James Bond: Style Icon – Copy the Look

There are few other characters from the world of film and literature that are quite as suave as James Bond. From the cars that he drives to the suits that he wears, his style is the definition of being ‘on point’. Through his many movies and iterations, he has become an icon for men’s style in pop culture. Dating all the way back to Sean Connery, the actors who have depicted James Bond have all been some of the best in the business, and it’s no surprise that this is the case.

So, in order to emulate Bond what do you need to do? It’s a process that requires wearing the right suit and mixing the perfect cocktail – with a lot of attention to detail and careful maintenance, it’s not impossible to get on 007’s level.

Wearing the Right Suit

The first step to successfully capturing the style of James Bond is to track down the perfect suit. Rental tuxedos that you’ve probably seen a lot of at weddings and high school proms are more often than not the antithesis of James Bond, so let’s set the record straight. According to Sean Connery in Dr. No, the classic evening wear includes a pleated white shirt with mother of pearl buttons and double cuffs, a black bowtie with diamond-point ends, a single-breasted dinner jacket in midnight blue, a white pocket square or handkerchief, black tie trousers, and black socks with black leather cap-toe Oxfords which you should be sure to keep well-polished. Although there have been slight variations on the iconic tuxedo of the secret agent over the fifty years of James Bond, you can’t go wrong emulating the original 007.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories, 007 gets it spot on. And to emulate his style, you’ll need to be savvy with the accessories that you choose as well. For starters, you should never use a clip-on bow tie. Avoid this by simply learning the ins and outs of how to correctly tie a bow tie yourself – this may take a few tries to perfect, however once you get the hang of it you’ll find that it’s easy. The classic Sean Connery version is the diamond-pointed black one, however it’s not always that easy to track one down – so if you can’t, opt for a normal square-pointed version instead. Don’t’ forget cufflinks and a white pocket handkerchief, and complete the look with a pair of stylish Tom Ford sunglasses.

What to Avoid

If you’re looking to truly copy the style of 007 there are a number of things you should avoid, with colours being one of them. The iconic James Bond style is simple with black and white, with the only colour being his signature midnight blue dinner jacket. When it comes to emulating his style, simplicity is key. You should also avoid belts – Bond is seen more often wearing suspenders, which adds a classic and old-fashioned appeal.

With this in mind, you’ll be ready to go out into the world as the best-dressed and most cultured version of yourself. Don’t forget your cocktail ordering skills!