Want to dress like a girl detective? This post's for you!
The classic girl detective (think Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and the Dana Girls) dresses elegantly but is still age- and occupation-appropriate. Her look is sufficiently polished to impress particularly judgemental suspects, as well as being practical for a spontaneous scramble around the countryside.
The classic girl
detective ‘uniform’ consists of mixing and matching the following pieces:
Tops
Our heroines love wearing pale shirts layered under cardigans and sweaters. They will generally wear any kind of knitted or feminine tops, usually in neutral/pastel colours - but feel free to experiment.
Skirts
High-waisted circle skirts are a favourite for girl detectives, as they're cute, flattering, and practical. They also love pencil skirts, but watch that they're not too constricting (that's where a slight slit can come in handy). The classic detective girl's skirt usually extended to at least just above the knees, but if you prefer your skirts shorter this can modernise and de-frump your look (midi- and maxi-length versions can look great too, though). Don't forget to tuck your top in!
Dresses
Dresses are another great way to get the classic girl detective look. Flaring out at the waist (even if it's only very slight) is often a staple of this look, as is the pencil skirt. The classic girl detective was an early adopter of the Peter Pan collar trend, so wear it with impunity!
Coats
Trenches are obviously famous detective wear, and the classic girl detective would wear these usually with a more feminine twist. She would also wear consider capes, shawls, peacoats, and some boxy jackets. Unless it's the height of summer, no true detective is ever without a coat - how else can they keep secret documents and emergency lockpicks so close by?
‘Sensible’ but pretty
shoes: loafers, Mary Janes, booties and kitten heels of all types. These can be worn with neutral or statement tights, or with socks in summer. (The modern detective girl may decide to make use of the frilly sock trend and pair them with some of the above...)
Accessories
Accessories are very important for the girl detective look, but feel free to only include one or two with any particular outfit if you want to avoid seeming too 'dressed up'. Hats, headbands, scarves, gloves, handbags, classic jewellery and natural make-up are all common features of the classic girl detective's accessorising.
Colouring
Palettes created at www.colourlovers.com/palettes. Any ugliness is my fault entirely
The classic girl detective's palette tends to be beiges, pastels, browns, and jewel-toned reds/blues/greens. They also favour patterns like plaid, checks, and houndstooth. But don't let any of this restrict you - feel free to pair your favourite colour schemes or patterns with the classic silhouettes for a funky take on the look.
(By the way, I apologise for the incredibly ugly palettes above. Working with colour is not a strength of mine, sadly.)
Image from www.bookfever.com/new_offerings
This is a mere overview of classic girl detective wear! You can create a whole wardrobe inspired by it, or take bits and pieces and adapt them for your style. Good luck on your personal fashion journey and keep looking back to find more tips on girl detective style!
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