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A blog dedicated to the interesting, scandalous, useful and cutting edge in the world of men’s style, fashion and grooming.
There have been plenty of books devoted to James Bond over the years, most of them written for the kind of guys whose idea of a hot time is debating the relative merits of Holly Goodhead vs. Pussy Galore. 007 has never gotten the kind of visual treatment he deserves—odd for a fellow so focused on style.
The beautiful new James Bond Encyclopedia sets that to rights.»
It appears that the “brutal” new James Bond is something of a prima donna. At the cover shoot for GQ’s December Men of the Year issue, deconstructed 007 Daniel Craig refused to wear any of the designer duds the magazine’s fashion mavens picked out for him, insisting instead on a suit of his own. Having caught wind of the clothing contretemps, we asked GQ’s Adam Rapoport, who wrote the Craig cover story, what went down.
Ah, the Bond Girl—intended as a paragon of her species, the female foil and flame of cinema’s ultimate embodiment of masculinity says more about what we wish women were than what they are. Beginning with Ursula Andress (who emerged Aphrodite-like from the surf), the history of Bond’s beauties is a long and luscious chronicle of our desires both sublime (Barbara Bach’s Agent XXX) and ignoble (Denise Richards’ Dr. Christmas Jones).
Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.
While he may have dressed multiple MOTHs (four to date) as well as James Bond, every so often we’re reminded that Tom Ford is really his own best model. In the same sort of way that a restaurant with an absentee owner never seems quite right, Ford’s clothes come across so well precisely because they’ve been road tested and perfected by the man himself, who just happens to be one of the most stylish men on the planet.
The other night at the opening of a new wing at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art»
Negative Reaction: Kenneth Cole falls $3.1 million into debt. Where be your cheeky billboards now? [DNRNews]
Cardigan Cabal: The international press is conspiring to make the Cardigan today’s, “dead sexy chick magnet.” Almost Orwellian, ain’t it?
Restoration Hardware: John Varvatos’ conversion of CBGB’s is taking for-frigging-ever. [Racked]
Lil’ Bit More: Crunk poet and Renaissance man Lil’ John not only has his own celeb clothing line on the way, but is currently vintnering up a storm at Little Jonathan Winery. All class that one. [Pro Hip Hop]
Collateral Damage: The new Bond film is an absolute blood fest, destroying one innocent Tom Ford suit after another. [VogueUK]
Co-Ed Naked Design: Matthew McConcaughey and his old lady create new clothes to shed while walking on sunny pacific beaches. [Gawker]
It may be early, but we’re always up for a little Bond.
Celebrating the author’s 100th birthday—which is coming up next Wednesday—Penguin is revamping their catalog of Fleming-era Bond novels with new editions and, best of all, new covers. The striking images come courtesy of San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette, who makes appropriately sensual use of watercolor. The type and colors do a good job of replicated the 60s milieu, while the women remind us of the books’ central appeal»
On the heels of the Bond collection, we thought we’d take a closer look at the old Kempt bookshelf.
The Art of Manliness recently put up a list of the Essential Man’s Library, which seems like as good a place to start as any. After all, a well-stocked bookshelf is as vital as a well-cleaned floor if you’re trying to make an impression.
The 100 books range from middle-school English class fodder (Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird) to dense philosophy (The Republic, Beyond Good and Evil), but there’s something oddly syllabus-like about it. After all, it would be nice to have something you’ll actually want to read»
Today sees the release of the a new James Bond novel, entitled Devil May Care, celebrated by an aquatic release party in London, along with an accompanying press campaign. The novel is a one-off from British novelist Sebastian Faulks and finds Bond chasing a Blofield-esque villain through London, Paris and the Middle East. Much like the film series’ recent reboot with Casino Royale, the novel styles itself as a throwback, with action set in Bond’s heyday of 1967 and Faulks taking the unusual step of writing as Ian Fleming, which falls somewhere between marketing gimmick and postmodern conceit.
Through the kind of serendipity that can only arise from a PR department, the release coincides with Ian Fleming’s 100th birthday. Bond himself has been around for more than half that time: He’s nearing 55, making him older than Ronald McDonald but younger than Batman. And, like anyone who’s stuck around that many years, he’s been through more than a few adventures that everyone involved would prefer to forget.
