How to Dress Like James Delaney from Taboo

If you’ve watched Taboo you’ll know that the James Delaney inspired look is hard to forget. Tom Hardy plays him with a quiet power that pulls you in from the very first scene. He is no doubt very intimidating but a big part of that impact comes from the way he’s dressed.

A long black coat. A tall black hat. Heavy boots. Dark gloves. That is it. No color, no decoration, nothing flashy. And somehow it is one of the most dominant looks in the past of television. People have been trying to copy the James Delaney outfit ever since the show came out and in this blog, I will show you exactly how to do it.

First, A Little Background on the Show and the Character

Taboo is set in London in 1814. James Delaney comes back from Africa after being gone for over ten years. Everyone thought he was dead. He returns to take over what his late father left behind and almost immediately, powerful people want him gone.

The world he walks into is Dark Victorian menswear, dirty and dangerous. This is not the clean, polite London you might imagine from history books. This is the docks. Mud, fog, crime and money moving through dirty hands. And Delaney fits right into that world not because he blends in but because his presence fills every room he enters.

His costume was designed to match that world. The show’s production team made a clear choice to keep him away from the fancy customized look that other period dramas love. No bright colors, no silk cravats and no polished gentleman energy. Just black, heavy, worn-in clothing that looks like it has been through something.

Why Everything Is Black

This is worth talking about because it is not just a style choice. In 1814 London, wearing all black as a man meant something. It was the color of mourning. It was what priests wore. It was what people on the edges of society wore. Respectable gentlemen of that time actually wore quite a bit of color, brown, navy, dark green and burgundy. All black was unusual and a little unsettling.

Delaney wears it like a statement. He is mourning, dangerous and does not belong to polite society. His clothes say all of that before he opens his mouth. That is why the James Delaney outfit feels so powerful. Every piece of it is doing a job.

The Coat: Start Here

The coat is the most important piece. When people talk about the Taboo Tom Hardy Black Coat, this is what they picture first. And that too for good reason because it is extraordinary.

It is a long, double-breasted overcoat in black wool. It falls below the knee, almost to the ankle. The collar is a wide lapel style that can be worn up against the wind or laid flat. The sleeves are full length with open cuffs. There are side pockets at the waist. The inside has a soft lining. The shoulders are structured and the fit through the chest and torso is close without being tight.

What Goes Under the Coat

The coat gets all the attention but the layers underneath matter a lot. They are what give the outfit its structure when the coat is open.

The Shirt

Delaney wears a slim, dark shirt with a tall collar. In the Regency era, collars mattered; gentlemen usually wore them starched high and done with a cravat. Delaney skips the cravat altogether, which was unusual at the time. To recreate the look, a slim-fit dark shirt with a pointed collar works well. Nothing with logos, embroidery or extra detail. Keep it plain.

The Waistcoat

This is the layer between the shirt and the coat and Delaney actually wears two of them in various combinations throughout the series. They are slim fit and dark. The screen versions were made from rayon and polyester blends.

In that era, waistcoats were one of the few ways men could show a bit of personality. Patterned fabrics, brighter colors and interesting textures were all common choices. Delaney obviously wants none of that. His waistcoats are as dark and plain as everything else.

The Trousers

Straight cut, dark and sitting slightly higher on the waist than what most men wear today. In some scenes, you can spot a drop-front style with laced detailing along the outer calf, a feature common in working-class and military dress around 1814. For a modern take, straight-leg dark trousers with a clean cut work just fine. 

The Accessories: Hat, Boots and Gloves

The Top Hat

This is the next standout piece after the coat. Delaney wears a tall, tapered stovepipe top hat in black felt, with a crown around six inches high. It narrows slightly toward the top and sits on a flat brim, giving it a sharp, unmistakable shape. In 1814 London, this style was standard for men. 

The Boots

Long black captain-style boots that come up to the knee. Round toe, flat sole and no heel. They have a cuffed or slightly buckled top. These are working boots, built for someone who walks on wet docks and rough ground. By 1814, this style of long boot worn over trousers was completely normal street wear in London, especially around the docks and in working-class areas.

The Gloves

Simple black leather gloves that fit tightly on the hands. They are made from soft lambskin leather. There are no buckles, no extra stitching, and no designs. They look plain and clean. 

How to Wear This Look Today Without Looking Like You Are in Costume

I know that most people reading this are not going to a cosplay event. They just like the look and want to bring some version of it into real life. The good news is that this is actually one of the easier periods to modernize because the whole thing is built on basics.

The coat is the one piece worth investing in properly. A long wool overcoat in black or deep charcoal shows the modern version of the look.  For everyday wear, a dark fitted turtleneck works well in place of the traditional shirt and waistcoat. Pair it with slim dark trousers or straight-leg black jeans to keep things clean and balanced.

Finish it off with boots or simple black lace-up leather boots that give the same sharp edge as the original.

The top hat is the one piece that takes real commitment. If you’re going to wear it, wear it with confidence. The rule across all of it is simple. No color, no decorative details and no accessories that call attention to themselves. The Delaney look is about presence, not decoration.

Conclusion

There’s something about James Delaney’s outfit that goes beyond just looking cool on screen. It taps into something many men respond to: the idea of clothing that carries meaning. Every piece has a reason to be there. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is there just to look nice in 19th century men’s fashion style.

The coat is protection. The hat is the authority. The boots are practical. The all-black palette sends a clear message, creating the impression of a man who neither seeks nor needs approval.

FAQs

1. How can I dress like James Delaney from Taboo in everyday life?

Keep it simple: a long black wool coat, slim dark trousers and a simple shirt. 

2. What are the key pieces of the James Delaney outfit?

The important things include a long black coat, a slim dark shirt, a waistcoat, straight-leg trousers, black boots, a black felt hat and fitted black leather gloves.

3. Why is the all-black look so important for this style?

All black shows authority, seriousness and presence.