WEARSHERLOCK: A blog that revolves around the wardrobe and props department of the BBC show 'Sherlock', featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss.
This blog showcases the clothes and props seen in the show as well as providing links as to where to buy them. We often host Sherlock related giveaways. You can check our current giveaway status here. We are not affiliated with the BBC.
THE ‘SAVE UNDERSHAW’ SHERLOCK COMMUNITY MONTAGE
If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes in any one of his many incarnations then you’ll probably know about The Undershaw Preservation Trust, the trust that is working incredibly hard to keep Arthur Conan Doyle’s home (where he wrote many of the Sherlock stories) from being developed. Their patron is Mark Gatiss (actor who plays Mycroft in the BBC series) and you can watch his touching video about the trust at their site here.
There are many things you can already do to help spread awareness of the cause.
But now, in addition to the trust’s Save Undershaw sign campaign, we here at wearsherlock are adding our voice to help “Save Undershaw” go viral and we need you to add yours!
All that is required for you to enter is to take a photograph of yourself (on webcam, or your phone, or anything that can take a picture!) holding a sign that says “Save Undershaw”. You can take a photo with a group of friends or colleagues, even your pets can join in! Be creative and have fun.
At the end of the project (6th May) all the photos will be put together into a montage and then be sold as a print. If you enter, your face will go down in Sherlock Holmes history! All the profits will go towards the campaign and the future of Undershaw.
There will also be a special prize for one lucky entrant! The Co-Founder of the Trust (Lynn Gale) will select her favourite photograph and the winner will receive a wearsherlock GOODIE BAG!
There are several ways you can submit your photograph. You can:
Please try to include some information about the Trust in your posts to Tumblr and Twitter by perhaps linking to their site/Twitter or by reblogging this post.
That’s it! Get snapping! Please note, we can’t make the montage unless it has at least 100 photographs so please SPREAD THE WORD.
There isn’t long left to save Undershaw, so let’s work together to make it happen!
The pictures in the photoset above show some of the wearsherlock team.
The group images can be found at the Save Undershaw website!
A.J Hall Silver fox head tie stick-pin
As worn by Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall
2g Sterling silver. 5.7cm length. Pin protector.
£9 / $14 Available here at charmmakers.co.uk
Despite the low price, this pin is sterling silver. Click the “sterling silver” link above for more information at the site.
Reiss Abingdon peak lapel suit (Spring/Summer 2011)
As worn by Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall
One button single breast, slanted pocket detail. 70% wool.
£455 / $718 No longer available. New season suits here.
The Kooples coat with stand up collar
As worn by Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall
Wool and Cashmere blend. Leather-piped details. Crested buttons.
£390 / $613 Available here at thekooples.com
In this interesting article published by The Radio Times, Sherlock’s production designer Arwel Wyn Jones talks about some of the key items featured on the set of 221b Baker Street. Wearsherlock have been on the hunt for more information so you too can have a part of 221b in your own house! Click on the set images above to see them in higher resolution.
“The animal skull was purchased online and sprayed a glossy black before it was mounted on the wall. The headphones were a last-minute, spur-of the moment addition.”
If you’re looking for a bison skull, your best bet is skullsunlimited.com which stock a wide range of skulls in all shapes and sizes. Many independent sellers on etsy and eBay also stock skulls and often at a cheaper price. The headphones, by Zumreed are available here in cream.
“A modern alternative to the stiletto always referenced as Holmes’s way of filing the mail, this Leatherman knife actually belonged to Arwel. But because it now has a permanent home on set, he’s had to purchase a replacement.”
We’ve previously posted Sherlock’s Leatherman knife here but it’s interesting to point out that Moriarty opts for the same brand only in a more compact version, his being the Leatherman Squirt P4.
“The skull on the mantelpiece is, of course, a cast, which had to be chiselled out to allow Watson to hide Holmes’s packet of cigarettes inside it in The Hounds of Baskerville.”
Looking for your own (slightly) creepy mantelpiece ornament? Look no further than Amazon.co.uk who stock many replica skulls (click the link for our favourite). If you’d like a real human skull, boneroom.com can help! As previously answered, the cigarettes hidden by Sherlock’s skull were completely brandless, featuring nothing but the typical UK warning label.
For those interested in the frame of beetles and epauletted bat, which is also seen in Sherlock’s bedroom, (take a closer look at a similar frame here), etsy and eBay are once again the best places to look if you want one at a steal. To get an idea of retail pricing try naturepavillion.com. Here’s a frame of beetles from their shop at $94.
