I became an Outlander fan quite by accident. I vaguely knew it was a book from the early 90s, but that is about all I knew. When the television show started, I saw a few friends post about it on Facebook, but we didn't have the Starz channel and I wasn't going to worry about it. In between seasons one and two of the show, Sean and I subscribed to Starz to watch Patrick Stewart's show Blunt Talk. It was at this time we decided to start watching Outlander. Mid-way through the first episode, I was hooked. It has a bit of everything: time travel, romance, historical fiction, adventure, sci-fi/fantasy, warfare, mystery, betrayal, kilts, hot sex, etc.! The list goes on and on.
Despite my inner protests (because I felt silly for liking it so much, because I don't really have time for another obsession, because I thought maybe it made me too predictable in some way), I became more and more obsessed with the show and dove into it all pretty quickly. All this to say, I am a newer fan of the series but have latched onto it wholeheartedly. I just started the seventh book. There are currently eight books of the main story to catch up on, along with extra books involving various characters.
When Torrid announced an Outlander collection, I was overjoyed! In today's post, I am bringing you reviews of the pieces I chose - the Tartan dress, Tartan coat, and Je Suis Prest sweatshirt. It was hard to find a compromise between "I WANT IT ALL" and being practical, but such is life. haha Enjoy!
- This is not a sponsored post. I bought all the items with my own money and all opinions are 100% my own. -
In case you are unfamiliar with the plot of Outlander, I'll give you a super short rundown. A 27-year-old woman named Claire, a nurse during World War II, finds herself on a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank. They have been separated for much of the war and have taken this trip to reestablish their marriage. But things take a turn when Claire finds a circle of standing stones and touches one, transporting her back in time to the Scotland of 1743.
Torrid's collection felt very much inspired by the show, with muted earthy tones and takes on some of Claire's wardrobe from the show. I think they did a great job of creating pieces for today that could be worn in multiple ways and look good on a variety of people. Along with the dress, coat, skirt, and reversible cape made with tartan patterns from the show, Torrid brought us a dressier white top that reminds me of Claire's shift, a fur-trimmed coat straight from Claire's closet, a bell-sleeved coat inspired by Claire's dresses, a fringed cardigan, and two more casual tops - a tee and a sweatshirt. Additionally, they added a graphic tee (not featured here but still available online) that I also bought later. Limited sizes remain of the in stock pieces from the collection. eBay and Poshmark are good places to check from time to time to see if anyone is selling their pieces.
Photo Source: Torrid.com
The Outlander Tartan Wrap Bodice Swing Dress was my first choice from the collection. If I could only purchase one item (and honestly, I only expected being able to get one item), it was this dress. The wrap-look bodice, wide shoulder straps, fit-and-flare style, and Outlander tartan called to me! I knew the style would be good for my body type, but I was still nervous about sizing. I ordered the dress in a 24 and anxiously awaited its arrival. I do have a smaller bust for a plus-sized woman and felt this was a dress that needed to fit perfectly for me, so I worried a lot about that before it arrived. Once it was on my body though, I sighed in relief. It fits amazingly well!
The fabric of the dress is a poly/rayon/spandex, so it is smooth and lightweight with just a bit of stretch. The upper body portion of the dress is lined inside, but the skirted portion is not. It does have pockets though! The material is thick enough that I did not need a slip and I also did not need shapewear of any kind. The hem hits me just at/slightly below the knee. I LOVE this length so much! The main reason I did not buy the skirt/kilt was because I knew it would be super short on me, so this dress was more suited to my tastes and style. Again, the fit was spot-on for me. I really have no complaints. It is a well-made dress and makes me feel very cute. I'm going to be collecting appropriate accessories from Etsy, so I can serve Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser realness anytime my heart desires!
