Bond captured
Sean Connery, dressed in an Anthony Sinclair suit, leaning on the DB5 in a recreation from Goldfinger
Britain’s favourite spy James Bond with his sartorial panache and mannerisms is a real dandy at heart. Ian Fleming, the creator of the super spy, based Bond on himself and passed on his own style preferences to his most famous character.
The pursuit of Bond is relentless in London, with walking tours of locations linked to James Bond and Ian Fleming on offer for the enthusiasts of super spy.
Fleming, who wrote 13 Bond books, went to Jermyn Street in St James to get everything made for himself. St James’ was the stomping ground of Regency England’s most famous dandy Beau Brummell, whose ideal mode of dress for men is still followed the world over. Even now, a statue of Brummell faces onlookers along Jermyn Street.
The ideal way to emulate James Bond’s fashion style, which is also being highlighted at an exhibition in Barbican, is to walk along Jermyn Street and start a chat with the managers in the shops. Fleming is also said to have thought of Bond’s famous line, “Shaken, not stirred,” at Dukes in St James.
Fleming’s favourite range of perfumes and toiletries at Floris was the No 89 and he described Bond as using Floris products too in Dr No.
“Every visitor who comes here always asks to see the James Bond fragrance,” says the manager of Floris, a perfumery since 1730 which also has royal warrants, is located in a building which dates back to 1675.
“See, gentlemen never worked, so it’s all about sport and leisure pursuits like shooting and polo and they needed clothes for each of these,” says the manager at Turnbull & Asser.
Fleming’s stylish persona is seen clearly in James Bond’s film incarnations and Barbican’s Designing 007 — 50 Years Of Bond Style. This is designed by Ab Rogers and curated by fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming and is the best place to see the super spy’s persona through the films like Dr No in 1962 to Quantum of Solace in 2008.
The exhibition, which focuses on costumes, exhibits items by top designers like Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, Hubert de Givenchy and others. A life-size dummy of Jill Masterson’s gold painted body is the first exhibit in the display divided to highlight gold, Fleming, MI6, gadgets and cars in Q Branch, casino scenes and foreign territories.
The casino, with floor length mirrors, with a recreation of a casino table from Casino Royale and mannequins dressed in famous costumes, including a Nehru jacket from Octopussy, and amazing diamond jewellery worn by the Bond girls, are among the highlights.
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