007 style: How to dress like James Bond

Gentry's always been a big fan of the lavish 007 style and it's never been easier to acquire the cold war cool of cinema's suave secret agent. Here's how to slip into the effortless elegance of James Bond, uncovering some of the most cultured apparel around…

With the imminent release of 007's latest soiree, the much anticipated – ridiculously titled – patently overhyped – The Quantum of Solace – it's time you slipped out of your office pyjamas and into James Bond mode. Perfect for winter, undercover cool is the way to go this AW08.

While it’s true that the pale dead eyes of granite man Daniel Craig don’t sparkle with the same dapper charm of Connery, Moore, or even Brosnan, the unmistakeable swank of James Bond prevails through any incarnation.

The Quantum of Solace is a particularly slick affair, as you might expect. Bond's equisite stylist – Tom Ford, no less – makes his mark on Craig’s particularly hulking frame.

Below, we look at the garments you should invest in the unleash the 007 within:

Dior Homme, woolen overcoat

Very much in the style of an old military overcoat of the 19th century (think Napoleon, but sized up), this stealthy black trenchcoat features a hook and eye fastening on the neck, double-breasted front and two vertical pockets. This is the kind of jacket Bond might wear to "take care of business".

Ralph Lauren, black wool tuxedo

The ultimate expression of modern elegance for men, the Ralph Lauren purple label range redefines bespoke tailoring. Just the kind of fine detail 007 might appreciate. Expertly crafted, cut with the finest luxuriant wool, this tuxedo will see you through the grandest of occassions – from an oligarch's ball to a world leader's state dinner.

Tom Ford, smooth velvet blazer

The official fashion consultant for The Quantum of Solace, Tom Ford's pert, knowing designs are stamped with the authority and panache one would expect of a Bond. This gorgeous blazer is for more casual climates – a remote Swiss cabin with a minxy blond or the bowels of an oil rig grappling with a passing nemesis.

Bottega Veneta, Goat leather shoe

Any Bond wannabe will need the finest of footwear… the kind that slips off the end of the bed or onto the jaw of a ninja. These swish, trans-seasonal shoes are perfect for hotstepping it back to mission control. Soft to the touch, but deadly when they have to be.

And to complete the look, you could do worse than pick up the latest Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, surely a contender for one of the most beautiful women to have sauntered into the life of the world’s most recognisable spy.

See you in Belgrade.

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Category: Style