In styling the dress, I wanted to give nods to the show/book without it seeming like too much of a costume. I have owned this crocheted shrug for quite a while, but it made a great addition to the look for some arm coverage and a nod to Claire's knitted accessories. I am looking for a dark brown or possibly navy cardigan for colder months. The dragonfly necklace and amber-colored beaded earrings are a nod to the story and specifically the second book in the series, while the pearl bracelets represent Jamie's mother's necklace he gave to Claire on their wedding night. The pewter flats add a touch of shine because, as you all know, the shinier the better in my book. I also recently bought some cute brown and blue oxfords that will be really cute with this dress. I am excited to wear them together!
Brown Crochet Shrug - Lane Bryant circa 2004 (similar)
Due Ballet Flat - FitFlop (More recent version)
Dragonfly necklace - Unknown circa 2000
Pearl bracelets - Unknown
My practical and casual side wanted one of the tee or sweatshirt options. I chose the Je Suis Prest sweatshirt because I really liked the antler graphic. It also has long sleeves and is white, two things I don't have much of in my closet. The website model makes the sweatshirt seem a bit fitted, so I ordered it in a size 4, a size larger than I normally wear. I am glad I did. I do feel like the smaller size would have been more fitted on me, whereas the 4 is just a little big with room for my tummy and hips. The material is also a poly/rayon/spandex, so it isn't incredibly stretchy. The fabric is also a bit thinner than your typical sweater or sweatshirt. While this means it isn't super hot, it also means my tummy roll outline shows a little bit. In the photos, I did not wear a cami underneath because I wanted the cool strappy back detail to be pristine. In the future, I would feel more comfortable wearing a white or nude cami. For me, wearing a cami can smooth over my tummy enough so the top just skims things without drawing attention to them.
The Outlander Tartan Coat was the most impractical of my collection purchases because I don't often need a heavy coat. Let's be real; I have often complained about how I don't layer much and have to dress cooler in the colder months because businesses and other people's homes are always stifling to me. I hardly ever leave the house. I have coats and jackets I barely wear because of those reasons. Did I need a new, nice coat? No. But when I saw the tartan and the cut and style of this coat, I wanted it so bad!! I told Sean, if I could afford to get it I really, really wanted it. But if I couldn't afford it, that was fine. Coupon codes are my BFF. If not for them, I wouldn't have been able to get it. Because of this purchase, I am planning some extra outside-type holiday events for us to go to just so I can wear my coat. hahaha
The coat itself hits just above my knee and is a little longer in back. I love three-quarter coat lengths like this. It is also another fit-and-flare style, with an asymmetrical front button-closure and gathers in the back to accentuate the waist. I just love the details Torrid put into this piece! The buttons feature a Scottish thistle design; and the lining of the coat features a map of Scotland with points of interest from the show/book. I bought the coat in a 3 and was a bit worried about how it would fit my shoulders and large upper arms. As you can see, it ended up fitting very well! The coat is very well-made and kept me warm and cozy for my photoshoot.
I styled the pieces together with my usual fall wardrobe of jeans and boots. I added a grey fur scarf to the coat for a little something extra. It is definitely one of those throw-on-and-go looks for chilly days. My extra nod to the show comes in the form of a small dragonfly and amber necklace I bought from Etsy.
Outlander Tartan Coat - Torrid
Talia Stretch Riding Boots - Avenue (similar, similar, similar)
Genius Fit Skinny Jeans - Lane Bryant (similar, similar)
Dragonfly In Amber Necklace - From Etsy seller NinaCancerSurvivor
Grey Fur Scarf - Yours Clothing (similar, similar)
Obligatory selfie with Sean!
Do you love Outlander? Did you buy any pieces from the Torrid Collection? What items were you most excited about or what kind of items do you wish they had? Chat with me in the comments!
I purchased the fur trimmed cost from Hot Topic, and like you, was worried about how it would fit. I'm a larger size as well. Oh my gosh, I am over the moon with this coat! It fit me fabulously and accentuates where it needs to without me looking like a frump. They did a really good job on these pieces. I am more than pleased.
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