How to Dress Like a Peaky Blinder

Want to dress like a Peaky Blinder? Being that this hit British crime TV show takes place in the early 1900s, you'll probably have to invest in a few new garments and accessories. After all, fashion trends have changed a great deal in the past century. Nonetheless, you can still sport a genuine and authentic Peaky Blinder look by following some simple steps.

What is Peaky Blinders?

In case this is your first time hearing about Peaky Blinders, let me explain what it is. Produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions and Tiger Aspect Productions, Peaky Blinders is a British TV series centering around the infamous gang of the same name. The gang, the Peaky Blinders, conducted their operations in England following the First World War. This was a period characterized by hardship and uncertainly, as many British residents of this era were still suffering from the effects of the war. The Peaky Blinders gang exploited this fact through blackmail, kidnapping, robberies and other illegal activities. The show stars Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, Sam Neil as a hard-nosed detective, Helen McCrory as the Peaky Blinders' treasurer, and many other big names. Earlier this year, BBC announced that it had ordered a fourth and fifth season, although it's unknown when exactly the next season will air.

Why the Peaky Blinders Look?

Now that you know a little bit about the Peaky Blinders TV show, you might be wondering why you should mimic the look. If you've ever watched this show before, you may recall its dark and gritty atmosphere -- something that's unique and not found in other TV shows. Some viewers compare HBO's hit TV show Boardwalk Empire to Peaky Blinders, simply because they take place in a similar period. But Boardwalk Empire takes place in New Jersey (hence the name), whereas Peaky Blinders take place on the other side of the pond in the UK. And over in the UK, the atmosphere was different. It was dark and gritty, which is reflected in the Peaky Blinders choice of clothing. In the Peaky Blinders universe, few people are seen wearing colorful or otherwise vibrant clothing. Their outfits are just the opposite: dark and neutrals colors that embrace this time period. There's certainly nothing wrong with this style. On the contrary, neutral colors of tweet and flannel suits are a classic look that most people find attractive. And best of all, it's easy to achieve this look, assuming you buy the right suit and accessories. 

How to Dress Like a Peaky Blinder

Dressing like a Peaky Blinder is actually easier than it sounds. See the above photo for an example of what the actors wear when filming this show. Going a little further into the style, you'll notice that each character has his or her own unique look. Arthur Shelby, played by Paul Anderson, for instance is the only character in the show to wear a bow tie. One of the show's main star, Thomas Shelby, on the other hand, is almost always seen wearing a newboy-style hat. For the sake of simplicity, though, we should focus on Thomas, who typically wears a 3-piece herringbone tweed suit, or a grey pinstripe suit. In terms of cut, Thomas' suit is lean through the legs, chest and shoulders, offering a contemporary look that compliments his body shape. Keep in mind that the actual Peaky Blinders gang wore bell bottoms. Being that few people today wear bell bottoms, it's best to skip this historical fact and instead stick with traditional, fitted trousers. Doing so offers a traditional Peaky Blinders look with a touch of modern and contemporary style.

Check out our Thomas Shelby Peaky Blinders Suit, the charcoal tweed is one of our top-selling products.

Tweed Wool Suit

Now for the burning question: where do I find a suit like the ones worn in Peaky Blinders? The problem with most walk-in retail stores is their limited selection. They typically offer a few basic styles, greatly limiting your choices. And to make matters worse, you probably won't find a genuine tweed wool suit like the ones worn in Peaky Blinders. However, you can find them by shopping here at StudioSuits. Head over to our store page here to buy a genuine tweed wool suit like the ones worn in Peaky Blinders. Made of 100% genuine pure wool tweed and available in more than 50 colors, it embodies the Peaky Blinders look. Of course, you'll want to choose the herringbone design to truly achieve this look. Herringbone is a unique design consisting of columns of multiple parallel lines -- and these lines are contained in one column sloping in one direction and the other column sloping in the opposite direction. Herringbone receives its namesake from the pattern of fish bones, which have a similar design. It's a popular design used in suits of the early 1900s, particularly those worn in the Peaky Blinders.

Accessories

What type of accessories should you wear with your weed wool suit. Assuming you are trying to achieve a Peaky Blinders look, there are two main accessories that you don't want to overlook. This includes a pocket square and pocket watch. The pocket square is simply a small piece of square-shaped fabric that's placed in the chest pocket of your suit jacket or coat. It doesn't serve any functional benefits. Rather, it's used to add color and/or designs to the suit, bringing the visual elements together in a cohesive manner. It's recommended that you stick with a linen or cotton pocket square while avoiding silk. A pocket watch, however, offers both functional and aesthetic benefits. You can use it to check the time, and it adds color and style to your suit.

Henley Undershirt

Of course, there's more to achieving a genuine Peaky Blinder look than simply wearing a suit. You should also wear the right undershirt with your suit, which in this case is a Henley t-shirt. Available at most department and retail stores for less than $20 bucks, a Henley undershirt is the perfect choice for Peaky Blinders look. It's soft, comfortable. and compliments the appearance of your suit.