It’s a whole new decade and it’s a really cold January outside (at least, where I am), so Admin and I thought it might be fun to consider some of the very best clothing ensembles worn by Mr. Malahide. Because “best” could mean a lot of things, for our purposes we’ve decided that it will refer to the character trying to look good and succeeding at it, as opposed to merely standing out in a crowd (looking at you, Uncle Ebenezer!) or making some more exotic, outlandish wardrobe choices.
RF: So without further ado, my Best Wardrobe choices are:
Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn
(“The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries“, 1992 – 1994)

Inspector Alleyn: Impeccably attired as always
Alleyn’s the sort of guy who’s always impeccably attired, no matter where he is. His clothes are bespoke tailored, exquisitely selected to flatter him, are coordinated to a T, and he’s always ready for any emergency rain shows with his ever-present brolley. He’s such a gent that he’s never without a hat or pair of gloves, either. And yet, he also exudes understated elegance in his double-breasted pinstripes, waistcoats, and silk ties; he’s not a show-off or a dandy, he just seems to appreciate having the best wardrobe he can afford. He didn’t get the baronetcy – that’s his older brother, George – but just because he’s a working stiff as a Chief Inspector, that doesn’t mean he can’t dress well. And he does. When he takes his jacket off and rolls up his sleeves to get to work – revealing a pair of sleeve garters, because of course he would – he even does that neatly.

Looking resplendent in white tie and tails
For an extra treat, we also got to see Alleyn in white tie and tails (“Death in a White Tie“, appropriately enough) and a tux a couple of times in the course of his investigations, which suited him perfectly. As part of an aristocratic family, Alleyn tends to rub elbows with the gentry quite often; as Inspector Br’er Fox (William Simons) notes, many of Alleyn’s friends are among “that lot”. So it only makes sense that Alleyn would have the appropriate clothes for the occasion. And we found out in “Death at the Bar” that he even brings a tux with him on investigations, just in case he needs it.
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