Quote 1
Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives […].
Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and started for the Temple to see my husband (Scandal.3.28).
This is a tiny excerpt from Irene Adler's letter to Holmes explaining how she has outsmarted him. It's a very small detail, but we were struck by the fact that Adler enjoys cross-dressing for the "freedom which it gives" her. Implicitly, women's clothing is too restrictive for Adler. What gives her this degree of mobility, something that pretty much all other female characters in these stories lack? Her training as an actress. Not only does she have the skills to break out of the social restrictions on women at the time, but she's already a little bit outside of mainstream society thanks to her profession – much like Holmes himself.