You would think that after five years of dating, Robert Pattinson would know exactly how to style himself. But, here we are: Just a few months ago, we witnessed the heartbreaking spectacle of the “Beauty and the Beast” star visiting a haberdashery in tears, after his ensemble was ravaged by a ferocious hog. So, how should a 21st century vampire slayer dress himself when the hunt is on? Is there a particular style that suits him best? We set out to find out.

The Outfit: A Modern Take on the Classic Sherlock Holmes

Let’s be frank: Even if you’re not into Sherlock Holmes or vampires, the Robert Pattinson look is pretty hard to resist. Arguably one of the most intriguing movie characters of the 20th century, Sherlock Holmes is famous for his iconic dress code: The deerstalker cap, the overcoat, the deerstalker boots. In fact, the iconic Holmes look was first described by Sherlock Holmes’ biographer, Sidney Lanfield, who wrote: “a tall, thin, cadaverous man, clad in a deerstalker hat, a deerstalker overcoat, and deerstalker boots.”

Those who have seen the 2010 Sherlock Holmes film will certainly know exactly what type of outfit Lanfield had in mind. Even if you’ve never read a single word written by Sherlock Holmes, you will instantly recognize the style. As it happens, Robert Pattinson channels his inner Sherlock Holmes when he wears this particular style. And that’s what makes it perfect for him.

It’s not often that we get to witness real-life detective work at its finest. Few things are more enthralling than watching a brilliant mind put all its experience to good use. It’s an unparalleled feeling to see an analytical thinker step outside of their comfort zone and into the unknown, looking for answers. This is exactly what we get to do when watching Robert Pattinson’s detective dramas. It would be wonderful to dress in the way that the movies demand and channel Conan Doyle himself.

Which Style Should You Choose?

Now that we’ve established a historical connection between Robert Pattinson and Sherlock Holmes, let’s take a quick gander at the various styles that you, as a 21st century gentleman, might put your hands on. As we mentioned, it’s not that easy to dress like Sherlock Holmes, even if you’ve read all of his stories and seen all of the movies. The outfit itself is very unique and specific to the character. There are, however, a few pieces of equipment and accessories that you can swap out to give yourself a more modern spin on the Classic Sherlock Holmes look. When it comes down to it, we are dealing with a timeless archetype here, so anything goes!

The Deerstalker Boots

It’s rare that we get to see Sherlock Holmes without his deerstalker cap or overcoat, but sometimes it happens. A surprising number of Holmes’ appearances are staged in the country, where the great detective’s favorite weapon, the deerstalker, is at its best. It’s a marvelous sight to behold – a modern day Sherlock Holmes, clad in the distinctive outfit, walking the earth. It is therefore only natural that you, as a 21st century gentleman, would want to borrow pieces from this classic look. The best way to do this is via the use of the deerstalker boot. There is an excellent selection of deerstalker boots available today that you can use to create your very own version of the famous detective.

The Overcoat

On the subject of overcoats, we run into a bit of a pickle. While the deerstalker cap and the overcoat are two indispensable elements of Sherlock Holmes’ look, the overcoat takes a bit of artistic interpretation to pull off. It’s very difficult to achieve the proper silhouette with a coat that’s not cut in the right way. This is something that Sherlock Holmes would understand, as he loved to comment on the artistry of tailors and clothiers. Despite this, it’s still very much within the realm of possibility to dress in the style of Sherlock Holmes without the use of a proper overcoat.

The Bowler Hat

It’s rare that we get to see Sherlock Holmes without his deerstalker cap or overcoat, but sometimes it happens. A surprising number of Holmes’ appearances are staged in the country, where the great detective’s favorite weapon, the deerstalker, is at its best. It’s a marvelous sight to behold – a modern day Sherlock Holmes, clad in the distinctive outfit, walking the earth. It is therefore only natural that you, as a 21st century gentleman, would want to borrow pieces from this classic look. One of the best ways to do this is via the use of the bowler hat. This is an excellent piece of headwear that you can use to create your very own version of the famous detective.

The Re-Creation Of Sherlock Holmes

We know that Sherlock Holmes is not just one individual, but rather a collection of individuals who share a collective genius. This collection of geniuses come together to create the singular entity known as Sherlock Holmes. Despite this, there is still something singular about one man’s brilliance – something that makes it possible for us to look at his outfit and know that this is indeed Sherlock Holmes. This of course can only be achieved through the use of fashion, as much as science. If you’re fortunate enough to pull this off, it will undoubtedly make you the envy of the neighborhood.

Through the use of contemporary fashion, it is possible to re-create Sherlock Holmes, as he was originally envisioned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Of course, much like in the stories, the clothing itself must be unique and specific to the character, but it’s a wonderful starting point for any aspiring detective.

The Smoking Equipment

Finally, we arrive at the most important part of our Sherlock Holmes ensemble: the smoking equipment. Aside from the deerstalker cap, the overcoat, the bowler hat, and the boots, the smoking equipment is what really makes you a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Even if you have other items of clothing that you intend to borrow from this classic look, the ability to puff on a pipe is what sets you apart from the rest. It is therefore only natural that you, as a 21st century gentleman, would want to replicate this iconic bit of Sherlock Holmes’ equipment. Of course, you don’t need to use real tobacco to simulate the experience. You can use herbal blends or even ground fruit pits to get that classic Sherlock Holmes flavor. With enough practice, you will undoubtedly be able to feel the thrill of discovery as you put your detective skills to the test. And when the test is over, you can go back to being yourself. Your normal, everyday, Joe Schmuck: the kind of guy who gets picked up by the police on a regular basis and ends up in court for the sake of justice.

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to put together a stylish outfit that embodies everything that is Sherlock Holmes. Of course, we couldn’t talk about this iconic character without mentioning the fact that he is a proud vegetarian. Now, more than ever, we get to witness a character who stands for truth, justice, and the humane treatment of animals. Should vegetables and fruits be considered part of the animal kingdom? We leave this as an exercise for the reader.