Oliver Peoples makes the Airman and discontinued it, but after the film placement, made another limited run of about 300, but have no official 007 marking.
The people in the boutiques will fill you in if you know what you are talking about. If you don’t, they are instructed to tell you that it was Tom Ford (who holds a marketing placement partnership for the film).
Oliver Peoples is indirectly a Luxottica company (who makes Persol, which were in the last 007 films) via their acquisition of Oakley (Oakley purchased Oliver peoples’ years ago along with another brand that People’s owns like Paul Smith or the like), and are a direct competitor with the manufacturer of Tom Ford glasses.
Tom Ford optics are made by manufacturer Marcolin, a relatively small optical manufacturer compared to competitor and market giant, Luxottica, who IS NOT the license holder for the film (see where this is going and how it happened - this is akin to BMW and Aston…it’s surely a financial arrangement that brought this about). The other industry leaders are Marchon (manufacturer of Calvin Klein optics who made the CK2007 optic for TWINE) and Safilo.
Ergo, Tom Ford recreated the pair after the fact based on the Peoples’ sunglasses.
If you call the Oliver Peoples’ stores in LA, they still have a few—I just got mine last week—pair left for about $400 USD.
Their info is Oliver Peoples, 8642 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 657-2553 AND 3900 Cross Creek Rd. #8, Malibu, CA 90265, Tel. (310) 456-1333
Personally, I would get the real thing. Would 007 wear glasses with his name, or anyone else’s name, much less film name and logo, in them? It’s the difference between the real Omega watches and the ones with the words 007 written all over it. Two different fans I guess, but I would wear one (the real deal) and collect the other (logos) in a drawer at home.
Good hunting!
Regarding 007's Clothing:
It’s a shame, the off the rack ready to wear Tom Ford stuff, while made by Ermengildo Zegna—who does have some impeccable collections and construction pending the line and that I wear myself—does/will not hold a candle to Brioni, Charvet ties, and Turnbull & Asser shirts and ties in recent films.
This is easily surmised based on the price points and the presumption that even if the prices were the same, dollars would be going to the designers name and marketing versus construction at age old companies that barely have any marketing budgets and live by their reputations and handmade construction. Ford and Ford at Gucci were known more for line and design than construction.
FYI - see the difference in wardrobe between Batman Begins and the terrible off the rack Armani clothing in Dark Knight where no ones suit collars fit right and they all look to be wearing cheap suits and accessories…shame. Please note that Zegna is in 90% of its collections a much better made good than Armani.
Well, you all know better now if you want to dress like a real modern day Hoagy Carmichael (look up this 007 reference yourself…)
Edited by Spyhouse, 23 September 2008 - 12:04 AM.