Daniel Craig Inspired Spring Style
The warm weather is fast approaching. Which means it’s time for our annual look at some Daniel Craig inspired spring style! The theme this year is “relaxed luxury”. After the craziness of the last two years, this spring really does feel like a reemergence of sorts for many of us. A chance to once again join together with family and friends and celebrate the precious time we have with each other. So let’s not take any of this “clothing stuff” too seriously. Instead, have some fun with it. Think more about comfort, less about structure and engage your creative side.
Much of the information about the individual items in this post (and some of the photos) came from the excellent What’s Daniel Wearing Instagram account. I’m sure most of you already know about it. But if you don’t, get over there and give him a follow. Alright, on to the alternatives!
The Grey Suede Bomber Jacket
Craig has his fair share of leather jackets in his outerwear collection. But the Officine Generale Floyd jacket he wore for the March 2020 photoshoot with Greg Williams is a little different. Based on the iconic MA-1 design, it has a certain military feel. But the rich suede, cleaner design and more tailored fit add a level of sophistication. And the grey is an interesting color choice: unique but still very versatile. This is a jacket that you could easily wear with jeans and tee on a cooler day or with dressier chinos and a light sweater for some early spring outdoor dining.
YOYO Suede Bomber Jacket in Grey: $44.91
Three things I know about this option. The color and styling come pretty close to what we want. It’s cheap. And it comes from AliExpress. The rest I’ll leave up to you, with my usual caveat of “buyer beware”.
Abercrombie & Fitch Suede Bomber Jacket in Grey: $400.00
The slash pockets and zippered sleeve pocket give it even more of an MA-1 look. But the darker grey suede and trimmer fit help update the style. And so far this one is getting very positive reviews on the A&F website.
Schott LC300 Suede Bomber Jacket in Dark Grey: $487.50
Although it’s missing the flapped pockets, this option from the famed American leather jacket maker comes really close to what we want for about a third of the price of the original. Atterley has sizes small to large in stock.
Also Try:
- Levi’s Varsity Faux Suede Bomber Jacket in Light Grey: $88.00
- Marks & Spencer Faux Suede Biker Jacket in Grey: $125.00/£69.00
- Mango Reversible Suede Bomber Jacket in Grey: on sale for $149.99/£104.99
- Robert Barakett Lachine Faux Suede Jacket: $295.00
- All Saints Kemble Suede Bomber Jacket: $526.00
- Reiss Dilan Suede Bomber Jacket in Soft Blue: $735.00/£398.00
- Polo Ralph Lauren Suede Bomber Jacket in Athletic Grey: $898.00
- John Elliott Bogota Suede Bomber Jacket in Grey: $1783.00/£1871.00
The Navy Knit Shirt
It’s the spring weather layering piece no one expects. Falling somewhere between a shirt and a cardigan, it adds a little bit of warmth on those cooler days without getting too bulky. And it’s surprisingly versatile. You can wear it on its own for a more streamlined look (as Craig did for his navy-on-navy outfit on Saturday Night Live). Or use it as an overshirt with a henley or long sleeve tee underneath for a more laid back style. It’s basically the modern version of the classic Pendleton wool shirt, but with a slimmer, more contemporary fit and a lot less itch.
Paul James Cotton Knitted Shirt in Navy Blue: on sale for $61.00
It has more of a polo shirt style collar. And the fabric is a lighter 100% cotton. But Paul James has gone with a smoother knit to keep the more refined look and make it an easy shirt to dress up or down.
Proper Cloth Melange Knit Pique Shirt in Navy: $100.00
Another 100% cotton option, this time in a pique knit. That will help with breathability and give the shirt a bit of natural stretch. Pique is inherently a more casual fabric. But the shirt style cutaway collar and genuine horn buttons add some sophistication. And with Proper Cloth, you can customize the design to add some personal touches.
Aurélien Extrafine Merino Knitted Shirt in Navy: $248.00
It’s a step up in price. But we’re now getting a super soft 100% extrafine Merino wool knit and genuine mother of pearl buttons. And it’s made in Italy. There’s a reason Aurélien refers to their designs as “Smart Luxury”. This one delivers the quality and attention to detail we’d expect from a high end brand at a price that doesn’t completely destroy our wallets. Sizes small to XXXL are available on their website.
Also Try
- Perry Ellis Solid Pique Knit Shirt in Dark Sapphire: on sale for $47.70
- Wool & Prince Knit Button Down Shirt in Washed Navy: $148.00
- Sunspel Jersey Shirt in Navy: $215.00
- Emporio Armani Wool Blend Collared Cardigan in Navy: $255.00
The Unstructured Casual Suit
If Craig has a “go to” suit, this is it. As @whatsdanielwearing has noted, he’s been wearing this Brunello Cucinelli design for years to a variety of events: the London premiere of Cowboys and Aliens (2011), the Spanish premiere of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2012), his 2016 visit to the Omega factory, various Hollywood parties and (most recently) when he was the honorary starter at the NASCAR Bank of America Roval 400 in October 2021.
Two big takeaways. A well made suit in a timeless style is an investment that will pay off again and again (although I’d go with notched rather than peak lapels). And a lighter shade of brown is really an underated suit color. After being stuck in sweatpants and hoodies for a good part of the last two year, I’m definitely in the “tailoring is making a comeback” camp. I think people want to start dressing up again (even if it’s just to celebrate being around other people). So this could be the perfect time to treat yourself to a new suit that delivers the relaxed elegance we all deserve.
Studio Suits Italian Hunter Khaki Cotton Stretch Suit: $330.00
Studio Suits has plenty of options for us to choose from. I’m sharing the one above because I felt it was the best color match and the price was right in the middle. But their Dark Beige Feather Cotton Canvas Suit ($200.00) or the Caccioppoli Cotton Gabardine Brown Suit ($660.00) would also be excellent choices. If you’re worried about having a suit made to measure with an online company, Jeremy A. has an excellent indepth review of the corduroy suit Studio Suits made for him.
