The Suits of James Bond

December 14, 2019 3:39 AM

The Suits of James Bond is a site created by Matt Spaiser, which aims to be the "ultimate resource for James Bond style and the first catalogue of all of 007’s outfits". Its many articles include (00)7 Rules to Wearing a Suit with a James Bond Mentality; A Guide to English Bespoke Suit Style; Ian Fleming: The Wardrobe Model For James Bond; and What Kind of Underwear Would Bond Wear?. There's also an initial Sartorial Guide to the forthcoming movie No Time to Die.

Neither a Bond fan nor a clothes-horse, I only stumbled upon this site having searched for the name of the third pocket one sometimes sees on suit jackets: 'the ticket pocket', as I now know it to be.

posted by misteraitch (14 comments total)

Lovely concept but the blog's writing isn't terribly good and very repetitive, as though the vocabulary and conceptualization abilities are limited.
posted by Mrs Potato at 5:33 AM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

[previously]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:45 AM on December 14, 2019

Clothes on Film has several Bond-related articles, including Video: Designing James Bond’s Suits: Connery to Craig and Lindy Hemming Talks Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style.
posted by cenoxo at 5:48 AM on December 14, 2019

I will walk back my first comment, I read some of the older stuff. I wonder if the blog's authorship has changed or grown
posted by Mrs Potato at 6:04 AM on December 14, 2019

if your cuffs aren't the right length after this you no james bond
posted by lalochezia at 6:04 AM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

lalochezia: "if your cuffs aren't the right length after this you no james bond"

Maybe but that was such a great little character moment in an action scene.
posted by octothorpe at 6:42 AM on December 14, 2019

Maybe but that was such a great little character moment in an action scene.

i agree that's why I linked it!
posted by lalochezia at 6:48 AM on December 14, 2019

I could never quite abide Bond's trilby in the Connery movies. It just felt out of place and a bit archaic for the setting and the man. It's sort of the same way Don Draper wearing a hat so far into the 60's felt really wrong and looked silly.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:55 AM on December 14, 2019 [3 favorites]

I've been reading this blog for so long that I can't remember exactly when I started, but it was close to the beginning. While my tastes lie much more on the John le Carré end of the spectrum for spy novels and films, I have modeled some of the way I dress on Connery's Bond in particular (though there's some overlap with the film adaptation of The Constant Gardener). Coincidentally, I'm wearing a Mason & Sons cocktail cuff shirt as I write this.

I wonder if the blog's authorship has changed or grown

I feel fairly certain in saying that Matt Spaiser's still the only writer, but I don't disagree with your initial assessment as to the quality, I much prefer Die, Workwear! for good writing on the topic, but there are so few menswear blogs left at this post-Instagram point that I simply appreciate that this one is still a going concern even after having catalogued all the tailored clothing in the films released thus far (and that, unlike another menswear blog of a similar age that I won't link to, the commenters limit their reactionary tendencies to particular hobby-horses like Roger Moore's flared trousers and safari suits or Daniel Craig's short jackets and low-rise trousers instead of using dress as a proxy for white supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, etc.).
posted by Strutter Cane - United Planets Stilt Patrol at 7:48 AM on December 14, 2019 [5 favorites]

It’s surprising that Bond’s suits never get hidden features for his actual job. A gun pocket, bullet proof lining, or secret pockets for other gadgets might be more useful. I suppose this is more Kingsmen territory as they combined the tailor shop and the spy agency.

I have a Ted Baker suit I love but am currently too rotund to wear, that is modern enough to have a specific phone pocket at least.
posted by w0mbat at 11:46 AM on December 14, 2019

True — on many occasions, Bond could have used The Bulletproof Suit By Garrison Bespoke:

Comfort and confidence are of utmost importance at Garrison Bespoke. We’ve traveled the world and met with the best experts in the industry in order to ensure that our clients walk away feeling at ease, knowing they are—in fact—dressed for success. No matter the conditions—rain, shine, or even snow—our clients are readily clothed in the best garments tailored precisely for their lifestyle.

At Garrison, we take pride in building relationships and trust with each and every one of our clients. That’s why, this year, it was crucial that we offer our clients a true bespoke suit. We created the bullet-proof suit to keep our clients safe during their travels to dangerous places for work. We wanted to create a lightweight garment that not only looks professional, but can also act as reliable body armor. The idea was to create a stylish and discreet alternative to wearing a bulky bullet proof vest underneath a suit. This way, our clients wouldn’t have to worry about looking awkward during meetings, and they can travel to work feeling comfortable, safe, and confident. It’s safe to say, we are able to make what our competitors can’t — a true custom bullet proof bespoke suit.

This past year [2016], Garrison Bespoke worked alongside suppliers for the US 19th Special Forces in developing the custom bullet-proof suit. Using nanotechnology, it’s comprised of the same carbon nanotubes designed for the US troops’ uniforms in Iraq. Yet, the patented suit material is a lot thinner and flexible; fifty percent lighter than Kevlar (the material commonly used in bullet-proof gear). The entire suit acts like a shield, with nanotubes in the fabric hardening to block force from penetrating through.

The Garrison Bespoke bullet proof suit was made to fulfill three important expectations: First, to be modern and stylish. Second, to be light and comfortable. And, third, to be reliable and safe. After putting the suit to test, we can proudly say that all expectations have been met.

The Garrison bullet proof suit is a testament to the level of care we place into building relationships and trust with our clients—we’re eager to respond to each of our clients’ individual needs, whenever and however we can.

To tailor Proverbs 16:18 a bit, Pride Style goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
posted by cenoxo at 3:35 PM on December 14, 2019

Twenty years ago I captioned a picture of Pierce Brosnan as a dinner-jacketed Bond with the phrase 'Last night a DJ saved my life' and while I'm pretty sure that a single-digit number of the magazine's readers got it, they were the right readers.
posted by Hogshead at 2:12 PM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Still not the greatest suit in film history.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:08 PM on December 15, 2019 [3 favorites]

instead of using dress as a proxy for white supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, etc.

Just another thing that went to shit.
posted by bongo_x at 1:56 AM on December 16, 2019