It is sort of like a Baseball cap with two bills. It has a shorter bill on it and there is a bill on both front and back of the hat. It protects the back of the neck as well as shading the eyes.
It also has two flexible flaps on the sides that can be tied under the chin to cover the ears in cold weather, or tied above the crown to keep them out of the way when not in use. This type of hat is the one that is popularly associated with Sherlock Holmes, although such a hat is never described in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. Holmes was described as one who was always properly dressed in the urban environment of London, so he would have only worn such a hat in rural areas while traveling cross-country.
Well, other than his sidekick Watson, I always associate Sherlock Holmes with having a pipe, magnifying glass, and wearing a deerstalker hat. :)His iconic costume was a deerstalker hat and an Inverness cape, however he was rarely drawn wearing them (By Sidney Paget)
Conan Doyles' hero detective wears a deerstalker.While Holmes wore a Deerstalker in one story, he was equally inclined to top hats and, in disguise, even sailor's caps.*Additional Note: Holmes' so-called "classic look" of the deerstalker cap and Inverness capecoat were strictly for traveling and country wear. The famous deerstalker is even referred to as a "cloth traveling cap." While in London, where Holmes spent most of his time, he carried himself as a gentleman, and could usually be found in a top hat and coat while about town.
Holmes only wore the deerstalker hat on a few occasions in locations that would actually warrant a reason for wearing such attire. While in London, however, he normally wore hats that were more appropriate to the setting (likely top hats), just like any other gentleman would.
Because of the early Sherlock Holmes movies, the hat most commonly associated with him is the "deerstalker".In the stories, the hat is never clearly identified, but it is described in one story as a "close-fitting cloth cap" and in another as "his ear-flapped travelling cap". A deerstalker fits both those descriptions, and would have been a common choice of cap in the setting (in both stories, he's in a rural area and out of doors much of the time).However, the Holmes described in Conan-Doyle's stories would never wear such a hat at all times; it's a hat such as might be worn outdoors in the country, not one that anyone of the era would wear in downtown London. Contemporary illustrators drawing Holmes in the city would usually depict him in a top hat or bowler, both of which would have been considered appropriate urban headgear.
Conan Doyle never specifically refers to Holmes wearing a deerstalker, although in 'Silver Blaze' we are told that he wears an 'ear-flapped travelling-cap'. Sidney Paget, who illustrated the stories for The Strand magazine, interpreted this as a deerstalker, an image which has remained to the present day. ------ In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery,' Conan Doyle wrote that Holmes wore a 'close-fitting cloth cap' that Sidney Paget interpreted as a deerstalker.
A deerstalker is a type of hat. The hat is most recognizable as the hat of Sherlock Holmes, although the hat was typically worn during hunting.
hat
A Trilby hat or Deerstalker hat.
Well, other than his sidekick Watson, I always associate Sherlock Holmes with having a pipe, magnifying glass, and wearing a deerstalker hat. :)His iconic costume was a deerstalker hat and an Inverness cape, however he was rarely drawn wearing them (By Sidney Paget)
Conan Doyles' hero detective wears a deerstalker.While Holmes wore a Deerstalker in one story, he was equally inclined to top hats and, in disguise, even sailor's caps.*Additional Note: Holmes' so-called "classic look" of the deerstalker cap and Inverness capecoat were strictly for traveling and country wear. The famous deerstalker is even referred to as a "cloth traveling cap." While in London, where Holmes spent most of his time, he carried himself as a gentleman, and could usually be found in a top hat and coat while about town.
Holmes only wore the deerstalker hat on a few occasions in locations that would actually warrant a reason for wearing such attire. While in London, however, he normally wore hats that were more appropriate to the setting (likely top hats), just like any other gentleman would.
Because of the early Sherlock Holmes movies, the hat most commonly associated with him is the "deerstalker".In the stories, the hat is never clearly identified, but it is described in one story as a "close-fitting cloth cap" and in another as "his ear-flapped travelling cap". A deerstalker fits both those descriptions, and would have been a common choice of cap in the setting (in both stories, he's in a rural area and out of doors much of the time).However, the Holmes described in Conan-Doyle's stories would never wear such a hat at all times; it's a hat such as might be worn outdoors in the country, not one that anyone of the era would wear in downtown London. Contemporary illustrators drawing Holmes in the city would usually depict him in a top hat or bowler, both of which would have been considered appropriate urban headgear.
Even though Holmes didn't wear one in the stories, the illustrator showed the model wearing a Deerstalker hat.
Conan Doyle never specifically refers to Holmes wearing a deerstalker, although in 'Silver Blaze' we are told that he wears an 'ear-flapped travelling-cap'. Sidney Paget, who illustrated the stories for The Strand magazine, interpreted this as a deerstalker, an image which has remained to the present day. ------ In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery,' Conan Doyle wrote that Holmes wore a 'close-fitting cloth cap' that Sidney Paget interpreted as a deerstalker.
Sherlock Holmes usually wore a collared shirt, a hat that looked some what like a top hat. Deerstalker hat, small top hat, or bowler hat, a hand woven tie, frock coat, trousers, Wellington dress shoes or boots, and, being the gentleman that he was, often seen with a cane or walking stick. The usual standard attire of the Victorian Londoner. Evening wear, top hats, dressing gowns, etc. etc. Sherlock Holmes is most famous for his Inverness (the cape-like coat he wore) and his deerstalker (the hat). The Deerstalker cap and Inverness cape are travelling clothes, and, as such, were only depicted by Sidney Paget when Holmes was travelling. They have since been given disproportional importance by later actors. Please see a limited selection of Sidney Paget drawings linked below.
deerstalker
His coat and a deerstalker.