“In the artwork on the wall, parts of the skull are painted on different layers of Perspex, creating a sort of 3D effect. Even shot in 2D, the depth created and the weirdness of the effect make for an impressive addition to the set.”
For lovers of 221b’s artwork, our partners in prop hunting sherlockology.com have created a downloadable PDF of the piece here. If you’d like to give it a go yourself, a plain base for the graphic is available here.
“We wanted to blur the edge between laboratory and kitchen, says Arwel, suggesting Holmes would think nothing of boiling the kettle next to an experiment on a severed hand - or heating up beans on a Bunsen burner.”
Want to have your own laboratory kitchen? For all your equipment needs try, alkaliscientific, alphalabs or spectrumchemical. If you’re looking for Sherlock’s book, the exact copy is available here at Amazon where you’ll also find his black pestle and mortar in a range of sizes. We’re still currently searching for Sherlock’s microscope, so if you think you know the model please let us know!
“The magpie seal was inspired by the music playing on Moriarty’s headphones (Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie) as he staged his daring break-ins. It also influenced the winged IOU graffiti on a Baker Street wall.”
Have another listen to The Thieving Magpie here. For those of you who want a better look at the graffiti, here’s a close up. If you’d like to make your own magpie seal, you can create one at customwaxnseals.com
Leatherman Squirt P4 Multi-tool
As owned by Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall
10 in 1 selection of tools. Stainless steel. Grey handles.
£45 / $70 Available here at Amazon.co.uk
Union Jack London Baseball cap
As worn by Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall
Embroidered design. Peak cap.
£5.99 / $9.17 Available here at clicksouvenirs.com
SanDisk Cruzer USB Flash Drive
As thrown into a swimming pool by Moriarty in The Great Game
32GB Capacity. USB 2.0 interface.
£45 / $70 Available here at play.com
A study in Moriarty
Probably the only clothing brand that every single Sherlock fan knows is that of Moriarty’s two piece suit. After John has bravely grabbed the arch-enemy in question to give Sherlock a chance to escape Moriarty announces that his suit is Westwood as he readjusts himself. The Westwood of which he speaks is of course that of Vivienne Westwood.
Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood is known for her sometimes extreme punk and new wave styling but her range also includes some classically smart and sharply tailored designs. Moriarty’s choice is just that - a two button classic. However, often even classic Vivienne Westwood suits feature a skull and crossbone lining.
Cuffs, lapels and buttons
Westwood’s trademark buttons are a dark amber colour with the brand logo engraved into each. The logo features an orb similar to the British crown jewels with a satellite strip circling around it which gives it a punky, modern feel. The jacket is single breasted (one column of buttons) and the bottom button is undone as the general rule with two button suits. When John grabs Moriarty the logo-embellished buttons of his jacket are easily visible.
These personalised buttons also feature on the cuffs of Westwood’s jackets. Two buttons on the sleeve (as compared to the more common four) is usually the case for city suits and Westwood’s classic range. Cuff buttons often serve no other purpose than pure decoration and aren’t functional. Westwood’s buttons are the same. Moriarty’s cuff buttons are visible when he lifts his hands to make his boastful ‘Westwood’ statement (see image).
Moriarty’s lapels are a simple ‘step’ design (called notch lapels in America). They’re quite thin and the mouth of the notch is an average, medium size. Step lapels are sometimes considered to be the smartest but come in a few different styles based on where the collar meets the lapel and what shape it is. Moriarty’s is very high on his lapel as is common for modern suit styles.
The single vented, slim fit jacket features three pockets: two flap pockets and one breast pocket. The British rolled-shoulder design lifts the fabric at his shoulders slightly, giving the effect that he is actually more built than he is. The worsted fabric is a bright navy and is 100% wool. As covered in A Study in Pocket Squares Moriarty wears a simple white square in a clean edge style. Westwood’s current season of the two button classic is available on her website for £600 / $921
Alexander McQueen
As previously posted, Moriarty wears an Alexander McQueen tie featuring a mix of polka dots and trademark McQueen skulls. The tie is 100% silk and he has tied it in a half-Windsor knot. At five centimeters wide his tie is considered a ‘skinny’ tie. Moriarty’s build means skinny ties suit his frame well. The tie complements the rest of his suit as it is a similar width to his lapels. Generally, the wider your lapels, the wider your tie. McQueen’s tie is available in many different colours but Moriarty has opted for a dark navy blue, a classic colour for business. Sarah Arthur (Sherlock’s Costume designer) said about the skull tie: “It just worked - because it had a sinister feel”. McQueen’s ties are currently priced at £90 / $138
Spencer Hart
Moriarty’s shirt is by Saville Row’s Spencer Hart. Hart’s shirts are known for their interesting weaves and fabrics. Moriarty’s shirt is weaved in a Piqué style which makes it stiffer than the other shirts seen in the show and makes an aesthetically pleasing contrast against his silk tie, causing it to stand out more. Spencer Hart is also known for it’s rounded collars which are quite period in their shape and have become a more uncommon collar style in the last decade. However, they will always be a classic in men’s fashion. Spencer Hart shirts are priced around the £150 / $230 mark.
