Sunday, May 04, 2008

Dressing a Detective





So I found this video on the New York Times website this morning. It's about the custom-made suits that New York City police detectives purchase to wear on the job. Most of the information won't come as any surprise if you've read Kiki Strike.

According to the video, the special suits are cut so that detectives can move about freely, whether they're chasing bad guys or throwing punches. They're made a bit wider in order to hide the tools a detective needs on the job--including a gun. A nice suit also demands respect when a detective goes to interview witnesses who wouldn't take him seriously if he were wearing a pair of jeans or khakis.

But what do lady police detectives do? The answers to that question could make a much more interesting video. For instance . . .

Where do they find shoes that look fashionable--but won't slow them down in a chase?

How do they style their hair? (Long hair could be a serious problem in a fight.)

Do they ever wear skirts?

How do they hide their guns without looking lumpy around the middle?

Sports bra or no sports bra? (These questions must be asked!)

Handbag or no handbag?

19 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Haha, you're absolutly right! Your questions is stuck into my head and keeps me awake all night, I'm super confused.

11:24 AM  
Blogger Kirsten Miller said...

Elizz: If you're really a lady police detective, it will make my day.

2:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not a cop, but I am addicted to Numb3rs...

I agree with boots. They always look sharp even with comfy round toes and low, broad heels (1/2 inch). Not too hard to run in, easy to stand in all day.

I'm guessing most of them have short hair anyway, but a french twist has more staying power than a bun (less bouncy) and looks really sharp. Or a single french braid down the back.

Probably only in court?

I don't know, they probably just look slightly lumpy, heh! And use a longer cut suit jacket, just like the men.

No sports bra, shows up too much under a blouse, and they probably don't spend that much time actually pursuing on foot/at a run.

Definitely no handbag, they get cars to store anything they're not carrying right at the moment (lipstick, powder sheets, spare pen, etc.) and have inside pockets and such for their job tools (notebook, cell phone).

2:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those hideously large stylish bags that are the size of Alaska could probably carry a fair amount of detective gear.

3:23 PM  
Blogger Invisible Turtle said...

Handbags are a must. You can use them as lethal weapons! Espcially if you're into rock collecting...

4:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/others/gbook.htm


wow, there's a kiki strike one there, and it's like, ghost white!

4:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

when i go looking for a dangerous murderer in the dead of night i wear sneakers or comfy ballet flats along with black pants and a black t shirt under a black sweatshirt (it gets cold in WY) and a black backpack. i usually bring a pair of gloves in case climbing a pine tree is necessary for escape. oh, and when my hair was longer (i recently got it cut short) i would wear my hair in a pony tail or messy bun. and sports, definetly. they're more comfortable and easy to move around in. i also usually bring a quick change of clothes in ase i need to do a little disguising (?) along with a hat and contacts (i have glasses) to switch up my appearance even more.

chasing murderers: the funnest thing in the whole flippin world. ;)

5:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I did a project earlier in the year about woman in the Civil War, and back then women weren't allowed to pants, so skirts,and corsets were perfect hiding spots for anything, even people (not that I'd want to.) I read an article a while ago in the newspaper about a french spy during WWII who flew into Germany and kept messages in the hem of her skirt.

6:10 PM  
Blogger Kirsten Miller said...

Anonymous: That is SO CUTE!!! I have to include it in the list of Irregular-related stuff.

Spiffy: I'm reading a book about that spy right now!

6:48 PM  
Blogger Kitty said...

XD I wanna wear that outfit! ('cuz I want to be a detective)

7:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous: I'm guessing Kitty made that one. ^^ She links to the site on her blog.

7:31 PM  
Blogger Kitty said...

OMG!! ANONYMOUS, YOU GO ON ORISINAL!?!? OoO I thought almost no one knew that website!

7:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, i read a book (girl in blue) about a chick who goes into the civil war as a boy but then gets caught and has to work for a crazy woman who is said to be a spy and is, she sends out messagees as codes in tapestries (?) she makes. brilliant. ( )
0 0
* what does this newlt invented smiley look like? i cant decide. zombie bunny? half dead horse? i dunno.

9:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm excited. Me and a few of my friends are starting a shopdrop project. All over town we'll shopdrop. Our town is way boring and hopefully this'll liven things up. Who knows? We might even be in the newspaper (anounamously, of course) (yes, our towns news paper prints stuff like that, thats how un newsish our town is)ss chick-your lucky. Our town is BORING!

8:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Boots is a must.
One of those long jackets, that go down to your knee and are still stylish. Plus, they don't make you look a puffy because they are already a bit big. And they can have tons of pockets.
Short hair is good too, unless you are into Rapunzil type stunts.
Black. Easy to blend in and sophisticated.
Sports bra for sure, lot more comfy and easy to excersize in, Plus, w/ a sports bra you can tuck extra gadgets in.
No handbag. Too hard to run with, besides, woman don't really need that much more spy equitment then men-so they can do the same thing men can.

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, I think no handbag for female detectives is OK, as long as they have room for an umbrella in their pockets.
They make excellent weapons, and are incredibly versatile. ^^

9:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's a lady CSI who gives talks at the libraries here and she wears quite boring uniform pants and a vest with a million little pockets that weighs a ton. And a gunbelt that also weighs a ton.

Maybe we should design a line of clothing for the female crimefighter... something in between Emma Peel, the lady X-Men, and a real cop.

2:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

id wear ( for my age, 14 )jeans, my combat boots, a not bright t-shirt, a hoodie, and no hand bag. my hair is short tho

7:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe wearing the exact opposite is most important. That way, no one will see it coming when you wrestle the criminal to the ground.

10:20 PM  

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