So you want to dress like...Sherlock Holmes & John Watson

I've been told that I watch too much TV. This is a fact that I will happily admit to. I also have somewhat of a bad habit of watching too many movies. In this day and age when movie tickets are $10 at best, I still spend my hard earned money gazing at the beloved silver screen. Oh, I know I'm not the only one.

Now, one of the biggest conventions in modern TV and cinema is the detective story. Today, I'm posting about not just any particular detective story, but one that is very dear to many out there - Sherlock Holmes.

I would hope, dear readers, that you are more than familiar with the characters of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from the lovely Sherlock Holmes stories penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I hope that you are also familiar with the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and the Jude Law. In addition to this new take on Sherlock Holmes, there is a modern retelling of the story which stars two (virtually) unknown British actors - Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. I suspect Martin Freeman will soon be a household name, however, as he is now Bilbo Baggins in the new Hobbit movie!

I digress. If you haven't seen the new Sherlock Holmes movie (A Game of Shadows) that came out around Christmas and (even more likely) haven't seen the TV show put out by the BBC, then you're in for an amazing treat today. The outfits I've put together for this post are inspirational collaborations which draw in key elements from the new movie and the BBC series. Let's get started!

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

This movie is all about travel and gypsies and catching Moriarty...and Watson's honeymoon. Without giving too much of the plot away (as I have been known to be a bit spoiler crazy), Holmes and Watson spend a significant amount of their time traveling with a group of gypsies across Europe.

Above, we can see our heroes in the wardrobes which they wear for pretty much the entire movie. Not too much variation here. For my Holmes-inspired outfit, I've made the scarf he's wearing the focal point of the set. It's entirely bohemian and has so much variation in color. A great accessory to base an outfit on!

For Watson, I went a similar route. Whether or not this is because I'm obsessed with scarves is besides the point. It's also winter right now, and a scarf is an essential part of bundling up in the cold.

Here, we can see said trademark scarf which Watson wears for most of the movie.

Now for what I came up with...

For Holmes:

Shirt; Skirt; Scarf; Tights; Socks; Boots; Cuff

Miraculously, I was able to find a scarf that strongly resembled Holmes' own from the movie. This look combines high fashion accents (like neutrals) with bohemian touches (the boots, scarf, skirt).

For Watson:

Sweater; Top; Trousers; Blazer; Booties; Scarf

I haven't put a flashy accessory in the Watson-inspired outfit as he is a former military man who dresses in neutrals and military-style jackets. You can see that the blazer is tailored with a high neck. This is the military touch in the outfit. The booties are my "gypsy touch" in this set, and you can see the look-a-like scarf which ties the whole look together in colors that just happen to end up matching. Very bohemian.

Sherlock (BBC Series)

This series has only produced six episodes to date. It's a sort of miniseries if you prefer to think of it that way. It stars Benedict Cumerbatch (War Horse; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Office - UK; The Hobbit) as his trusty doctor sidekick John Watson. These are modern retellings of the books with Holmes not being so bohemian any more, but more "designer label" driven. There is quite a bit of discussion in fan circles if the man wears Armani or Dolce and Gabbana. Watson has maintained his "everyman" look - wearing only simple shirts, sweaters, jackets, and trousers.

Above is pretty much the staple clothing choices for our boys. As you can see, John looks a bit more practically dressed whereas Holmes is wearing a suit, pressed pants, and dress shoes. The blue scarf and the coat (complete with red button hole at the collar) are staples of his character.

For Sherlock:

Blazer; Top; Trousers; Shoes; Earrings; Ring; Scarf; Coat; Socks

This look started with the shoes. I wanted a piece that would tie the original Sherlock Holmes to this modern adaptation. Oxfords were the solution. Sherlock wears neutrals in the series, with small pops of jewel toned color. His shirts are usually a rich scarlet or deep purple. I tried to bring that in with the shirt and the earrings. It goes without saying that the coat and scarf are a must. The signature look cannot be complete without them.

For John:

Jacket; Sweater; Shirt; Skirt; Boots

I again went with the "less is more" approach with my John-inspired look. John is nothing but practical - the complete opposite of his colleague who is nothing but flashy. One of John's staple looks in the series is also his cable knit sweater. There are also occasions where he is seen wearing generous amounts of plaid. I've combined these two looks into one fashionable statement that has just enough color to pop.

It was undoubtedly interesting to warp menswear into something fashionable and functional for women. Next time, I would love to do a menswear (for men!) post. If you are a man and a reader of my blog, please feel free to comment or send me and e-mail about what you would like to see! I'm always open to ideas!

Until next time.

~ they seek her there