Detective Costumes

Q: Can I build a detective costume from everyday clothes?

Yes — a dark suit, waistcoat, or trench coat from your wardrobe plus a deerstalker hat and magnifying glass prop creates an instantly recognisable detective. Browse our accessory and prop range for the finishing pieces.

Q: Are detective costumes suitable for girls?

Absolutely — Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, Flavia de Luce, and dozens of modern picture-book heroines are all investigators. The Victorian sleuth look works equally well for boys and girls.

Mens Victorian Detective Costume - Houndstooth Coat & Deerstalker Hat Set

Regular price$65.99

Kids Detective Costume - Victorian Sleuth Coat & Deerstalker Hat Set

Regular price$43.99

Kids Police Officer Costume Set - Navy Blue Cop Shirt & Cap

Regular price$32.99

Adult Victorian Detective Prop - Classic Costume Accessory

Regular price$14.29

Adult Toy Handcuffs Costume Accessory - Grey Plastic Prop Set

Regular price$10.99

Kids and Adults Inflatable Detective Mouse Costume - Yellow Electric Rodent Suit

$60.50

Kids Fred Jones Costume - Scooby-Doo Mystery Detective Outfit

Regular price$63.67

Sherlock Detective & 1920s Gentleman Costume Accessories Kit

Regular price$21.99

Sold out

Kids Victorian Newsboy Cap - Grey Herringbone Flat Cap Costume Accessory

Regular price$16.49

Detective Costumes for Kids — Mystery Solvers for Book Week

Detective costumes are a brilliant Book Week choice — mysterious, cerebral, and tied to a huge range of well-loved children's books. From classic Victorian sleuths in houndstooth coats and deerstalker hats to modern mystery-solving kids and cartoon detectives, the genre spans picture books, chapter books, and long-running series that Aussie kids devour. Best of all, a great detective costume doesn't require any licensed IP — the look itself tells the story.

Our detective costume range includes Victorian sleuth sets (kids and adults), detective prop accessories, newsboy caps, and mystery-themed costume kits. Whether your child wants to be a sharp-eyed Victorian investigator, a trench-coated secret agent, or a cartoon-inspired mystery solver, you'll find it here.

Detective Costume Styles in Our Range

Victorian Sleuth Sets — houndstooth or tweed coat with deerstalker hat, the iconic detective silhouette. Available in kids and adult sizes. Works perfectly for Sherlock Holmes-inspired characters and any Victorian mystery story.
Mystery Investigator Accessories — magnifying glass props, vintage detective kits, and prop accessories to build a detective look from everyday clothes.
Newsboy Cap — the classic Victorian street-detective cap, great on its own over a waistcoat and dress shirt.
Mystery Character Costumes — specific storybook detective characters, including cartoon mystery-solver outfits and classic detective disguise sets.
Police & Inspector Costumes — for kids who want the law-enforcement angle on the detective theme, complete police officer sets work perfectly.

Tips for Choosing a Detective Costume for Book Week

Pick your detective. The detective costume category has enormous book tie-in options — Sherlock Holmes (countless adaptations), Encyclopedia Brown, Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, The Westing Game, Agatha Raisin Junior, Dog Man (Petey the Cat as detective), and dozens of picture-book investigators. Know your character before parade day.
The hat does most of the work. A deerstalker hat or newsboy cap instantly reads "Victorian detective." Pair it with a magnifying glass prop and a dark trench coat or waistcoat and you have a complete look without a full costume set.
Build it from what you have. Our accessory range lets you create a detective look around clothes your child already owns. A magnifying glass, hat, and detective prop kit can transform a plain dark outfit into parade gold.

Frequently Asked Questions — Detective Costumes

What detective books are good for Book Week?

Many great options — Sherlock Holmes adaptations for children, the Encyclopedia Brown series, Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Theodore Boone, Dog Man (Inspector dog theme), and countless picture books featuring mystery-solving characters. Your school will accept any detective from a published book.

Can I build a detective costume from everyday clothes?

Yes — this is one of the easiest costumes to DIY around a purchased accessory. A dark suit, waistcoat, or trench coat from your wardrobe plus a deerstalker hat and magnifying glass prop creates an instantly recognisable detective. Browse our accessory and prop range for the finishing pieces.

Are detective costumes suitable for girls?

Absolutely — and there are excellent female detective characters to tie them to. Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, Flavia de Luce, and dozens of modern picture-book heroines are all investigators. The Victorian sleuth look works equally well for boys and girls.

How fast can I get a detective costume delivered?

We ship from our Melbourne warehouse with standard delivery reaching most Australian metro areas in 3–5 business days, and express delivery available for next-business-day arrival. Order before 2 pm AEST on a business day for same-day dispatch.