Consider this something of an outgrowth of our latest series on the site. This time, it’s not about Luxury versus Affordable, but something simpler: stealing the style of one of the greatest dressers to ever hit the big screen, James Bond. Specifically, given the warmer summer months almost upon us, Sean Connery’s James Bond hitting the beach in Thunderball. The overall look is perfect for hitting the beach or pool now, though the rise of the shorts are likely too, well, short for us non-James Bond types. Still, we will suggest a slightly longer rise option, and, overall, the look holds up super well, and is a killer look for hitting the water.
First, let’s start with the look from the movie and James Bond:
Now for the readily available garments for you to purchase to put this look together for yourself:
Linen Shirt from Banana Republic ($64.50): An almost exact match as far as color and collar. Unclear if the material in the movie is linen or not, but linen is certainly an excellent option for the beach in an outfit like this. We suggest the looser “Camden” fit here from BR for a more breezy and laid back look here, but if you’d like something slimmer, you can go with BR’s “Grant” slim fit option that also has a bit of stretch and cotton mixed in for good measure.
Swim Trunk from Bonobos ($88): Here we link to the 5” version. It’s close to both the color and the length worn by Bond. If you’re not quite so bold, consider either the 7” or 9” alternatives.
Espadrilles from Soludos ($50 appx): Weird, but typical, Amazon pricing issues aside (you might be able to get these for way cheaper), these are a shockingly close match to James Bond’s footwear in this look. Again, a great poolside option, though you can throw these on with chinos during the warmer months as well for a more casual look. Sock-less, of course.
Diver Watch from Casio ($45) + Bond NATO Stra ($18): An excellent, and much cheaper alternative to Bond’s diver watch. Throw it on the vintage Bond NATO strap, and you are good to go. And feel free to go with your preferred NATO strap, or NATO strap supplier. There is no special magic here. Just what we found quickly on Amazon. Either way, this watch and strap combo makes for a fantastic everyday option as well. It’s really an excellent value in watches.