How To Dress Like a Peaky Blinder: A Modern Day Style Guide
Let’s all take a moment to raise a glass to the wardrobe department for the TV series Peaky Blinders. Season six is finally airing, and surely we can’t be the only ones glued to the screen every week –– mostly for the on-screen fashion.
For the uninitiated, Peaky Blinders follows a gangster family in 1920s Birmingham, led by our brooding protagonist Tommy Shelby. There are a lot of things to be said about the characters in the show, but you could never deny that they’re extremely well-dressed.
None more so than Tommy, who has become our poster boy for gentlemanly fashion inspiration. Though the series is set an entire century ago, there are certainly ways to embrace Tommy’s style in the modern day.
There are a few core components to dressing like a Peaky Blinder. Let’s take a look.
The Suit
Of course, Tommy and the rest of the Blinders are all about the classic three-piece suit. Again, the colour palette is muted and understated. Let the quality of your suit speak for itself. You don’t need to rely on bright colours and patterns to make a statement.
Think tweed, checks, and textured grey material. Especially if you’re just starting to build out your gentlemanly wardrobe, something like this grey herringbone tweed three-piece suit is an excellent place to start.
The Shirt
Yes, even when you’re wearing a statement suit or jacket, you still need to pay close attention to your shirt. Tommy certainly does. Rather than wearing any old white shirt, he’s often seen in a penny collar or club collar. With rounded edges rather than pointed, it’s a style that was extremely fashionable during the first few decades of the 20th century.
Though it fell out of favour as years went by, this style has certainly seen a resurgence thanks to shows like Mad Men and Peaky Blinders. Tommy often wears his now-iconic striped club collar shirt on its own, sometimes paired with a simple waistcoat and overcoat.
A good-quality shirt, with a unique detail like a rounded collar, is a staple item that looks good even when just paired with well-tailored pants.
The Boots
Forget Oxfords or brogues, Tommy is all about the boots. Black, lace-up boots, to be specific. Not only are they practical, but they’re also unbelievably stylish.
It can be daunting to embrace lace-up boots into your wardrobe, especially if you’re a city dweller used to sneakers and dress shoes. But once you give them a go, you’ll never want to go back.
The Cap
You simply cannot be a Peaky Blinder without a classic newsboy cap. Now, we’re not recommending you sew razor blades into the peak of your caps like Tommy and his gang, but you can still look just as stylish as they do.
A gentleman’s newsboy cap is the perfect accent to tie your whole outfit together. Even if you’re just in jeans and a crisp white t-shirt, a tweed cap will bring the ensemble up a level.
The Jacket
Tommy relies on a thick overcoat and jacket to bring his outfits together. When selecting the right jacket for yourself, opt for something long and lapelled to really embrace the Peaky Blinders style. Opt for more muted colours –– there weren’t many vibrant suit options going on in the post-war 1920s.
This double-breasted cashmere overcoat is a perfect example of a jacket that’s both versatile and elegant. Tommy often wears his unbuttoned over a three-piece suit, for a look that’s formal but relaxed.
Top tips for embracing that Peaky Blinders style
No matter how you choose to embrace Tommy Shelby’s impeccable style, Tweedmaker should be your first stop. From three-piece suits and overcoats to accessories that’ll transport you back to the 1920s, we’ve got you covered. Find your perfect fit today.
