23 suave essentials to help you live like Bond, James Bond
Sixty years on screen and still the blueprint, James Bond may have changed as a character but his style has not. Check our guide to fall in step with the way 007 himself lives and dresses.
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For better and worse, Ian Fleming was an awful lot like his fictional creation James Bond. The author spent hours each day boozing, womanising and taking dips in the ocean. First debuting in the novel Casino Royale in 1953, Fleming’s international super-spy was to become a bastion of masculinity for many, as well as one of the most famous fictional characters of all time.
Sixty years have passed since Sean Connery debuted the gentleman spy on screen for the first Eon-produced Bond film: Dr. No in 1962. Still one of the best James Bond movies, it had everything a James Bond film should: a hospitable villain with a beautiful lair, a statuesque beauty as a sidekick, a car chase, some cheesy one-liners and the ever-present threat of nuclear destruction.
The fundamentals of masculinity, and how they present in 007, have changed almost beyond their original mould since then. But no matter how modern Bond becomes, he never strays far from his mid-century love of beauty: in his cars, his cocktails, his women and his clothes. Show someone only his Aston Martin and the cut of his shirt, and they’d be able to identify their owner. That’s because, above all else, James Bond is about style. Here, we honour 60 years of 007's on-screen adventures with the pieces that can bring the dangerous allure of one of the world’s most beloved and admired characters into your life.
1/23Sunspel Cotton Polo Shirt
Bond doesn’t only opt for Tom Ford and Bruno Cucinelli: he’ll also sneak in great basics whose quality belies their price tag. The best example is this Sunspel Riviera polo shirt, which was tailored to Daniel Craig in his debut performance as 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale. You’ll recall Bond wearing his on the beach in the Bahamas, though it could just as easily translate to colder climes, or for a rainy day in the city. £125. At sunspel.com & endclothing.com
2/23Richard Brendan Martini Glasses
Though we very rarely see Bond at home, there can be little doubt he was drinking martinis there too. Once yours have been shaken over ice (not too much so as to avoid any shards), pour your drinks into these mouth-blown crystal Richard Brendan glasses, which are crafted in an ideal shape favoured by turn of the century bartenders. £80 for two. At fortnumandmason.com
3/23Turnbull & Asser Dress Shirt
George Lazenby may have worn a ruffle-fronted dinner shirt in his only appearance as James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but like every one of the Bonds that preceded and followed him, he also donned a pin-sharp version of the pressed white shirt. Choose Turnbull & Asser for the most genuine collar and fit, and to ensure your buttons are never-loosening mother-of-pearl. £325. At turnbullandasser.co.uk
4/23Orlebar Brown Swim Shorts
When considering James Bond and swimwear, your mind may immediately range to the little blue trunks featured in Casino Royale, but their appearance here was actually a throwback. Aficionados will know that Sean Connery first wore a pair in From Russia With Love, before going back to them in Goldfinger and Thunderball. If this tells you anything, it’s that short blue trunks have been a gentleman spy’s go-to for more than a generation. £195. At mrporter.com & orlebarbrown.com
5/23Floris London No. 89 Aftershave
For better or worse, there are many things that connected Ian Fleming with his character James Bond, one of the most timeless is their shared choice of perfumer. The 007 franchise may well have reached sixty, but the Floris scent favoured by Fleming and namechecked in several Bond books is much older, having first been crafted in the 18th century. Sandalwood, cedarwood, bergamot and top notes of orange and nutmeg make up the concoction to the perfect English gentleman’s fragrance. £80. At johnlewis.com, amazon.co.uk & florislondon.com
6/23Reiss Poker Tuxedo Jacket
No piece is as identifiably Bond as a black tuxedo. 007 himself certainly went for Savile Row tailoring and the costliest of ateliers, but there are plenty of options that do the job beautifully. This Reiss option is timeless, sharp and primed to make the object of your desire swoon. £328. At reiss.com
