A Fan’s-Eye View
As a London guide and long-time lover of costume and screen history, I couldn’t resist a visit to the Outlander: The Auction exhibition at Bonhams New Bond Street. Walking into the Mayfair galleries feels like stepping through the stones yourself – only instead of time travel, you’re moving straight into the world of production-made gowns, cloaks and character-defining props.
First Impressions: Stepping into the Set
The space has been carefully staged to echo the series’ shifting locations, from Highland moorland to Parisian salons. You enter through a light-filled gallery and almost immediately meet Claire’s quieter, everyday looks: simple dresses, practical shoes and woollen shawls draped as if she’s ready to stride across the heather.
It’s a gentle, grounded introduction that reminds you Outlander is as much about lived texture and weathered cloth as it is about romance and adventure.
What struck me first was how human-scale everything felt. On screen, costumes can seem impossibly glamorous; up close, you can see the seams, the wear, and the way fabric has to move with the actor. It makes the performances feel more tangible, as if you’re being let in on a behind-the-scenes secret.
Meeting Claire’s Most Famous Dresses
Of course, the show-stopper is Claire’s red Paris gown. In the gallery it’s displayed in front of a large still from the series, allowing you to compare the real dress with the way it appears on screen.
The skirt is far fuller than I expected—a deep pool of crimson that dominates the space—while the bodice has a strong, architectural quality that perfectly suits Claire’s character: bold, modern and slightly out of time.
Nearby, other key costumes appear with their episode titles and auction estimates, giving the whole experience a wonderful blend of museum exhibition and auction catalogue.
Claire’s self-constructed “bat suit” from Season 3’s Freedom & Whisky is also on display, complete with its guide price. Knowing that this clever, improvised outfit—such a perfect reflection of Claire’s practicality and ingenuity—will soon belong to a private collector adds a bittersweet note. You’re very aware you’re seeing it in public for perhaps the last time.
I found myself reading every label, connecting each garment back to memorable scenes:
- The wedding night ensemble from The Wedding, carrying all the emotional weight of that iconic episode.
- Day dresses tied to specific storylines.
- Outerwear that instantly evokes the chill of the Scottish Highlands.
It feels like walking through a memory palace of favourite episodes.
The Men Step into the Spotlight
It’s not all about Claire.
There’s a strong showing for the men’s costumes too, and this is where the exhibition really highlights the richness of Outlander’s costume design.
Jamie’s formalwear—the tailored suits worn during scenes with the Comte St Germain—is beautifully cut, featuring subtle embroidery and rich, dark fabrics that quietly signal status and tension.
Standing alongside them are more flamboyant eighteenth-century garments in salmon pink and vibrant colours that capture the theatrical elegance of court dress.
Seeing these outfits displayed on mannequins rather than in motion allows you to appreciate their construction:
- Narrow breeches
- Perfectly fitted coats
- Finely tailored waistcoats
It’s a reminder that menswear can be just as expressive as the gowns, revealing character and social standing long before a single line is spoken.
Texture, Craft and the Unsung Heroes
One of my favourite parts of the visit was spending time with the quieter costumes:
- Practical Highland dresses
- Layered woollen shawls
- Boots showing just enough wear to suggest long days filming on location
In person, the fabrics appear much heavier and warmer than they do on screen.
There’s an impressive amount of tailoring involved in controlling the pleats and folds, particularly on the plaid and wool garments.
You begin to appreciate how costume becomes character.
Claire’s wardrobe blends practicality with understated elegance.
Jamie’s clothing balances rugged Highland identity with refined courtly polish.
Even secondary characters are instantly distinguished through colour, trim and silhouette.
For anyone interested in historical dress or costume interpretation, it’s fascinating to see how the designers translated period fashion into something that reads beautifully for modern television audiences.
Props, Setting and Atmosphere
The costumes are complemented by carefully chosen props and set-dressing pieces that quietly deepen the atmosphere.
Ornate picture frames, period furniture and sculptural details wouldn’t look out of place inside a historic house.
One particularly effective display features stones reminiscent of Craigh na Dun, helping the costumes feel like part of an ongoing story rather than museum relics frozen in time.
I particularly liked that the exhibition doesn’t overwhelm visitors with information.
There are labels featuring:
- Episode references
- Auction estimates
- QR codes linking to the auction catalogue
Beyond that, you’re simply encouraged to look.
For fans already immersed in the series, this approach works beautifully—you bring your own memories to every object.
Knowing It's All Heading to Auction
There’s an added sense of excitement in knowing that nearly everything on display will go under the hammer in August.
Auction estimates range from the hundreds to several thousand pounds, reflecting both the craftsmanship involved and the emotional significance attached to these iconic pieces.
You can almost sense visitors quietly doing the maths, wondering whether they might place a bid—or at least dreaming about it.
For me, the exhibition felt both like a farewell and a celebration.
Outlander has enjoyed a remarkable run and built an incredibly devoted fanbase. This exhibition acknowledges that legacy by presenting its costumes and props as genuine pieces of television history, deserving of careful display in one of Mayfair’s most prestigious galleries.
Is It Worth a Visit?
If you’re an Outlander fan, a lover of costume design, or simply someone fascinated by how television worlds are physically created, the exhibition at Bonhams Mayfair is absolutely worth the trip.
It’s free, thoughtfully curated and intimate enough that you never feel rushed or overwhelmed.
You can stand just inches away from garments you’ve watched on screen for years and notice countless tiny details that simply disappear on camera.
Even if you have no intention of bidding, it’s a rare opportunity to see these extraordinary costumes before they disappear into private collections—a brief public moment in the life of objects that have already lived an unforgettable fictional life.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re captivated by the craftsmanship of historical costume, fascinated by television production, or simply a devoted Outlander fan, this exhibition offers an unforgettable glimpse behind the scenes.
For a short time, these remarkable costumes and props remain together, telling the story of one of television’s most beloved historical dramas before beginning new lives in private collections. It’s a unique opportunity to appreciate the artistry, detail and storytelling woven into every stitch.
