The Thomas Shelby Suit Formula

 

Dress Like Thomas Shelby: Your Ultimate Guide to Peaky Blinders Style

The Peaky Blinders phenomenon has turned Birmingham's razor-capped gangsters into global style icons, but no one embodies the look quite like Thomas Shelby. Cillian Murphy's portrayal of the calculating war hero-turned-crime boss created a blueprint for sharp, era-defying menswear that blends 1920s working-class grit with Savile Row precision. This ultimate guide breaks down how to dress like Thomas Shelby through the decade, from post-war austerity to Jazz Age opulence.

                                           

The Core Principles of Peaky Blinders
Style - How to Get the Look

Thomas Shelby outfits revolve around three pillars:

1. Impeccable tailoring – Everything must fit like it was stitched onto your body
2. Monochromatic menace – Black, grey, and navy create psychological dominance
3. Working-class roots – Newsboy caps and heavy boots ground the luxury

"By order of the Peaky Blinders, your suit better be sharper than your razor blades."

The Tailored Wardrobe of Thomas Shelby: Season-by-Season Evolution

Season 1-2 (1919-1922): Post-War Austerity

• Three-piece tweed suit in charcoal herringbone (wool-heavy for Birmingham winters)
• Detachable collar shirts in white or pale blue – starched to knife-edge sharpness
• Black wool overcoat with peak lapels, reaching mid-calf
• Newsboy cap tilted precisely 15 degrees (the Shelby signature)

Pro tip: Source vintage-inspired tweed from British mills like Harris or Abraham Moon for authentic texture.

Season 3-4 (1924-1926): Rising Power

This is peak Thomas Shelby outfits territory:

• Navy chalkstripe three-piece suits – the power move that screams "I'm legitimate now"
• Double-breasted waistcoats buttoned high to elongate the torso
• Pocket watches on Albert chains (gold for daytime meetings, silver for evening)
• Black Chelsea boots polished to mirror shine

Season 5-6 (1929-1930s): Pre-Depression Opulence

• Midnight blue dinner suits with silk shawl lapels
• White tie ensembles for political functions (yes, Tommy cleans up that well)
• Fur-collared overcoats in camel or charcoal cashmere

15 Thomas (Tommy) Shelby-Inspired Outfit Ideas

• The Garrison Pub – Charcoal tweed three-piece, white grandad collar shirt, black tie, newsboy cap
• Racecourse Power Play – Navy pinstripe suit, double-breasted waistcoat, pocket square folded presidential
• London Business – Black three-piece with peak lapels, white contrast collar, gold tie pin
• Winter Shelby – Heavy grey herringbone overcoat, black leather gloves, wool newsboy cap
• Wedding Guest – Morning coat in grey, striped trousers, silk top hat (channel Season 6 grace)
• Undercover – Flat cap, donkey jacket, heavy boots (for when you need to blend with the workers)
• Political Campaign – Navy three-piece, white shirt, conservative tie, polished oxblood brogues
• Derby Day – Light grey summer suit, boater hat, two-tone spectator shoes
• Night at the Opera – Black tie with shawl collar, patent oxfords, silk scarf
• Factory Visit – Tweed jacket, high-waisted trousers, braces visible (working-class credibility)
• Christmas at Arrow House – Velvet smoking jacket, silk pajamas (for domestic authority)
• Irish Countryside – Donegal tweed suit, wellington boots, wax jacket
• Parliament – Charcoal morning coat, grey top hat, diplomatic gravitas
• The Early Days – Simple black waistcoat, white shirt sleeves rolled, flat cap
• Final Stand – All-black three-piece, blood-red tie (symbolic foreshadowing)

Shirts & Accessories

• Detachable collar shirts: Darcy Clothing (authentic 1920s patterns)
• Newsboy caps: Christys London (official Peaky supplier)
• Pocket watches: Vintage Omega or modern Shinola reproductions

Footwear

• Chelsea boots: Grenson or Church's (handmade in Northampton)
• Brogues: Crockett & Jones for authentic pebble grain leather

The Thomas Shelby Grooming Regiment

• Hair: Side-parted undercut, slicked with pomade (Layrite or Uppercut Deluxe)
• Facial hair: Clean-shaven or precisely trimmed mustache
• Fragrance: Tobacco-heavy scents like Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
• Cigarette: Unfiltered (for photos only – health comes first)

How to Dress Like Thomas Shelby Through the Decade: 2020s Adaptation

The beauty of Peaky Blinders style - how to get the look in 2025? It's evolved:

• Modern fabrics: Merino wool suits that travel without creasing
• Sustainable tweed: From mills using renewable energy
• Sneaker hybrids: Common Projects makes brogue-detailed trainers for casual days
• Smart casual Shelby: Unstructured tweed blazer with dark denim (for when you can't wear the full three-piece to the office)

The Psychology of Dressing Like Thomas Shelby

Every element serves the character:

• High armholes = unrestricted movement for... negotiations
• Peak lapels = broaden shoulders, project authority
• Newsboy cap = hides expressions during poker games
• Monochrome palette = eliminates visual distraction

"Dress like you're already the most dangerous man in the room. The clothes just confirm what everyone already suspects."

Final Order of the Peaky Blinders

Start with one perfect three-piece tweed suit in charcoal. Master the tilt of your newsboy cap. Walk like you own every street you step on. The rest – the Garrison swagger, the calculated stare, the whispered "By order of..." – comes naturally when the tailoring fits your ambition.

Dress like Thomas Shelby isn't about costume. It's about transformation. The suit doesn't make the man, but by God, it announces him before he speaks.

By order of the Peaky Blinders: Your wardrobe upgrade starts now.