Chances are you’ve at least heard of the Peaky Blinders TV show, if not the true life inspiration. The first reported incident involving a gang from the Small Heath area of Birmingham was back in 1890, a group gaining infamy for their violence and brutality in the criminal world.
The Peaky Blinders, often romanticized in popular media, were a notorious gang originating from the impoverished backstreets of late 19th-century Industrial Birmingham. This group were emblematic of a society grappling with severe economic and social challenges of the working-class struggle of the era.
They engaged in various criminal activities, including street fights and illegal betting. However, their reign wasn’t without challenges; internal conflicts and relentless police crackdowns eventually led to their decline.
The name is often believed to have stemmed from stitching razor blades into their caps, but this is likely not the case due to cost and availability. What’s more likely is the peaky referred to the flat peak caps pulled down to obscure the face from recognition, and the slang term blinder for someone well dressed and dapper.
And the Peaky Blinders were just that, was incredibly well dressed and feared for their violence. And over a century later, the style is still deemed to be timeless sartorial fashion.
The Peaky Blinder TV series
The Peaky Blinders TV series has catapulted the era’s distinctive fashion into the spotlight, and the main reason for a resurgence of young men in Oxfordshire and beyond wearing a wool tweed three piece, shirt and flat cap and haircut.
Thanks to the fictional activities of the Shelby family (sorry folks, they never existed), led by the handsome Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, the show’s influential style went mainstream. The TV series is set after World War 1, which incidentally was after the end of the real Peaky Blinders. As such, the style is not quite accurate, but we can consider the roaring 20’s a true vintage fashion era despite the artistic license.
The show features sharp tweed suits and iconic peaked flat caps that screams authority and style. It’s vintage charisma intertwined with the raw narrative of survival and ambition, and embedding these styles into your wardrobe means embracing a piece of that bold, rebellious spirit.
Everyone loves a gangster, and us girls love a bad boy. So the resurgence of 1920s fashion through the Peaky Blinders series has been markedly amplified by celebrities like David Beckham, who’ve publicly embraced and showcased this vintage style.
Breaking down the key pieces of Peaky Blinders Clothing
To capture the quintessential Peaky Blinders look, you’ll need to start with key elements such as shirts and three-piece tweed suits, which epitomize the style’s rugged elegance and historical authenticity.
Embrace the Shelby brothers’ vintage look with tailored-fit overcoats featuring velvet half-collars and authoritative pinstripes to wow at any formal event.
Your ensemble isn’t complete without the iconic peaked flat caps, meticulously chosen for their herringbone tweed patterns.
Ideally you want a mix of pale-patterned tweed that enhances the Peaky Blinders inspired attire, making sure each piece reflects the compression and expansion of the era’s fashion philosophy. This curated approach guarantees you embody the era with accuracy and style.
Shirts
Typically high-collared with detachable collars with a tailored fit, Peaky Blinders shirts are often crafted from luxurious cotton or silk for both comfort and class. The intricate patterns, whether stripes or checks, add a layer of depth to your ensemble, perfectly complementing the earthy tones prevalent in 3-piece suits and waistcoats.
You can choose between the Arthur Shelby bow tie or a thin tie with pin.
Iconic Tweed Suits
A vintage tweed 3 piece Peaky Blinders suit stands as a cornerstone of the iconic fashion, meticulously constructed to make you feel part of the world of Tommy Shelby. To achieve an authentic look, include a pocket watches and matching tailored jacket and trousers.
The waist coat doesn’t need to match exactly, but does need the vintage aesthetic. Combine with a discerning choice of shirt and tie to encapsulate the authentic look.
Styling Peaky Waistcoats
The third wheel on the suit. To master the Peaky Blinders look, start by choosing a double-breasted waistcoat in tweed or herringbone, in colours like green, brown, or navy, which not only reflect the earthy tones popular in the era. It’s unlikely you’ll have this hiding in your clothes wardrobe without planning, so keep an eye on secondhand shops.
Essential Peaky Caps
You’ll find that tweed caps are essential for capturing the gang’s trademark look, rather than looking like a country farmer. They come in hues like grey and brown, crafted from tweed fabric, and have a unique flat design complemented by a small peak.
Choosing the Right Overcoat
For winter, you want the right overcoat for capturing the Peaky Blinders’ formidable presence. Look for a heavy, black wool piece with peaked lapels, and a velvet half-collar enhances the classic vintage look. When layering, make sure your overcoat complements the underlying tweed suits.
Footwear to complete the Look
You can’t dress up in Peaky Blinders apparel and let yourself down here with the wrong shoes. You ideally need high ankle boots in dark shades like black or brown, crafted from quality leather or suede, featuring either laces or buckles. Although Oxford Brogues would be passable if needed.
Accessorizing Like a Shelby
Other than accessories like the tie, watch and cap, pocket squares are the final flourish to join the Peaky brotherhood defined by its distinct, sharp dress sense.
Women’s Peaky Attire
We can’t skip out mentioning the lovely Aunty Polly, Ada, Lizzie, Esme, Grace and other women of Peaky Blinders.
Of course the flapper dress is the most Gatsby inspired distinctive 1920s female look, but you can still go tailored tweed skirts and matching blazers to highlight both masculine and feminine qualities. Or pinstripe suits that exude a sharp, sophisticated air.
So there we go, the key to wearing Peaky Blinders clothing is confidence. These classic menswear pieces command attention and respect, much like the characters who popularized them. As we continue to draw inspiration from the past, these garments remind us of the importance of craftsmanship, heritage, and the timeless nature of true style.