Splish Splash: Okay, we admit we’ll never purchase any of these bathing suits, but we would buy them for a dollar. [Refinery29]
Bombay Boys: Take a gander at the men of Mumbai. [Brandish]
Unknotted: The Men’s Dress Furnishings Association, the trade group that represents American tie makers, is calling it quits at exactly the same time we realized they existed. [WSJ]
Molecular Bonds: Scientists delve into the chemistry of the shaken Martini, come up a little tipsy. [Kerala Next]
Okay, Okay We Get it Already - Preppie is the New Hipster: As they said in Old Country, “You can’t stop what’s coming” - even if it wears a sweatervest and club tie. [Miami Herald]
Ray Banned: Sunglasses to stop traffic, because that will really help out things in the city. [Adweek]
You can pick up a vintage Bentley that once belonged to Sean Connery, the greatest Bond of all, at Bonhams’ auto auction as part of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiast’s Club’s annual rally this weekend for a relative pittance. The beautiful 1961 S2 saloon, finished in two-tone Tudor Grey / Shell Grey with a contrasting red leather interior, is estimated at only £12,000 - £15,000, or about $24,000 - $30,000, a fraction of what a new, less distinguished model sans pedigree will cost you.
Sneak Peek: Oh yes, the Bond trailer is here. [Moviefone]
Her Majesty: Anna Wintour deigns to speak of Milan Men’s Fashion. Cower, mere mortals. [DNR]
Second Chance: Brooks Brothers and Thom Browne kiss and make up. [DNR]
Um, No: Fashionista thinks man clutches are a good, “accessory for a night out.” Some people just don’t get it, do they? [Fashionista]
Gym Rats: How to be a gentleman while working up a sweat. [Art of Manliness]
The appeal of Bond has always had more to do with the man’s accoutrements than his geopolitical nuance, but it’s taken surprisingly long for all that swag to be gathered into one place.
Apparently that day is here. Allow us to introduce Bond Lifestyle, a one-stop compendium gathering together everything from the man’s favored cologne (according to Fleming, anyway) to the Swiss villa that provided the setting for Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The catalogue is somewhat skewed towards the more recent (and more thoroughly branded) movies, but you can still find a replica of the Trilby Hat from Doctor No or the two-button gray suit in From Russia With Love.
Considering how seriously nouveau 007 Daniel Craig takes his suits, we were not surprised to see that he made the grade in Vanity Fair’s 2008 International Best-Dressed List.
However, knowing how into Tom Ford Craig is—as we noted before, he refused to wear anything else for his GQ cover shoot, and went through 40+ Ford suits while filming the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace—we were somewhat taken aback to see him pictured in the mag wearing nothing but Dolce & Gabbana. Looks to us like someone at VF went out of their way to favor the Italian duo over the MOTH king—and it also looks like Tommy needs to buy a lot more ad space.
40 years in, James Bond is less of a character than a rotating stable of brands. Sony Ericsson, Smirnoff, and Aston Martin are all part of the current package, but what about the villains? While Bond is off winding his Omega, the Goldfingers of the world have to make do with Swatches.
Nicolas Hayek, founder and head of the Swatch group, has decided to cash in on the semi-cachet of the Bond villain with the 007 Villain Collection. The line follows villains from Goldfinger to Casino Royale, outfitting the most stylish with a watch just slightly less expensive than Bond’s own.
We’re usually partial to product endorsements from imaginary characters, but we’re still on the fence with this one. Is there anyone out there trying to dress like Jaws?
We’re already more than hyped for Quantum of Solace, the new Bond film due in November, but before now we were relying on a teaser trailer and a few posters, which didn’t reveal much more than our protagonist’s preference for lightweight fabrics and heavyweight weaponry. Until now, that is.
The newly released trailer gives us a closer look at the sequel, a closer look at new Bond girl Gemma Arterton, and a glimpse at the surprising direction our favorite secret agent is heading. Apparently one place he’s heading is towards sequential plots; this one picks up right at the end of Casino Royale, with a heartbroken Bond out for vengeance. Unlike Connery’s Bond—whose relationship towards his companions was somewhat more casual—this Bond is shaping up to be mopey, vengeful and more than a little emo.
Not that we’re judging. We’d find Eva Green pretty hard to get over too.
