channel rainwater away.” [7]

Season 7

The American Revolution was in full swing. Rebel militias had no set uniform. Some special units adopted their own uniforms. ‘Daniel Morgan’s Rifles’ had a uniform made of cloth with fringed edges. The medical unit wore their usual clothing with the addition of an apron. The British Army soldiers who fought the Patriots wore the red coat, though some German and Loyalist units had blue or green clothing [8]. Indian Scouts painted their faces with charcoal, cherries, leaves, and red clay for battle. [9]

[5] FabricStore.com: A Brief Look At Colonial Attire

[6] The American Revolution and Fashion: The History of Homespun

[7] Fashion History Timeline: Tricorne Hat

[8] Wikipedia: American Revolutionary War: Red Coat

[9] Trina Merry: Indigenous Tribes Body Paint

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