Hello spynovelfan; and yes, I am the author of the suits articles which appeared in the
AJB Feature Articles section.
http://www.ajb007.co...esbondclothing/http://www.ajb007.co...sbondclothing2/I think you take an overly purist view towards our friend Bond. I just read the latest postings in the wristwatch thread, and was considering a reply when this new post sprang up. To argue that Bond would wear this or wouldn't wear that is a little dogmatic and futile. In the wristwatches article you state your view that Bond would change his watch for different activities; this may be true, but it isn't backed up by any evidence from Fleming. I think the problem there stems from a mistake in the early films; Young should perhaps have assigned Bond with a more general purpose Oyster Perpetual Chronograph rather than the Submariner, something more akin to Lazenby's 'cable-car' Rolex. To argue that he might wear a Patek Phillipe or similar for dress functions is erroneous, the novel of OHMSS gives a more than adequate template of Bond's views towards his watch. He selects the Rolex, despite being on the heavy side, because it works and because it might have to double as a weapon at any time. That's it. Bond wears a Rolex. One watch. No other speculation necessary. What the choice of the filmakers will be is open to the whims of the producers and the inevitable product placement revenue.
It's a similar case with his suits. We are never given the identity of Bond's tailor, though we are told it is 'expensive' in the novel
Dr No, and that there has been more than one. An interview given by Fleming entitled '
007 and Me' (if anyone has an original copy of this I would still love to read it), he states that Bond frequents Savile Row. This may have been a glib comment, as Fleming himself (although known to have bought the odd item on the Row) used an off-Row tailor "Because it's cheaper". It's a fairly safe assumption that the majority of his suits were made by an expensive London tailor with a few more coming from one of the excellent Hong Kong establishments.
Someone once pointed out to me that an Aston Martin DB5 wouldn't be such an iconic vehicle in Bond's universe, as it would lack the film's associations. I think that's a valid point that would also apply to the Submariner and the suits. Fleming-Bond would more than likely shop off-Row, but if we're to choose the most suitable tailor for the next
films from the choices given above (why else did you start the topic?), I stand by my original selections. Boateng could make an excellent homage to the Conduit Cut (as long as it didn't turn too pastiche) but Kilgour could make something both classical
and contemporary. I'm not entirely familiar with Richard James' work so am not qualified to comment.
Edited by Bill Tanner, 20 December 2004 - 04:08 PM.