Bond Sells Out: Product placement? In a James Bond movie? Say it isn’t so, James! [NotCot]
Robot Love: Uniqlo’s Wakamaru comes in peace. Inarticulate, impractical peace. In other words, our precious retail jobs are safe. [PSFK]
Swimming with Sharks: Our friend Damien has his share of haters too. For some reason, they tend to be Australian. [ArtInfo]
A Checkered Past: The proper way to wear checkered pants is elusive. [A Suitable Wardrobe]
As the hype crescendos around Quantum of Solace’s impending release—new Bond Girls!—it’s a good time to consider the flick in its historical context. Especially as a smashing collection of classic 007 placards are hitting the block at Christie’s in London tomorrow. The prized Bond lot in the auction house’s Vintage Film Posters sale is a mint condition 1964 Goldfinger sheet in the rare British quad style B format, estimated at $7,00 - $10,000.
We’re partial however to this quirky and equally scarce Aston Martin promo piece produced for Thunderball in 1965, which is a much better deal at est. $3,000 - $3,500. Also included are classics from Dr. No (1962, est. $2,700 - $4,500), From Russia With Love (1963, est. $2,700 - $4,500) and the rest of the pantheon, with several variations of each. Mr. Craig would do well to study these masterpieces if he hopes to err on the side of Connery.
If Bob’s leftovers aren’t current enough for you, maybe you’d prefer a tune that’s a little more Bond-themed. Jack White and Alicia Keys’ theme for Quantum of Solace has been kicking around file-sharing sites for a while, but it’s finally gotten a proper video and we’re now ready to profess our undying love.
We’re pretty happy with the current Bond theme, but there’s always room for improvement…
British semi-stars Joe Cornish and Adam Buxton recently recorded dueling themes for the upcoming Quantum of Solace as part of a “song battle,” and the results are staggering to say the least. Apparently some Brits—or at least some comedians—are none too happy with Bond’s new sensitive/brutal side.
In our favorite of the two songs, Cornish ends up waxing nostalgic for the days of Roger Moore, underwater cars and Union Jack parachutes. Say it ain’t so, Joe!
Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.
We’ve expounded before on the extreme appeal of La Perla lingerie, which while eschewing the erotic theatrics of Agent Provocateur nonetheless manages to push all the right buttons. Their underthings, such as the flapper-esque concoction shown here snapped by our fearless lensman at a recent display of La Perla wares in NYC, seem calculated to appeal to sex-starved socialites and other such admirable creatures.
We were not aware however that the company also made the alarmingly snug swim trunks Daniel Craig sported in his debut as James Bond. Apparently he has refused to ever put them on again. Wise choice, old boy; some things are just not meant to have crossover appeal.
Yoga Flame!: Olivia Munn makes good Halloween choices. [Complex]
Tailor the Storm: Don’t weep for Savile Row…they’ve seen worse times. [Luxist]
Un-Donnish Behavior: Our beloved Don Cornelius has been taken in on domestic assault charges. If the soul train led you to this point, what good was it? [Gawker]
The Haters Are Always With Us: Bond faces his most diabolical enemy yet: early reviewers. [BlackBook]
Political endorsements come and go, but the most important one by far comes from England’s most globe-trotting, martini-sipping secret agent. Yes, we’re talking about the Bond endorsement.
Making the press rounds for Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig has said that Obama would make a better Bond because he could “look the enemy in the eye and go toe-to-toe with them,” which we assume means he’s spry enough to chase some guy doing parkour. As for McCain, Craig says he’s more M material. “There is, come to think of it, a kind of Judi Dench quality to McCain.”
But he always seemed a little soft on SPECTRE.
Product placement is nothing new to the James Bond movies, but we were pleased to hear that the new film is going to feature a whole lot of one of America’s most prominent designers.
Of course, Daniel Craig is already on record as being much-impressed with Tom Ford, but apparently he’s got a bit more clout these days, which means we’ll be seeing less Brioni and a lot less of those miniscule swimming trunks from Casino Royale. (Something tells us Roger Moore didn’t have to put up with that sort of thing…)
It’s rare to see a choice like this made by the star and not the marketing or wardrobe department, but it looks like Mr. Craig is moving up in the world. After all, what’s the point in having an acting gig if you can’t use it to score a good suit every now and then?