7/23Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 first became Bond’s vehicle of choice in Goldfinger, and it's still considered by many tto be one of the most beautiful cars of all time. The original DB5 model driven by Sean Connery in 1964 is still in production in both convertible and non-convertible iterations. Alas, an ‘eject passenger seat’ function is still not included. POA. astonmartin.com
8/23N.Peal Combat Trousers
Cargo pants are extremely popular once again, particularly paired with sneakers and baby tees, but there is a more refined way to wear them. N. Peal’s combat trousers have zipped side pockets, an extra pocket to the leg and belt to draw in the waist. Worn with matching braces in No Time To Die, for day-to-day these look perfect with a form-fitting henley or a cream cable knit jumper. £245. At npeal.com
9/23Gucci Horsebit Loafers
Sir. Roger Moore may not have been everybody’s favourite Bond, but those that loved him loved him unconditionally. We’re in the camp of admirers since Moore's 077 was perhaps the most stylish Bond of all. James Bond had never worn horsebit loafers before Moore’s dandyish representation slipped them on in his second turn as the spy for The Man With The Golden Gun. Naturally, they were Gucci, which is also the brand you should choose in order to ensure maximum longevity. £655. At gucci.com & mr.porter.com
10/23Omega Seamaster Diver 300
Bond first wore the Omega Seamaster in 1995’s Golden-Eye and he hasn’t been without one since. In the time that has passed since that explosive debut, only two actors have played 007 — Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — but there have been as many Omega Seamasters as there have been films: nine. This effort from No Time To Die, features brown accents on the bevel, a titanium Milanese bracelet and a slightly slimmer design than its predecessor. In designing it so, Omega has delivered a timepiece with masculine style and genuine military detail. £7,500. At omegawatches.com & goldsmiths.co.uk
11/23Sock Exchange Martini Socks
Of all the endless JB merchandise available to Bond fans, these socks may well be the only product the man himself would actually wear. As 007 has proven time and time again, suaveness and a little barefaced cheek can absolutely go hand in hand. Wearing one’s favourite beverage on your handlinked socks is just the kind of thing someone who likes to pun after punching might do. £12. At thelondonsockexchange.net
12/23Montblanc Meisterstück Fountain Pen
It may be impossible to cut about with a poison dart 'pen', but that isn’t to say you can’t write with something so well-made it would impress even the jaded Q. Among the Montblanc Meisterstuck fountain pen’s many special features are its 18-carat gold-plated nib and fine resin body. An iteration of the Meisterstuck model was actually used by Roger Moore in Octopussy, and while this one won’t melt the bars of your prison cell, it will lend a certain elan to your writing. £875. At harrods.com
13/23Billy Reid Bond Pea Coat
A personal favourite of Daniel Craig that found its way into Skyfall through the actor’s own suggestion, Billy Reid’s classic peacoat in navy has been a menswear classic since it was first designed in 2001. The fact that it is named ‘Bond’ is pure coincidence: the piece is actually named for the home of the designer in the UK, which is on the exclusive Bond Street. Like a trench, a peacoat is an outerwear classic that, if treated well, will last a lifetime and beyond. Invest and reap the style rewards. $698. At billyreid.com
14/23Orlebar Brown Towelling Polo
Orlebar Brown is one of the world’s most identifiably ‘Bond’ swimwear brands, and that also includes products outside of the trunk category. The towelling polo shirt shown here references the terry playsuit worn by Sean Connery during the filming of Goldfinger, and while a romper in this same material would certainly be welcomed, a nod via polo shirt is a more wearable homage. £145. At farfetch.com
15/23Triumph Motorcycle
Want to imply dangerous allure without any of the actual implications of fastening a holster under a tailored suit? Then saddle up on a Triumph bike. From For Your Eyes Only to Tomorrow Never Dies and Skyfall, Bond has evaded capture and chased bad guys on a motorcycle many a time, but the Triumph bike is the most believable model he’s ever ridden. It is, after all, of British design. To ride something with super-spying in mind, look into the Triumph Scrambler 1200 edition, which was created in collaboration with the Bond production team for No Time To Die. POA. At triumph.co.uk
16/23Lillet Blanc
