How would James Bond of 2015 live? The real 007, of the books rather than the films, was an affluent man in his thirties living and working fifty to sixty years ago. He wore a Rolex Oyster, drove a supercharged battleship-grey 'Blower' Bentley, was a member of Blades (a fictional gentleman's club) and probably bought his suits and shirts around Savile Row. He gambled, womanised, ate and drank in the best establishments. Could a contemporary Bond, faced with the spectre* of public spending cuts and political correctness, afford such a lifestyle?
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| Bond of the books and films - how close is Craig's portrayal to what Bond would be today? |
The Bond in the books was a public school boy (Fettes in Edinburgh) who had joined the Royal Navy. His pay as a naval officer wouldn't have funded his lifestyle and I suspect he supplemented this and his Secret Service pay with a private family income (although he no doubt had a generous expenses account with Her Majesty's Secret Service).
James Bond of the films is shown by Daniel Craig as a modern version of the original, affluent and well-dressed. But how realistic is this interpretation? Nowadays, public spending cuts would have capped his expenses claims; hotels would be Travelodge rather than The Ritz. Any family income will have been eroded by years of recession and taxation. His salary would be within fairly modest civil service pay-scales.
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| Sean Connery - the film Bond closest to the book original? |
On top of these financial considerations, operational, EU, health and safety and equality regulations make it unwise or impossible for the field operative to stand out through excess consumption. Car chases are strictly forbidden by M following recent costly litigation after Bond spun his pool car, a Nissan Qashqai, into some prized topiary during hot pursuit. Even his relationships with women have been curtailed after Ms Moneypenny's successful workplace harassment claim.
Bond must now blend in with the crowd. No more gambling, expensive dining or driving expensive cars. Given these financial and operational strictures, how would a modern Bond live and dress? He is, of course, a patriot who likes to buy British. Bond keeps an eye on Grey Fox Blog for new and interesting British menswear brands. He needs durable, comfortable yet smart clothes that won't shout 'spy'. He must also be careful in his choice of cars and equipment. Here is my idea of the modern Bond.
Bond must now blend in with the crowd. No more gambling, expensive dining or driving expensive cars. Given these financial and operational strictures, how would a modern Bond live and dress? He is, of course, a patriot who likes to buy British. Bond keeps an eye on Grey Fox Blog for new and interesting British menswear brands. He needs durable, comfortable yet smart clothes that won't shout 'spy'. He must also be careful in his choice of cars and equipment. Here is my idea of the modern Bond.
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| All British smart |
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| All Made in Britain casual/work wear |
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| Some of the British-designed and/or made content of Bond's Tusting holdall |
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| British-built transport |
Suppliers
Albam - Johnstons of Elgin - Private White VC - Edition Scotland - Cheaney - Marks & Spencer - Loake - Drake's - Grosvenor Shirts - Patey Hats - Spy Equipment UK - Fan Optics - Tusting - D R Harris - Dents - Age of Reason Scarves - Bremont Chronometers - Land Rover - Nissan UK - Norton Motorcycles - Roberts Cycles - (Barr & Stroud no longer make binoculars in the UK)
*I promise that this isn't a pun as I didn't know the name if the new Bond film when I originally wrote this piece.
*I promise that this isn't a pun as I didn't know the name if the new Bond film when I originally wrote this piece.
What a great post. I've been looking for another pair of boots to complement my Barker Harrison boots and think I've found them in the Cheaney Pennines. I'm surprised that you didn't include Bates hats. A good trilby would be right up the modern Bond's street.
ReplyDeleteGreat fun article for Christmas only thing I would disagree with is the Nissan, no way would 007 drive a "soft roaster". If MI6 really can't stretch to an Aston DB10, he would use something British and Sporty but not too extreme, my choice would be a Lotus Evora of the F type Jaguar with a few q division upgrades :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
Thanks Kevin, I've included Patey Hats for a trilby, but will have a look at Bates.
ReplyDeleteThanks also Anon. The Nissan is a pool car imposed on the 00 directorate by civil service 'minimum British-made' quotas. It's that or a Toyota Prius to comply with emission regulations. But the idea is that he couldn't afford a sports car on his Civil Service salary, even with a 'special services' supplement; hence the used Land Rover.
Happy Christmas all!
GF
And to you. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich von B.
They didn't exist when Seam Connery was James Bond but I'm pretty sure that the modern JB would have a mountain bike which would suit his exploits better than a road bike. In this case there is only one choice, tough as they come and British Made (in Halifax, Yorkshire). The "Orange" full suspension bikes are the cycling equivalent of the Land Rover Defender. Cheaper and more sophisticated foreign bikes are available but you can't return them to the factory for overhaul and brutal local conditions like Derbyshire with abrasive millstone grit soon expose the pretenders.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Andy Watson
I'm going to quibble with your choice of watch. Given the constraints modern JB would wear a good ($100) quartz model: both for economic and particle reasons (accuracy, ruggedness). It may or may not have hands but it would absolutely have a digital readout as well. I'm not sure about the Norton either. They're a pricy bit of kit aren't they?
ReplyDeleteYes, good points about mountain bike (I remember Orange from 20 years ago when I raced mountain bikes) and the wrist-watch.
ReplyDeleteGF
I know a real-life 007 quite well, and I'm afraid he is usually quite a scruffy Herbert!
ReplyDeleteNice kit on show here though: thanks.