We only see Moriarty twice in The Great Game. The first time we see him he is wearing an outfit to trick Sherlock to think he is a slightly awkward gay guy from the IT department - so not his usual choice of clothing. The second time is at a planned meeting with Sherlock, so i would assume he made an effort to dress appropriately (perhaps to impress?) for the ocassion. His suit ultimately says business; it’s a city suit that he’s personalised to make completely his own. But who knows how he dresses when he’s not intending to blow up consulting detectives and ex-Army doctors - perhaps we shall find out in series 2.
PREVIOUS STUDY: Phones
NEXT STUDY: Mycroft’s umbrella tie
What are pocket squares? When a handkerchief is used as an accessory to a suit it is known as a pocket square. Pocket squares come in every colour and pattern and there are a multitude of ways of folding them. They are always worn in the left breast pocket of a suit. The best fabrics for pocket squares are silk, linen and cotton. Their original use was for wiping the hands or face but since the 1920’s, when pocket squares became the height of fashion, they’ve served no other purpose than a fashion accessory.
Basic pocket square rules: It’s never good to match your pocket square with your tie but have them complement each other instead. A pocket square that picks out a minor or secondary colour in the rest of your outfit is a good choice. Contrasting textures are sure to look great, such as a silk tie and handwoven linen square. Monograms or labels should never show.
Ways of folding a pocket square: When displaying a pocket square on your person it’s best to make it look effortless and by no means perfect. Don’t ever iron a pocket square into shape! The most basic look for a square is a simple clean edge that runs parallel to your pocket. More flamboyant folding methods for example would involve having all four corners of the square protrude from the pocket or having a ‘poof’ (yes, that’s a technical term!) stick out in a curve or point. It all depends on the wearer’s personal preference.
What pocket squares say about their wearer: The confident gentlemen will usually wear a silk pocket square with a more elegant or striking pattern. Thai silk is the best quality fabric for pocket squares. Machine hemmed or irregular stitching says cheap. The finest pocket squares have hand rolled edges and should be in a tight tube. Regular and mostly hidden stitching is a sure sign of a quality square.
And now the most important part of the article!
The part on the actual character’s pocket squares.
1) The Mycroft
Mycroft wears two different pocket squares throughout the first series. The first time we see him he has folded his linen red and white paisley design into a triangular point. It is commonplace to point pocket squares away from the heart but Mycroft’s points towards his. He’s a rule breaker! In The Great Game he is wearing a red Thai silk square which has been folded to show all four corners (one of which hangs down slightly over the lip of his pocket). The red square, blue tie and white shirt combo is very British Government(!). Mycroft’s look is a confident one, using classic fabric but folding flamboyantly shows he has flair under his serious exterior.
2) The Sebastian
Sebastian’s square is my favourite in the whole series. His is an olive green and brown large paisley print that’s been classically folded but shows bulk beneath. It protrudes from his pocket quite a bit and offsets his (also striking) tie brilliantly. His pocket square is a perfect example of Sebastian’s character: showy, proud and confident.
3) The Moriarty
Moriarty’s whole look is classic. He requires no frills. He’s opted for a plain white linen square folded in the basic clean edge style that requires the least amount of effort but often looks the most smart. It’s a common look for business. His square only just shows from his pocket and really makes the skulls on his tie stand out. However, it does also show a lack of personality (and possibly a lack of confidence) and could be described by some as dull, however I can’t imagine Moriarty wearing anything but white.
Whilst writing the article I realised something. Moriarty and Mycroft wear the exact same tie pin (if you click the images to enlarge you’ll see it better). It’s a simple gold bar with a black jewel in the center. Perhaps they share the same tastes when it comes to style. Perhaps the BBC costume department just ran out of ideas!
PREVIOUS STUDY: Mycroft’s pocket watch.
NEXT STUDY: Ties.
Alexander McQueen Navy/Blue Polka-Skull tie.
Worn by Moriarty in The Great Game.
Available in BLACK/ BROWN/ ROSE/ GRAPHITE/ & STONE.
Purchase here at alexandermcqueen.com
£90 / $145