Let’s just hope he can keep them clean.
With all our attention to the new James Bond, we may have overlooked the old one. The 1967’s loveably ramshackle Casino Royale is getting a belated 40th Anniversary Edition, giving you a chance to check out the film that almost killed the franchise.
Shared between five auteur-minded directors and even more diva-minded stars, Casino Royale is pretty much the disaster you would expect, but as disasters go, it’s pretty fantastic. Abandoned by Peter Sellers halfway through production, the movie ping-pongs between a sinister Orson Welles, David Niven trying his best to add a shred of dignity to the proceedings, and Woody Allen doing his best to turn everything into a proto-Austin Powers sex farce.
In short, it was ripe for a remake.
Some are born with accessories, some acquire accessories, and some have accessories thrust upon them.
Mr. Craig may not have been thinking of spicing up his tuxedo when he injured himself, but it couldn’t have worked out better. It may throw his bowtie a bit off-center, but it was well worth it.
With the Oscars just five months off, it may be time for George Clooney to start planning a discreet but manly boating accident.
The Bond movies have been overstuffed with product placement from the very beginning, even when they were shilling for products that didn’t exist like the ejecto-seat or the razor hat. It makes sense, since the Bond market tends to be interested in fast cars, sharp suits, shiny phones and the like. But we didn’t expect them to expand into the world of matching drapes.
Apparently we were mistaken. The interior design gurus at Wallpaper have an extended Q&A with Quantum of Solace’s set decorator detailing Bond’s Bolivian bed in Quantum of Solace. It’s a custom job from B&B Italia, made larger so it would be easier to shoot.
We always heard he favored bespoke.
All the Smiling Faces: Subway lover Patrick Moberg summarizes the nation’s forty-four presidents. Now that we look at it, a lot of them had pretty sweet mustaches. [Patrick Moberg]
Warren Peace: You can never have too many Warren Beatty appreciations. [AskMen]
We Be Villain: A talk with the new Bond villain. [Anthem]
How the Other Half Lives: Interior design expands into music, creating the playlist industry. Some day, this may be considered an actual job. [NYTimes]
There are many ways to wear a cardigan. For the Italian premiere of a film you may have heard of, the esteemed Mr. Craig opted for the big collar/big tie route. It’s a good choice, since Italy is silk country and more is still better in Rome. He keeps the cardigan tactically slim instead of opting for the grandpa look, and ends up with a thoroughly adult outfit.
Also, it helps if you look like you’re ready to kick someone in the face.
Bonds of Affection: An early look at the many women of Bond. [Deadlicious]
Constant Vigilance is Required: The forces of acid wash are rising in the east. [The Cut]
The Muscles from Brussels: The enduring wisdom of Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. [Vulture]
In Tatters: After a long life of searching, we have finally discovered what tattersall plaid is. [A Suitable Wardrobe]
The internet is atwitter lately over one aspect of the Bond movies you might have overlooked: the architecture.
The UK Guardian’s in-house pontificator Steve Rose takes some time out from the usual culture warring to point out all the lovely hideouts the Bond villains have set up—usually with the help of an unnamed post-modern architect or two. It’s quite an education, even if most of those lovely concrete angles are in ruins by the end of the film.
As we know all too well, it can be hard to get attention on the internet. But tacking a James Bond fan fiction in front of everything you write is the blogging equivalent of driving a snowmobile down a mountain with one hand while using the other hand to shoot the bad guys who are chasing you in faster snowmobiles until you drive off a cliff and unfurl your Union Jack parachute while they all crash and explode on the rocks below.
In other words, it’s risky.
Onlyknives.com was recently graced with a post on a do-it-yourself knife wallet, introduced by a 400 word vignette starring Mr. Bond himself. The funniest part is how much it reminds us of actual ad copy. Didn’t we see this on an Amiga poster somewhere?
Named “A Quantum of Mini-Tools,” the story chronicles Bond’s love for his Slimline Wallet and the raw sensual magnetism of said wallet. We would have preferred “The Wallet Who Loved Me” or “The Man with the Golden Wallet,” but nobody’s perfect.
The paparazzi get a bad rap, but as long as they’re on the side of chivalry, it’s not all bad. Take, for instance, this latest infraction by our own Daniel Craig, captured by the intrepid photogs of the Sun.
