Literary Bond Style

A while ago I came across this fantastic and incredibly detailed article on bamfstyle.com regarding the style of the Literary James Bond. (https://bamfstyle.com/2014/05/28/literary-james-bond/)

Of course we are all inspired by the style of the movie Bond (Roger maybe not so much), but I was wondering was anyone here inspired by the style of the literary Bond, and copied the outfits described by Fleming?

One item in particular in the article caught my eye; the black knit tie. I recently completed my Spectre Morocco Desert outfit, part of which comprises of a burgundy knitted tie. It was my first time buying a tie like this and I absolutely love it. So when I saw in the article that Bond wore a black one in the novels I immediately went out and purchased the same tie as the Spectre outfit ( my one is from M&S http://www.marksandspencer.com/knitted-tie/p/p22330435?prevPage=srp&pdpredirect) and I plan to pair it with my dark blue suit as described in the novels.
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Comments

  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Matt S also has a section on his website about the literary James Bond. Well worth to have a look at.

    To be honest with you, it would be an imediate update if you bought a silk knitted tie. They look and feel a lot better than a polyesther one.

    They can be found for around $25,- so they won't break the bank. https://www.thetiebar.com/product/25190sk
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • RedbeardRedbeard GermanyPosts: 21MI6 Agent
    Actually the silk knitted tie can also be seen in the movies a lot. Sean wears them all of the time.

    Inspired by the books I sometimes wear navi blue suits and the tie to work. It is a very great look. It is at the same time very contemporary and 60s has a classic slim line and looks also cool and somehow military at the same time. Love it!
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Redbeard wrote:
    Actually the silk knitted tie can also be seen in the movies a lot. Sean wears them all of the time.

    Inspired by the books I sometimes wear navi blue suits and the tie to work. It is a very great look. It is at the same time very contemporary and 60s has a classic slim line and looks also cool and somehow military at the same time. Love it!

    Sean only wears them in Goldfinger, plus one in You Only Live Twice.

    Overall, the Bond of the films is a much better-dressed man than the Bond of the books. In the books, Bond has a very quirky style. Terence Young started with that and refined it for Dr. No to his high standards of dress.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • walther p99walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Redbeard wrote:
    Actually the silk knitted tie can also be seen in the movies a lot. Sean wears them all of the time.

    Inspired by the books I sometimes wear navi blue suits and the tie to work. It is a very great look. It is at the same time very contemporary and 60s has a classic slim line and looks also cool and somehow military at the same time. Love it!

    Sean only wears them in Goldfinger, plus one in You Only Live Twice.

    Overall, the Bond of the films is a much better-dressed man than the Bond of the books. In the books, Bond has a very quirky style. Terence Young started with that and refined it for Dr. No to his high standards of dress.
    didn't the literary Bond much like Fleming hate long sleeve dress shirts?
  • Arbogast 777Arbogast 777 Minneapolis Posts: 595MI6 Agent
    didn't the literary Bond much like Fleming hate long sleeve dress shirts?

    You might be thinking of the literary Bond's hatred of shoes with laces - I can't imagine him wearing short sleeved dress shirts, especially in a climate like London...
  • James BrosnanJames Brosnan Posts: 865MI6 Agent
    I read that article you are referring to, it's very good. Matt S has it right when he says that the literary Bond has a very quirky style. The Literay Bond also showed disregard to clothing at times and would wear his favorite suits to death. He did seem to prefer short sleeve shirts, casual mocassins, and sandals. One of the best and most concise explanations of the literary Bonds wardrobe is on Matt's site:

    http://www.bondsuits.com/the-suits-of-ian-flemings-james-bond-illustrated/

    I use the literary Bond's quirkiness to updated old film outfits. For example, in LTK, Dalton wears a navy shirt-jacket, beige chinos and navy espadrilles with white socks. I replace the jacket with a navy Harrington, drop the socks and get some roped sole espadrilles, and I have a quirky look that taps into the literary Bond's quirky style, like in Thunderball when he wears the sandals with his suit. I do this for Brosnan's outfit when he wears the perforated loafers, and the Connery and Moore outfits with loafer or espadrilles. I also do this with Craig's outfits from CR that we never got to see what shoes he was wearing (vneck and crew neck Sunspel); I live in Florida, so I make great use of sandals, espadrilles, loafers, and boat shoes without socks (invisible socks as necessary), as all of these shoe options were worn by Bond, either in the cinema or in the books, or in both.
    "Whoever she was, I must have scared the living daylights out of her." & "Tell mother I died game."
    CR/QoS, TLD, DN, GE, TSWLM, LTK, TND, TWiNE, TMWTGG, TB
    http://www.iconicalternatives.com/author/james-brosnan/
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  • Westward_DriftWestward_Drift Posts: 3,085MI6 Agent
    didn't the literary Bond much like Fleming hate long sleeve dress shirts?

