7 Best James Bond Suits
What is A James Bond Suit?
The James Bond Suit is synonymous with timeless style. But in truth there are as many James Bond suits as there have been James Bond films. So why, when there are so many of them, do we still see the same image in our mind’s eye? A suit that is perfectly cut, tailored and oozing with class.
The key word is ‘timeless’. A James Bond suit is considered timeless because it is made using rules of tailoring, rather than following fashions of the day. A properly tailored suit will flatter the body using subtle techniques that will go unnoticed to the untrained eye.
Why Does James Bond Look So Good in His Suits?
The aim of the James Bond suit is to make Bond into the very best version of himself, and as tall and elegant as possible. In aesthetic terms there are features that we as humans generally find attractive in a man:
- Broad, square shoulders
- Slim waist
- Developed chest
- Long athletic legs
- Good body symmetry
- Good posture
- Good proportions
- Good height
These are for purely evolutionary reasons as females, looking for a father for their child, are looking for the ‘best’ prospect in terms of genetics. In reality, of course, these rules often give way to other considerations such as wealth, security, power, status etc and many are prepared to compromise on the physical attributes in favour of these more practical considerations.
By the way, these sweeping generalisations are going to annoy the hell out of a lot of people, but we are talking about James Bond and what makes him physically attractive to women. Moreover, we are looking at how you can achieve the same results, or close to them, yourself.
What Makes A James Bond Suit?
In tailoring terms, the techniques employed to give the most flattering shape (or as we say, silhouette) would be:
- Shoulder pads to enhance and square the shoulders
- A jacket that fastens at the slimmest part of the waist to give the hourglass shape of developed chest, slim waist, and athletic hips.
- A high waist on the trousers to lengthen the appearance of the legs.
- Lumps and bumps evened out with padding to improve symmetry.
- Jacket length adjusted to give the body good proportions
- A slim fitting James Bond suit will give the appearance of more height.
You could argue that the the actors chosen to play James Bond over the years have all had a good starting point in that their height, shape, and physique have all been very good to start with, so they don’t need much help to look great. But that does not mean that the above techniques have not been employed in their iconic James Bond suit to give the most flattering appearance possible.
Examples of the James Bond suit
Now that we know what to look for, we can take a look at a few examples of classic James Bond suits.
In all the examples, you will notice that despite a 60-year time span each one follows very similar rules. You will not see, for example, frilly shirts, fat bow ties, wide shoulders, flared trousers, low rise waists or any other features that drift in and out of fashion.
The James Bond suit is iconic because we can picture it in our mind’s eye and if we were to order one, we would know what to expect. You can get one for your wedding suit or indeed for any special occasion. But you will want to wear it, and feel a bit special
Why should you get a James Bond Suit?
Well, that’s easy. It’s so that, when people comment on how smart you look, you can say “Thank you. This is my James Bond suit”.
When they ask, “What makes it a James Bond suit?” You can wow them with your knowledge of tailoring and explain how the timeless style is not only the most flattering design for a man but also why you look so good in it, from the even symmetry to the illusion of a longer leg. The pinched waist and flattering shoulder all adding to the overall elegance.
Oh, and when you can drop “my tailor” casually into a conversation that gives additional Bond points.
Be More Bond
Of course, to pull off the James Bond suit you also need to behave in a certain way. Sure, wearing a James Bond suit you will be imbued with an uncharacteristic confidence, perhaps a swagger bordering on a hint of arrogance but then that’s pure Bond.
However, with great swagger comes great responsibility and there are rules that you simply must follow when wearing a James Bond suit:
- Be a gentleman at all times.
- Never drink pints.
- Only swear sparingly and in a posh accent.
- Never get into a fight you can’t win.
- Always have an escape route planned.
If you follow these rules, you will qualify to wear your James Bond suit. Your confidence will precede you into the room, all eyes will be on you and in a very understated way you will be the star of the evening.
You must be prepared for the elevation in social status that your James Bond suit will give you. Men will want to be you and women will want to be with you. Hell, who am I kidding, everyone will want to be with you. You’ll be beating them off with a stick. You must use this power wisely.
Drink Like Bond
One thing that I must stress, however, is that nothing I can say will ever prepare you for the taste of a Martini. Not a glass of Martini Bianco, but a proper James Bond Martini:
- 3 shots of gin
- 1 shot of vodka
- 1/2 ounce Martini Bianco
- Lemon peel for garnish
Ignoring the fact that there is enough alcohol in it to take the paint off the walls with your breath, it tastes god-awful with no redeeming features at all – nothing sweet, nothing to dilute the alcohol, not even anything to mask the fact you are drinking pure white spirit.
So please, for the love of God, if you want to have James Bond swagger in your drinking, do it with a gin and tonic or a porn star martini. Because I can guarantee that the face you will pull when you drink a James Bond Martini will lose you any credibility that you went in with.
Completing Your Bond Transformation
A James Bond suit does not in itself make you James Bond. You do need to add a few things yourself. Having a nice Swiss watch always help, preferably a Rolex Submariner or an Omega Seamaster. While not essential, these do suggest a certain style and appreciation of fine watchmaking – a very Bond-like characteristic. Then there is a nice pair of cufflinks, a tailored shirt and of course a short, neat haircut.
These need to be combined with knowledge too. I’m not talking endless facts to bore people with but the ability to speak a foreign language and use it appropriately and casually during the course of the evening, enough knowledge of a wide range of topics to enable you to make interesting and intelligent contributions. But most important of all, you are James Bond – you know you are cool and the equal to any man in the room so you don’t need to prove it. Stay quiet for longer than you speak and allow the conversation to develop around you. Sitting saying nothing but paying attention to others shows way more confidence than dominating the conversation and being a smart arse.
Get a James Bond Suit
So after all of the dancing around, you just want to know where to get a James Bond suit Well, thankfully, The Perfect Suit Company specialise in this very thing. Every suit we make has the same timeless style as any James Bond suit. Just make an appointment and start the journey. You will be glad you did. They don’t cost the earth, you can add your own little personal touches and your James Bond suit will last for years. The design is such that if your shape should change, your suit can be altered to accommodate your new dimensions, leaving you always looking a million dollars, and naturally with a licence to thrill!