Costume designer, Jenny Beavan, has stunned audiences again with her carefully selected fashion statements in Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. Beavan, a graduate of London’s Central School of Art and Design, has already received 8 prior academy award nominations and one award.
Beavan uses eclectic wardrobe choices for Sherlock Holmes, which sets in London around the end of the 19th century. Some of the suits and “get-ups” seem to come from a period much earlier than that of the late 19th century, but other clothing elements such as those masculine elements seen on Actress Rachel McAdams are very Chanel-esque and are therefore 20 years before their time. The attire on the nemesis played by Mark Strong are much more contemporary and borderline modern.

ABOVE: Rachel McAdams seen in very Channel-esque attire even though Chanel wasn’t active for another 20 to 30 years
More formal attire Elements seen throughout the movie are English Riding Jacket (without the horse), Ascots and skinny ties with no collars (or popped collars on Sherlock), pocket watches, and three piece suits. Vests are often adorned with a more baroque lush velvety material in either a dirty yellow, hunter green or lush red. The work attire and general dress of Sherlock himself, is very erratic like the character himself. Purposefully placed in a mysterious attire, Downey sways from the extreme of either very luxurious attire or dressed in rugged “blue collar” worker attire complete with striped shirt and suspenders. His comrade Dr. John Watson, played by Jude Law, is almost always decked out in luxurious 3 piece suits or formal attire complete with cane and skinny ties.

ABOVE: Jude Law is always dressed in Eclectic Formal Attire, note his fiance in a much more modern dress attire than that which would be in Vogue for the time period
I believe Beavan has gotten a lot of her inspiration from some of Dolce and Gabbana’s 2008 line which featured very baroque patterned vests and suits which are very similar to those seen in the film. The difference is Beavan’s color scheme is much more muted with a stronger emphasis on black and white with some bright color touches. Whereas the D&G line had a much stronger emphasis on mixing bright colors with contrasting textures and patterns.

ABOVE: Robert Downey Jr. Sporting an Black overcoat and hunter green “velvety” vest and striped pants similar to that of Dolce and Gabbana 2008 collection
BELOW: Dolce and Gabbana’s Fall 2008 collection ad campaign