A brief lesson, if we may: A little rain never hurt anyone, but leaving your lady to soak may cause irreparable damage, as Mr. Craig is surely discovering now.
You never saw Roger Moore doing this sort of thing.
Dressing Down: The Gray Lady dissects Obama’s casual style…and somehow comes away with Jerry Seinfeld. [NYTimes]
Language Arts: A quick tour of Bond’s best sex puns. Plenty O’Toole, sadly, is absent. [Gawker]
High Occupancy Lane: A guide to having sex in small cars. Ah, to be seventeen again. [Treehugger]
Croc Hunter: It took a worldwide recession and the collapse of half a dozen major financial institutions, but crocs are finally over. It was worth it. [Reuters]
Speaking of the movies, the most recent Bond outing recently brought our attention to an entirely new kind of director: the Kansas City graphics firm MK12.
You may have seen their work before in the titles of The Kite Runner or detailing Will Ferrell’s humdrum existence in Stranger than Fiction (both from Quantum director Marc Forster), but the opening titles of a Bond film are iconic enough to be any animation worker’s dream job. Add in a desert setting and Jack White and Alicia Keys’ fantastic title song, and you’ve got one of the best intros in the series.
Well played, gentlemen.
Comic books have been growing steadily more legitimate since the 70s, but while writers like Alan Moore and Frank Miller have stumbled into mainstream recognition, comic book artists not named R. Crumb are still mostly viewed as doodlers with a voyeuristic streak.
Well, we’re doing our part (with a little help from Mr. Spear).
Phil Noto cut his teeth (and, presumably, earns a living) in the comic world doing art for titles like Wonder Woman, Hellboy, and the cult series Jonah Hex, but he also churns out oil paintings with surprising wit. He may not be ready for Sotheby’s just yet, but any man who devotes an entire canvas to depicting Bond and Goldfinger on the golf course has our vote.
Passing the Bar: Our favorite Israeli supermodel has inexplicable difficulty getting into the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. [NYPost]
Biden, Joe Biden: Omega watches are just one more thing James Bond and our Vice President have in common. [Luxist]
Solid Gold: Speedo is standing by Michael Phelps after Kellogg’s dropped him over the bong-laden snapshots. Doritos should jump on this. [The Cut]
Elementary: The Times is not happy about the state of Sherlock, but anyone who refers to “The Real Sherlock Holmes” with a straight face has earned a link or two. [The Moment]
A recent British survey has unearthed a dour but somehow unsurprising statistic: nearly a third of the women who have slept with James Bond have died shortly afterwards.
Usually within 90 minutes.
It’s unnerving news for any man, but it gives the whole Bond oeuvre (yes, we said it) a new tone. If we were in his brogues, we’d be a bit more nervous about the eventual fate of the latest comely recruit. Of course, this does put the volume of martini consumption in perspective.
The spy business is starting to seem downright unsafe.
Much like the classical corpus, the world’s supply of James Bond memorabilia requires constant attention to keep it preserved for future generations. Fortunately, these treasures have finally found a home.
A British collector named Peter Nelson has taken it upon himself (via Gizmodo)to catalog as much of 007’s gadgetry as possible, including Goldeneye’s Soviet tank, a handful of Aston Martins, and the titular golden gun. (And yes, for the curious, he did learn to drive the tank.)
Film sets are pretty hectic places, so it’s always remarkable when a bit of self-possessed style slips through. And as you might have guessed, Mr. Bond is involved…
These snaps (via NotCot) come from behind the scenes of the last two Bond movies, and find Mr. Craig at his most McQueen-ish. Of course, the odd pair of aviators don’t hurt…and neither does the Baracuta-style jacket.
James Bond seems to be having a bit of trouble with the ladies.
His latest failed conquest is Megan Fox, who just turned down a Bond Girl part in the 23rd Bond film in favor of a potential leading role elsewhere, but she’s just the latest in a long line of women too good for Sir James. Frieda Pinto passed on the same part, and the list of Craig-era would-be Bond girls also includes larger names like Sienna Miller, Charlize Theron and Rachel McAdams. Maybe the old boy’s losing his knack?
Something tells us Sean Connery never had this problem. But maybe Roger Moore…