Everyone knows that Bond prefers his martinis shaken rather than stirred, but mega-fans of Casino Royale will also be able to tell you the actual recipe. Daniel Craig’s Bond sparks a new trend at the poker table by ordering “three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet” shaken ice cold with a slice of lemon. The recipe — called a Vesper Martini — was also touted by Ian Fleming himself and is the gold standard of James Bond supping. In the absence of Kina Lillet (it’s no longer available), Lillet Blanc is substituted to an equally beguiling effect. £14. At amazon.co.uk
17/23Connolly Merino Rollneck
A gentleman can never have a surfeit of rollneck jumpers, particularly those as soft and chic as this fine knit merino model from Connolly. Lilac, grey, navy, beige…all of these colours and more would serve any wardrobe for years to come. We’ve selected black for its particular timelessness, and because any one of the six Bonds would wear it. Avoid pairing with light blue denim and/or a gold chain so as to swerve comparisons to that much-parodied picture of The Rock. £350. At connollyengland.com
18/23Belvedere Vodka
Let’s revisit that Vesper cocktail recipe: 75ml of gin, 25ml of vodka half a measure of Lillet. It’s a boozy concoction, one that can’t hope to taste worthy of James Bond’s discerning palate without the proper spirits. Gordon’s is the gin namechecked in the debut Bond book Casino Royale, and in the absence of guidance on which vodka to choose, take our lead and opt for Belvedere, a super-premium example of the liqueur that has been in the works in one way or another for 600 years. £31.99. At amazon.co.uk
19/23Rag & Bone Henley
If there’s one thing that James Bond wears well, it’s timeworn staples, and in recent years that has increasingly included a casual palette. While Sean Connery may have kicked back in linen suiting and towelling playsuits, Daniel Craig’s Bond wears clothes that are far easier to picture yourself in. Rag & Bone’s classic cotton-jersey henleys are just the kind of staple the modern Bond reaches for. And even if your Saturday isn’t so casual, you can take Craig’s lead and lean into the artful look of a slightly dirtied collar. £115. At mrporter.com
20/23Massimo Alba Sloop Suit
What is James Bond if not a suiting connoisseur? The on-screen spy has been through several iterations, from the narrow cuts of the 1960s through the towering lapels of the 1970s to the hyper-tailored pieces of today. And though he wears a dinner jacket like nobody else, 007 can also make a more relaxed suit look like the main event. The best recent example of this is through Italian atelier Massimo Alba’s sloop suit, as seen in the Matera scenes towards the beginning of No Time To Die. €1,100. At massimoalba.com
21/23Globe-Trotter Orient Suitcase
Though the cinematic James Bond only boarded the Orient Express once (in From Russia With Love), he’s ridden his fair share of other antique sleeper locomotives, and his luggage has always looked the part. The Globe-Trotter Orient collection has been the official luggage of James Bond during Daniel Craig’s entire tenure, and it would have looked equally the part with Sean Connery or George Lazenby. High-quality materials, industry-topping craftsmanship and bold, classic looks make for a piece of iconography that’s both head-turning and understated. The burgundy leather iteration of the collection, finished with a glossy Japanese ‘Urushi’ and golden accents, is the most timeless of an ageless bunch. £2,845. At globe-trotter.com
22/23John Lewis Dressing Gown
Since Dr. No took place on the fictional Caribbean island of Crab Key, casualwear got plenty of airtime. In what was to become a much-lampooned trope from the saga, the film’s titular villain takes good care of Bond and Honey Ryder before making a feeble attempt at killing them. While Dr. No’s manners can be disputed, his taste in loungewear cannot: the powder blue dressing gowns that Bond and Ryder wear are an exquisite example of their genre. Wear yours without the fear of imminent nuclear war. £52. At johnlewis.com
23/23Turnbull & Asser Silk Tie
Mirroring the 1990s, fifth James Bond Pierce Brosnan chose more relaxed, boxier fits — and sometimes even graphics. One sophisticated example of this comes via official Bond retailer Turnbull & Asser’s square design silk tie, which was actually worn by Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough. You’ll remember it as the piece that the super-spy adjusts underwater while dipping in the Thames on a speedboat. £165. At turnbullandasser.co.uk