    You might be thinking of the literary Bond's hatred of shoes with laces - I can't imagine him wearing short sleeved dress shirts, especially in a climate like London...

    Walther p99 is correct. Bond does wear short sleeved shirts with suit. I am not a fan of such a practice, and back when I had to wear suits for work I would never have done so.

    Matt S. covers it in his blog, but here are a couple relevant quotes from the novels.

    From Doctor No, Chapter 4:
    He went into his room and dressed in his old dark blue tropical worsted suit, a sleeveless white cotton shirt and a black knitted tie....”

    Diamonds Are Forever, Chapter 6:
    ...Bond was packing his suitcase in his bedroom at the Ritz. It was a battered but once expensive pigskin Revelation and its contents were appropriate to his cover. Evening clothes; his lightweight black and white dog-tooth suit for the country and for golf; Saxone golf shoes; a companion to the dark blue, tropical worsted suit he was wearing, and some white silk and dark blue Sea Island cotton shirts with collars attached and short sleeves.
  • angelicbondangelicbond Posts: 194MI6 Agent
    @Peppermill I have no idea why I haven't delved into that section of Matt's site, but I just passed a lovely afternoon reading it, so thanks for the recommendation (and to Matt for the fantastic site!) And I will check silk tie.

    @Redbeard and Matt S. Yes I think that they started Bond's style in the films quite close to the books. But as they moved away from the source material in terms of the story, they seem to have abandoned the clothing too!

    @James Brosnan @Westward_Drift I can understand Bond's affinity for short sleeve shirts with suits when he is in warmer climes (a la Craig in Casino Royale in Nassau), but I wouldn't wear one in UK. And I don't really like slip ons, I prefer boots. But the whole "Bond doesn't like dealing with laces" does amuse me. I suppose Bond is an excellent light packer for all his missions abroad, and as someone who travels an inordinate amount for work I can sympathise.
    Instagram: mybudgetbond
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  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,651MI6 Agent
    Peppermill wrote:
    Matt S also has a section on his website about the literary James Bond. Well worth to have a look at.

    To be honest with you, it would be an imediate update if you bought a silk knitted tie. They look and feel a lot better than a polyesther one.

    They can be found for around $25,- so they won't break the bank. https://www.thetiebar.com/product/25190sk

    My son got me a black knitted tie from there for my birthday last year and I just love it!
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    On the subject of ties, do many here use Bond's favoured knot ?
    As I prefer the half Windsor, or full Windsor if the tie is a bit long.
    Like many, I too have the blue suit black tie combination. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,651MI6 Agent
    On the subject of ties, do many here use Bond's favoured knot ?
    As I prefer the half Windsor, or full Windsor if the tie is a bit long.
    Like many, I too have the blue suit black tie combination. ;)

    Since I love pies and it shows, I used a full Windsor lest having my tie look like a ribbon! :#
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) I too am a lover of the Pie, if I wear a tie with a belt. I look like a string of sausages. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • RedbeardRedbeard GermanyPosts: 21MI6 Agent
    Bond actually thinks a Windsor Knot is a sign for a cad and only uses a four in hand.
    “The man had taken off his macintosh. He was wearing an old reddish-brown tweed coat with his flannel trousers, a pale yellow Viyella summer shirt, and the dark blue and maroon zig-zagged tie of the Royal Artillery. It was tied with a Windsor knot. Bond mistrusted anyone who tied his tie with a Windsor knot. It showed too much vanity. It was often the mark of a cad.” (FRWL, Chapter 25)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Well, I am a Cad and an absolute bounder ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • angelicbondangelicbond Posts: 194MI6 Agent
    Literary Bond really did have some specific opinions on style, didn't he!:)
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  • Westward_DriftWestward_Drift Posts: 3,085MI6 Agent
    Literary Bond really did have some specific opinions on style, didn't he!:)

    He also had rather specific (and unimaginative) opinions on "proper" lovemaking positions. :)) :D
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Positions ? ..... So there's more than one then ? ;%
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Westward_DriftWestward_Drift Posts: 3,085MI6 Agent
    Positions ? ..... So there's more than one then ? ;%

