Peaky Blinders is one of our favorite shows on BBC, following a gangster crime family in Birmingham during the early 1920s. While we love the action, business, and total badassery of this gang, we’re loving their costumes even more. Although almost every season has had a new costume designer, each and every one of them has absolutely killed it. We’d like to thank Stephanie Collie, Lorna Marie Mugan, Alexandra Caulfield, and Alison McCosh for their keen and brilliant eye. So, without further ado, here are 10 hidden details you might never have noticed about the costumes of this hit show.
Tommy Never Wears Color
While it’s pretty normal for the Shelby men to rock the monochrome aesthetic, you might find Arthur or John wearing a colored tie or shirt, but it’s quite unlikely you’ll find Tommy doing so. In reality, many people donned some pretty vibrant colors in this era, but the black and white look definitely reflects Tommy’s dark character. These dark and basic colors also nod toward the not-quite-upper-class, not-quite-lower-class status of these men. Their fancy suits are pretty luxurious, but they’re not about to wear those bright colors like the rich folk.
Their Suits are Half-Business, Half-Gangster
While the Shelbys clearly dress more upper-class than most of the other citizens in Birmingham, you might not have noticed that they also don’t exactly blend in with the traditional upper-class. The Shelby boys are usually seen wearing heavier, wool suits with single cuffs and detachable collars. They’re riding in the middle between upper-class and lower-class, which is more than on purpose to demonstrate their business qualities and their separation from regular upper-class folk. They’re treading that middle ground, but they’re still doing it in style.
The Working-Man’s Tweed Cap
Again, while Tommy is working towards being a member of the upper-class, Tommy also tries to blend in and remain a trusted member of all the citizens, especially the lower class. The tweed cap was known as the working man’s cap, once again demonstrating their middle-ground lives in Birmingham. These boys are definitely not just white-collar, but they have a little blue-collar going on, too.
The Detachable Collars
We’re not exactly sure why this is, but this detachable-collar look definitely makes these men stand out. If you’re trying to replicate the Shelby boys’ suits, you can’t just buy a regular old dress shirt from any store. These shirts are rare and are totally fitting to their era and class in society. These collars make them stand out from the other folks in Britain, and we’re not going to question them for it. Also, they’re pretty spiff.
Tommy’s Mix of Fabrics
We all know and love Tommy’s infamous trench coat. His overcoats are usually heavy wool cloth with a black velvet collar, which, is pretty handsome, but he also usually wears this coat over a tweed suit. You may not have noticed it before, but this is a pretty strange mix of fabrics. However, this is another reflection of Shelby’s place in society; an underground gangster with no real class placement. This less than traditional choice of outfit is on purpose and sets Tommy apart from his fellow rich and poor folk. Tommy walks the line, and he walks it hard.
Only Arthur Wears a Bow Tie
This is another pretty small detail, but Arthur is really the only Shelby brother to ever be seen wearing a bow tie. During this time in Britain, the head of the family would likely be the one to wear a bow tie. When we’re first introduced to the Shelby brothers, of course, this fact would lead us to believe that Arthur, also the eldest, would be the leader. At first, we’re not aware that the younger brother, Tommy, is actually the leader of their gang and of their family. This misdirection is clever, and also historically accurate. Well played.
Their Pocket Watches Are Gold, Not Silver
We’re all familiar with the famous pocket watches that all of the Shelby men wear, and you’re unlikely to ever see Tommy without that golden chain sticking out of his pocket. What you might not know is that golden watches are quite a statement of money and class. Alternatively, cheaper watches were nickel-plated, and would thus be silver. This is another flaunt of the Shelbys trying to keep their whole high-class business vibe going.
Polly’s Suits and Scarves
Polly’s outfits are one of our favorite things about Peaky Blinders, and she slays pretty much everything she wears. However, while most women in this era—and all of the other women in this show—wear fancy dresses, Polly can be seen wearing a fancy suit to business meetings. To top it all off, Polly loves her silk scarves. These two fashion pieces are a huge sign of luxury, money, and class. If a woman is wearing a silk scarf or a suit, you know she’s a big deal. Honestly, we’ll never mess with Polly if she’s wearing either of these things.
The Lace-Up, Working-Class Boots
Working-class men typically wore lace-up leather boots, in either black or brown, with a thick sole and a cap toe. While gentlemen—mostly richer folk,—would wear classier and sleeker boots. Unless Tommy is in a classy business meeting, you’ll probably see all of the Shelby boys wearing these boots of the working man. We mean, they’re usually doing some grunt work, right?
All The Fur Coats
Polly is almost always donning a fur coat, and it’s actually pretty common for Ada to be wearing one, too. If you’ve been paying really close attention, the only other female to be seen regularly wearing one of these furry coats is May, the rich horse trainer. D
uring the 20s in Britain, fur coats were really hard to come by, and were only worn by the rich. If you’ve also noticed, Polly and Ada are usually only wearing these coats when they’re ready for business. While they’re also super stunning, this costume choice definitely wasn’t an accident, and we’re loving every single ounce of effort that went into these stellar outfits.