Spier & Mackay Wheat Herringbone Linen & Silk Suit: $448.00
Spier & Mackay have earned a reputation for providing exceptional value for the money. And this suit is a great example of that. They’ve used a 92% linen and 8% silk suiting from the Dino Filarte Mill. And their Neo cut offers a half canvassed construction with unpadded shoulders for a more natural and relaxed style. Plus they offer the suit in plenty of sizes in both Slim and Contemporary fits. So you can really dial in the fit off the rack.
Banana Republic Italian Cotton Linen Suit Jacket and Suit Pants in Maverick Tan: $600.00
Even though the fabric is a 54% cotton and 46% linen blend, it’s a heavier weight. But the half-lined construction should help with breathability. With $600 full retail price for the jacket and trousers, the price is definitely getting up there. However, Banana Republic is known for its discount codes (although they’re offering fewer than before). So it may be worth waiting for a sale to bring the price down.
Also Try
- Massimo Dutti Plain Khaki Cotton Suit Blazer and Suit Pants: $318.00
- J.Crew Kenmare Vintage Fatigue Suit Jacket and Suit Pants: on sale for $369.00
- Tommy Hilfigar Camel Cotton Suit: $530.00
- Proper Cloth Bedford Tobacco Irish Linen Suit: $695.00
- Tonello Dark Tan Cotton Suit: on sale for $717.84
- Brunello Cucinelli Sea Island Cotton Suit in Beige: $5295.00
The Statement Shades
Looks like Craig has jumped on the thick sunglasses bandwagon. Jacque Marie Mage is definitely one of the more popular (and more expensive) designers of “statement shades” today. But, honestly, the Tom Ford Snowdons Craig wore as Bond in 2015’s SPECTRE are a very similar design. So if you already have a pair of those (or a good alternative), I think you already have this look covered. If do want to go with the Craig approved brand, you can still find the Dealan Noir 3s at some independent shops for around $650.00. The Dealan 53 ($619.00) and the Dealan Vanta & Black ($685.00) also come close.
Etro ET615S Sunglasses in Black: on sale for $117.60
Italian fashion house Etro is known for its more “out there” designs. But their ET615S sunglasses are retro cool in all the right ways. And the 52-17-145 size should be a good fit for most faces. With a $218 MSRP, that sale price also makes them a heck of a deal.
Cubitts Judd Acetate Sunglasses in Black: $165.00
London brand Cubitts fully embraces that swinging 60s London style. And I can totally imagine a younger Michael Caine sporting a pair of their shades. Even better, they offer the frames in small, medium and large sizes. So you can choose the best fit for your face.
Taylor Morris James Sunglasses in Brown Tortoise: $201.00
Sadly, these are sold out in the black. But some of us prefer a good tortoise shell frame. And the blue lenses make them just a little different than most of the other options out there.
Also Try:
- A. KJÆRBEDE Nancy in Black: $45.00
- Adidas AOR024 in Black: on sale for $53.40
- Adidas AOR023 in Black: on sale for $76.20
- Hugo Boss BO0336 in Black: on sale for $79.80
- COS D-Frame Sunglasses in Black: $121.00
- Memphis Sunglasses in Black: $150.00
- Curry & Paxton Sean Sunglasses in Piano Black: $240.00
- Bold Norton Sunglasses in Dark Tortoiseshell: $500.00
- Cutler & Gross 1391 Sunglasses in Black: $500.00
The High Tops
A few years ago, our friend Jesse MacLeod wrote about Craig’s love of Nike running shoes. But Craig clearly also has an affinity for high top sneakers. From the classic Converse Chuck Taylors to interesting (and often hard to get) collabs to more fashion forward designer makes, Craig’s worn them all. While I’m not personally a fan of that “high tops with a suit” look, I do think a pair of retro style basketball sneakers are a great choice for just about any casual outfit. And with so many options out there today, it’s easy to find a pair that will work with your personal style.
About those options: there’s nothing wrong with going with a pair of iconic Chucks. If you’re feeling particularly creative, you can even create a custom pair using Converse’s online tool. But don’t be afraid to venture outside the box a little. Check out models from Keds ($85.00) or Vans ($69.95) if you want to stay with the classics. Or look at something from VEJA ($120.00) if want something slightly more modern.
P.F. Flyers Center Hi Sneakers: $78.00
P.F. Flyers may not be as well known as Converse. But the brand has an equally rich history in the sneaker world. And the ribbed toe bumper is really going to set them apart from your run-of-the-mill Chucks.
Converse Chuck 70 Crafted Canvas in Storm Wind/Desert Sand: $95.00
As we mentioned above, Craig seems to be a fan of the Converse collabs. So if you like the design of the classic Chucks but want something a little different (without paying up too much), the 70 Crafted Canvas model is definitely worth a look.
Shoes Like Pottery SLP01 High Top Sneakers: $165.00
Japanese brand Shoes Like Pottery honors classic Americana by taking an iconic design and simply making it better. Each pair is handmade using 100% cotton canvas and a natural rubber outsole and foxing. And then the whole shoe is kiln fired for 70 minutes to make the rubber soft, flexible and extremely durable. At their core, these are vintage style basketball sneakers made by artisans.
Have a suggestion for a great alternative for one of the pieces on our Daniel Craig inspired spring style list? Or maybe there’s a piece you’d like us to include in a future post? Let us know about it in the comments! And remember to visit our Facebook page, our NEW Instagram account and Pinterest Boards for more James Bond. Daniel Craig and Steve McQueen style advice and inspiration!