    TP, sounds like you and the literary Bond would get along famously!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    As I'm no expert on style or fashion, Bond or otherwise but from having read the books. I
    Always thought Bond's shoes at the end of TWINE ( brown, slip on's, with a buckle and tassles
    Along the top of the front ) were terrible, I couldn't imagine Bond buying them. It's only a little
    Niggle, but every time I watch it they really " stand out" for me at least.
    ( He wears them, in the submarine )

    On Positions, here's a very old Bob Monkhouse joke.....
    " My wife and I tried the doggy position ....... Where I beg for it and she roles over and plays dead "
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    I
    Always thought Bond's shoes at the end of TWINE ( brown, slip on's, with a buckle and tassles
    Along the top of the front ) were terrible, I couldn't imagine Bond buying them. It's only a little
    Niggle, but every time I watch it they really " stand out" for me at least.
    ( He wears them, in the submarine )

    They didn't have tassles. Just plain brown Church monk shows. Brown version of the black Presleys he wore in the rest of the film....

    Brown-Monk-Shoes.jpg

    Church-Westbury-173-Monk-Straps.jpeg
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) That's my memory playing tricks on me again.... I'd have bet money on the tassles.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • angelicbondangelicbond Posts: 194MI6 Agent
    I was passing through Gatwick airport today and had a bit of time to kill so I did a bit of browsing. I passed through Harrods and what did I come across, but Floris no 89 eau de toilette, the brand mentioned quite a lot by Fleming in the novels. I couldn't resist having a spray and I have to say I really like it. I am passing back through later in the week, and I think I will purchase it.

    Now was it something that Bond used regularly himself, or just something that Fleming liked and mentioned a lot in the novels?
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  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    I was passing through Gatwick airport today and had a bit of time to kill so I did a bit of browsing. I passed through Harrods and what did I come across, but Floris no 89 eau de toilette, the brand mentioned quite a lot by Fleming in the novels. I couldn't resist having a spray and I have to say I really like it. I am passing back through later in the week, and I think I will purchase it.

    Now was it something that Bond used regularly himself, or just something that Fleming liked and mentioned a lot in the novels?

    I don't believe it was ever specified that Bond used Floris No.89, but because Fleming wore it we can just assume Bond did too.

    An ex-girlfriend wanted to get it for me because of the Bond connection, but she smelled it in the shop and just couldn't do it.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • angelicbondangelicbond Posts: 194MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:

    I don't believe it was ever specified that Bond used Floris No.89, but because Fleming wore it we can just assume Bond did too.

    An ex-girlfriend wanted to get it for me because of the Bond connection, but she smelled it in the shop and just couldn't do it.

    Yes that's what I thought.

    Well my wife will be travelling with me next time, so I will get her seal of approval before buying:-) But I do like it, I have to say.
    Instagram: mybudgetbond
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  • canoe2canoe2 Posts: 2,007MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:

    I don't believe it was ever specified that Bond used Floris No.89, but because Fleming wore it we can just assume Bond did too.

    An ex-girlfriend wanted to get it for me because of the Bond connection, but she smelled it in the shop and just couldn't do it.

    Yes that's what I thought.

    Well my wife will be travelling with me next time, so I will get her seal of approval before buying:-) But I do like it, I have to say.

    Floris is mentioned a few times in the novels. In Diamonds Are Forever and Dr. No, Bond specifically mentions Floris bath essence, and in Moonraker he mentions Floris "soaps and lotions". But No.89 is never used by name.
  • angelicbondangelicbond Posts: 194MI6 Agent
    You're quite right. I just knew that there was a Bond/Fleming connection.
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  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Floris No.89 (indeed never mentioned in any of the books) smells a lot like Pis-de-Chat to me, really not something I would go for. However, a scent is very personal so maybe it works great for you. It is just not something I can imagine anyone under the age of 70 wearing.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Peppermill wrote:
    Floris No.89 (indeed never mentioned in any of the books) smells a lot like Pis-de-Chat to me, really not something I would go for. However, a scent is very personal so maybe it works great for you. It is just not something I can imagine anyone under the age of 70 wearing.

    I didn't care for it myself either, and the girl I was with really didn't. We liked some of the other Floris scents better, but none of them were quite right for us. Scent has to be a mutual thing.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    They've updated #89 now. It doesn't smell like old men anymore.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • RedbeardRedbeard GermanyPosts: 21MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    They've updated #89 now. It doesn't smell like old men anymore.

    When did the do that? And how does it smell different?

    Cheers
    Red
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