Outlander BTS Season 3: Emmy Nominated Terry Dresbach Gives a Glimpse into the S3 Costuming World

Okay, so I am going to try to take everyone through our process starting with the beginning of prep…

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

I have been officially working on S3 for two weeks now. Most of that time has been spent planning things with my team, remotely.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

For me, no time at all. The writers were hired to create outlines while we waited for the green light.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We have rough drafts for the first couple of eps, and an outline of the season. At this point nothing is set yet.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

a season would work. Based on that info, the green light is or isn't given

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yes. TPTB have to sign off before we see them. We don't see all of them, as they are not final yet

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

How many costumes do we think we need, what are they,generally? How will we make that happen? What kind of crew do we need?

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

My key people right now, are my Costume Supervisor and my assistant designer, the team pillars of my dept

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

These are the only costumes we CAN make right now as we have no other cast. But that is good for us!!!

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yes, thank God.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Many of them worked on other smaller jobs, and some took time off

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

But we have a general idea of what we need based on the books. We don't usually worry about the scripts yet

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

…them off of the workroom tables

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We have to do both.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

finished, while we wait for casting of supporting cast.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

and they and production have been so great about making sure we get people in time to get things done.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

So for now, we don't focus at all on the supporting cast, as we don't have them this far in advance.We do C & J!

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We have a make team of about 25. A design team of 5, who superpise various things

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Meanwhile my asst designer has been doing research for the extras, and we will begin making fabric next week

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

and we have a short window where they are all we CAN focus on,So we take advantage of that time and get them finished

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Fabric samples have also been created for me to look at, and we have gathered samples from fabric manufacturers

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Depends.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yes, we have new women cutters!!!

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

You have to manage them as the two arms they are

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

A bit ahead of us. We can't do too much without an official green light. Only the writers had any go ahead

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

You can't use dress mannequins. We did have a a mannequin made for Cait, who did a 3D scan, and hope that helps us

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

but this mannequin is a new thing, we have our fingers crossed it is going to help

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

we do it with traditional manis all the time, but they can't sub for a real fitting, for us. Hope this 3D mani will help

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Well, you HOPE to be able to buy those. But that is hit and miss. I really wanted the 60s to be purchased so we could only have to

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

make the 18th century costumes, but that isn't going to happen. We will be able to buy SOME 60s

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We need to be able to dress up to 500 people at a time, not counting principals and supporting cast

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

500? Where would you even start to look for that many costumes from the 60s? Then there are alterations too.Yikes

— Barbara Del Regino (@bjd4_vm) June 27, 2016

https://twitter.com/NickjsmomCheryl/status/747450918673727490

https://twitter.com/NickjsmomCheryl/status/747451475874418688

They wouldn't be authentic

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Costume design has not a lot to do with fashion

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yes. But they aren't in 18th century clothing, so it is a bit better for them. I bought a lot of costumes for then last year

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

what is earliest u can prepare b4 u make costumes. E.g 1 or 2 months ahead.

— Karen Kennedy (@KennedySweet70) June 27, 2016

Well, we start about 3 months ahead, about a month short.We will need to compensate for that

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yup. Problem solving is about 75% of my job

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

yes and no. They are not as elaborate and that really helps. But we don't have a year this time

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

I hope so. We learned a lot in S1 and S2. that knowledge coalesces and gives us new resources moving forward.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We have an enormous warehouse with floor to ceiling rails for hanging up everything we have. I will reuse everything I can

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

yes.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We keep it clean. Stored means hanging in our warehouse.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

sort of. It isn't bagged.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

That dirt is painted on

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

we don't have closets. I have a team whose job is to help things organised. Remember 10,000 garments in S2.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

how long does it take to find a certain piece in it?:D You must have a catalogue for it by now.

— Joanna Michalak (@joaellaine) June 27, 2016

It will be "checked out" and "checked in". We know who is wearing it for what dates.When done it comes back into the system

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

It is not normally done on shows. Cataloguing 15,000 items takes a long time

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

We have a team of those. It is scale. HUGE undertaking

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

No. We try not to alter extras clothing. Thats why we need 750 costumes for 500 people

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

For extras, we give out the sizes. But we make our costumes to fit ALMOST any kind of body that comes in

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Yup. Edinburgh. The streets will not be deserted

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

I know Ron loves baseball. When not working what do you like to do to keep yourself fresh?

— Sakura's mom (@KimneshanKim) June 27, 2016

…every woman knows, is not particularly restful. I am hoping to find out.

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016

Thank you. I have my very own Mary Poppins. I saw that I was going to have to have someone S1.She saves my life

— Terry Dresbach (Outlander Costume) (@OutlanderCostum) June 27, 2016