Cloak and Swagger: The History behind Sherlock Holmes' Iconic Look
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s world renowned protagonist is known most commonly for his almost other-wordly ability to solve crimes and investigate mysteries. This is something I have talked about in depth in many of my other blog posts but today we are looking at a different part of Sherlock Holmes’ legacy, his iconic style.
Sherlock Holmes inspired my original green and blue tartan print and thus, the effect his stories have had on me have quite literally changed my life. Moreover, his timeless fashion sense and iconic outfits have stood the test of time and continue to persist in popularity and inspire Sherlockians around the globe to stay looking sharp. In this blog we will take an in-depth look at the Signature looks of Sherlock Holmes.
The History behind Sherlock Holmes' Iconic Look - The Deerstalker Hat
The classic Sherlock Holmes Deerstalker hat is probably what most people think of first if they were to visualise the detective. It is such a classic part of Sherlock’s appearance and it almost feels wrong to think of him without one. However it might interest you to know that Sir Arthur never actually wrote specifically about Holmes wearing a deerstalker. It was Sidney Paget who originally equipped our beloved detective with his striking headpiece when he illustrated Sir Arthur’s, “Boscombe Valley Mystery”, for The Strand Magazine in 1981. Paget was also the first to illustrate Sherlock with the second piece of his iconic outfit….
The History of Sherlock Holmes' Iconic Look - The Inverness Cape
Whilst the deerstalker is probably the more well known part of Sherlock’s attire, it’s the Inverness Cape that really ties his iconic look together. This stunning sleeveless garment is what gives Sherlock’s iconic look its allure and really completes the whole cloak and swagger vibe. However this is another piece of Sherlock’s attire that is not technically consistent with his canon storyline. In Sir Arthur’s stories, Sherlock was originally described as wearing an Ulster. This Victorian garment was very similar in appearance to the Inverness cape, except the Ulster had sleeves and a shorter cape. In fact Holmes has also been depicted as wearing an elongated trench coat in David Friston’s illustration of “A Study in Scarlet”. Despite these variations though the image of Sherlock that has permeated popular culture is that of him wearing the classic Inverness Cape.
The History of Sherlock Holmes' Iconic Look - The Pipe and Magnifying Glass
The famous tobacco pipe is an essential daily carry for our beloved protagonist. Tobacco was particularly popular among men in the Victorian period for its therapeutic benefits. During the time period that Sherlock’s detective career took place, the smoking of tobacco was encouraged so that one could benefit from its nootropic effects, said to enhance cognition. So it made sense for our abnormally bright detective to be an avid tobacco smoker. Additionally, using a pipe was Holmes’ preferred method of smoking because it allowed him to smoke without ever leaving any evidence behind or contaminating a crime scene.
Sherlock is also almost always depicted carrying a magnifying glass. His broad understanding of the sciences and razor sharp intuition allowed him to master ‘the science of deduction’. But he also relied on technology of the time to give him an edge. The magnifying glass was considered to be quite an advanced piece of technology in Victorian England and Sherlock was the first character to be depicted using it for investigative purposes. Though only a small accessory on his person, the importance of Sherlock’s magnifying glass should be understated. In fact, we can see the significance of the magnifying glass in action during ‘A Study In Scarlet’:
“As he spoke, he whipped a tape measure and a large round magnifying glass from his pocket. With these two implements he trotted noiselessly about the room, sometimes stopping, occasionally kneeling, and once lying flat upon his face….As I watched him I was irresistibly reminded of a pure-blooded well-trained foxhound as it dashes backwards and forwards through the covert, whining in its eagerness, until it comes across the lost scent….”
Does your wardrobe need some of Sherlock’s iconic style?
Luckily for you or any avid Sherlockians in your life, you can equip yourself with all of Sherlock’s classic garments with our elegant green and blue tartan range. At Sherlock Holmes Tartan we pride ourselves on authenticity, which is why you should get yourself an authentic Inverness Cape and Deerstalker Hat to complete the Sherlock look.
