4 Ways to Wear the James Bond Harrington
At Iconic Alternatives, we try to focus on affordable clothing that will help us get the Bond style we want without emptying our wallets. So it doesn’t make a whole lot of financial sense to invest in a piece and then only use it with one “screen accurate” look. Versatility is the name of the game. That’s where our “4 Ways to Wear It” series comes in: we take one piece of iconic Bond clothing and combine it with other affordable 007 inspired alternatives to extend our wardrobe and get the most bang for our buck.
A solid affordable alternative for the Tom Ford Harrington jacket from Quantum of Solace is still one of the most sought after garments from the Daniel Craig era. It’s easy to understand why: the Harrington is a classic style (see the Baracuta G4), and the lack of elasticized knitting on the cuffs and hem on the Bond version gave it a more sophisticated look. For our examples below, we’re using the Howick Regatta Harrington Jacket available at House of Fraser for £85.00, although Marks & Spencer also offer an excellent option for $81.00.
The Screen Accurate Look
Options:
Shirt: Sunspel Riviera Mesh Cotton Polo, available for £70.00/$101.00 at Matches Fashion.
Jeans: Levi’s 511 in Rigid Dragon at Amazon U.S. for $36.97 to $54.99 or at Amazon UK for £65.00. Alternatives for the 7 For All Mankind QoS jeans.
Belt: Nordstrom Saffiano Leather Belt, $49.50. Alternative for the QoS Prada belt.
Boots: Florsheim Constable Chukka in Brown Suede, on sale for $129.90. Alternatives for the Church Ryder III Chukkas.
The Riviera Polo is definitely an investment, but it’s a pretty iconic piece of Bond kit in its own right. Levi’s are pretty consistent at offering good value for the money, and have a wide selection of fits for different body types. The belt from Nordstrom has the same Saffiano/cross hatching pattern as the original Prada, and can be used as a dress belt in a pinch. I know I mention the Florsheim chukkas a fair amount on this site, but $129.90 for Goodyear welted boots is a great deal anyway you look at it.
Running Errands
Options:
Shirt: Murano Long-Sleeve Point-Collar Solid Linen Shirt in Light Blue, on sale at Dillard’s for $27.82. Alternative for the Orlebar Brown Linen Shirt from SPECTRE.
Pants: Levi’s Men’s 508 Regular Tapered Denim Jean in British Khaki, on sale at Amazon U.S. for $49.99. Alternatives for the Levi’s STA-PREST 306 jeans from Quantum of Solace.
Belt: Entourage ‘Good Vibe’ Reversible Braided Leather Belt, available at Overstock.com for $20.99. Alternative for the Brunello Cucinelli woven leather belt from SPECTRE.
Boots: Nunn Bush Woodbury, on sale at Online Shoes for $63.99. Alternatives for the J.Crew Kenton Boots from SPECTRE.
We all have days when all we need to do is get out the door and get stuff done. Combining the Harrington jacket with the linen shirt, belt and boots from SPECTRE, and the beige jeans from Quantum of Solace gives us a versatile outfit that allows us to jump from the car to the street to the store without overheating or getting too cool. That Murano linen shirt is a steal right now (regular price is $79.50) and the lack of the chest pocket makes it a very close match for the Orlebar Brown.
Afternoon in the Park
Options:
Shirt: Brooks Brothers Long-Sleeve Polo Shirt in Navy, on sale for $47.70. Alternative for the Casino Royale Long Sleeve Polo.
Pants: Esprit Basic Chinos in grey, priced at £ 29.00. Alternatives for the Brunello Cucinelli Chinos from SPECTRE.
Belt: Badgery Queenslander Hand Plaited Kangaroo Leather Belt, available at Amazon for $56.50 plus $4.95 shipping. You can read our review of the belt here. Alternative for the R.M. Williams Plaited Belt.
Shoes: Adidas Topanga in Navy, Clear Sky and Off White, on sale at End Clothing for £49.00/$65.00. Alternatives for the Adidas Gazelle II sneakers from Skyfall.
Okay, okay, so the belt isn’t “Bond”. But it sure is one of Daniel Craig’s favorites and its more casual style works well with the Adidas Skyfall sneaker alternatives. Speaking of sneakers, these will be a comfortable choice for walking around, chasing after kids (your OWN kids!), or jumping into an impromptu game of football. If the afternoon’s too hot for the long sleeve polo, you could also bring a little Connery Bond into the look and try a light blue short sleeve polo, like this one from Perry Ellis, available at Lord and Taylor for $34.50. The slightly darker grey/taupe color of the Esprit alternatives for the Brunello Cucinelli Morocco chinos is a nice change from the more typical beige khakis or jeans.
Evening at the Beach
Options:
Shirt: Daniel Cremieux Signature Short-Sleeve Solid Camp Shirt in Bright Berry, available at Dillard’s for $79.50. Alternative for the Sean Connery Bond Camp Shirt from Thunderball.
Shorts: J.Crew 6.5″ Tab Swim Shorts in Chambray, on sale for $59.99. Alternatives for the Orlebar Brown Setter Swim Shorts from Skyfall.
Shoes: Tom’s Grey Linen Rope Sole Classic, priced at $55.00. Alternatives for the espadrilles Connery’s Bond wears in Thunderball.
When the temperature starts to drop at the end of long day at the beach, throwing on the Harrington will help with the chill. That bright pink shirt may be a little much for some of us, but hey: you’re at the beach! The 6.5″ inseam and chambray material of the J.Crew crew shorts makes them a little more versatile than straight up swim trunks if you want to head to a restaurant or bar. They won’t be the fastest drying swimwear, but hopefully you’ll be in and out of the water all day anyway. And yes, you can get cheaper espadrilles, but Tom’s does good work (you can learn more about their projects here).
Got some favorite ways to mix and match your Bond clothing? Leave suggestions in the comments below! Or, if you’re feeling really sociable, you can email us a picture at [email protected] and we’ll post it in our Gallery!
