Tailor Anthony Sinclair provided the suits for Sean Connery in the first Bond movies Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger (including the famous three-piece suit), You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever.

Terence Young, the director of Dr. No, turned to his own tailor Anthony Sinclair to oversee the transformation of the then unknown Sean Connery into the suave and stylish character that prevails in our minds today. For the shirts and ties, they went to Terence Young's own bespoke shirtmaker Turnbull & Asser where Bond got his signature shirts with double cuffs.

Connery was not used to wearing suits at the time and it is said that Young had him wear the suits around the clock, even to the extent of sleeping in them, in order to have him feel totally natural when filming began.

In the late 1950's Anthony Sinclair had created a classic, pared down shape, which became known as the Conduit Cut (named after his original Mayfair premises at 43 Conduit Street, just off Savile Row). The choice of materials and colours were restricted; lightweight worsted in navy, shades of grey and subtle Glen Urquhart checks or stripes. The Conduit suit is still available today.

One of the most iconic Bond suits is the three-piece suit worn by Bond in Goldfinger. Read the article "Getting the Anthony Sinclair three-piece suit from Goldfinger" for more information and photos.

In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin in 2013, Anthony Sinclair has produced its very first piece of ready-to-wear tailoring - a reproduction of the Cavalry Twill trousers worn by Sean Connery as he navigates his Aston around the Swiss Alps during a scene from Goldfinger. Read more about these trousers here or order them online at AnthonySinclair.com.

In 2014, Anthony Sinclair launched a collection of knitted neckties in 24 colors, to celebrate the upcoming production of the new Bond film, Bond 24. The knitted necktie is an essential piece of any gentleman's wardrobe. Traditionally worn casually with tweeds and other textured cloth, the knit was famously adopted by Sean Connery in the early Bond films and paired with formal suits by Anthony Sinclair. Get the neckties online at AnthonySinclair.com.

When Sinclair retired, his shears were handed down to his apprentice, Richard W. Paine, who continues to work for the company today, maintaining the standard of exemplary quality and style set by the master.

George Lazenby wore an Anthony Sinclair suit at his casting for the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The Barbican (London, UK) marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, from 1962's Dr No to this year's SkyFall, with a unique exhibition showcasing the inside story of the design and style of the world's most influential and iconic movie brand.

Opening Hours:
6 July – 5 September 2012
11am – 8pm (Thursday until 10pm)

Please check availability before visiting. Timed admission is in operation — advance booking is strongly advised. Last admission 90 mins before close.

In collaboration with EON Productions and with unprecedented access to their archives, Designing 007 will be a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history.

It will explore the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.

Highlights include gadgets and weapons made for Bond and his notorious adversaries by special effects experts John Stears and Chris Corbould, along with artwork for sets and storyboards by production designers Sir Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain, and costume designs by Bumble Dawson, Donfeld, Julie Harris, Lindy Hemming, Ronald Patterson, Emma Porteous, and Jany Temime.

On display too will be lavish screen finery by Hollywood costume designers and major fashion names including Giorgio Armani, Brioni, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, Hubert de Givenchy, Gucci's Frida Giannini, Douglas Hayward, Rifat Ozbek, Jenny Packham, Miuccia Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Anthony Sinclair, Philip Treacy, Emanuel Ungaro and Donatella Versace. Jeweler David Morris has some jewellery from Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is not Enough on display and Sunspel recreated, together with Lindy Hemming, a replica of the shorts worn by Sean Connery in Thunderball.

Designing 007 will transform the Barbican, taking the audience on a journey - a 'making of' and presentation of Bond style over 50 years.

The exhibition is designed by Ab Rogers and curated by the Barbican, with guest-curation by fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave and Oscar®-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming.

To book, or for more information, please visit barbican.org.uk/bond

Martini Bar

Whether you like your drink shaken or stirred, you can enjoy a selection of Bond-style cocktails at the Martini Bar and experience the 007 lifestyle for real. The Martini bar is open on Mon–Fri: 5pm–8pm (Thu until 10pm) and Sat–Sun: 12pm–8pm.

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The hugely successful exhibition, Designing 007 - 50 Years of Bond Style, has now finished its term at the Barbican Arts Centre in London and is being prepared for the next leg of a three year world tour which opens at the TIFF Bell Lighthouse in Toronto, Canada on the 26th October 2012.

At the beginning of this year, the organisers of the exhibition had commissioned Anthony Sinclair Ltd to recreate some of the iconic suits originally made by Sinclair for Sean Connery in the early Bond films. The process of remaking the original outfits has been detailed in previous blogposts on Anthony Sinclair's blog. It was also followed by video director Andy Smith who has produced the excellent short film, "Made in England", which interviews those involved (including Richard W. Paine) in the project.

Designing 007 - 50 Years of Bond Style will be to TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto, Canada from 26th October 2012 - 20th January 2013, http://tiff.net/bond

Read more about Anthony Sinclair and Bond.

Anthony Sinclair has made Great Strides to commemorate the Centenary of Aston Martin.

Whilst Sinclair had become firmly established as James Bond's tailor of choice in the early 007 movies, the character had to wait until the 1964 filming of Goldfinger before being introduced to his favourite motorcar, the Aston Martin DB5.

In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the marque in 2013, Anthony Sinclair has produced its very first piece of ready-to-wear tailoring - a reproduction of the iconic Cavalry Twill trousers worn by Sean Connery as he navigates his Aston around the Swiss Alps during a scene from Goldfinger. They are unquestionably a perfect pair.

Just like the DB5, production of the new trouser is an Anglo-Italian collaboration, with Sinclair's timeless styling and the finest British cloth trusted to the highly skilled hands of Italy's unrivalled pret-a-porter manufacturers.

SEAN

The original model (designated SEAN) is a mid-rise classic cut. The trouser is supported at the waist by side strap and buckle, fastened by clips on the waistband and closed with a zip fly. There are "frogmouth" pockets at the front and jetted hip pockets at the rear. The narrow leg has Sinclair's subtle, yet distinctive, "open-lapped seam" running along the outside, with the "Sartoriale" curtain waistband of the interior representing an elegant detail and a respectful acknowledgement of the product's bespoke roots.

Sean £396 - Shop here

DANIEL

A second model (DANIEL) has also been developed. This style has a low rise and slim cut. The standard garment has belt loops, slanted side and jetted hip pockets. It is fastened with buttons at the waist and fly, and, as with SEAN, carries the signature open-lapped seam along the outside leg. Made from cotton drill, rather than traditional wool twill, the trousers may be laundered and are made with a more robust "Sport" interior as opposed to the Sartoriale finish.

Daniel £198 - Shop here

SEAN and DANIEL are both available to buy ready-to-wear online in 13.5oz (420g) pure wool Cavalry Twill and 12oz (370g) Cotton Drill respectively.

Coming soon is the Special Order System (SOS) which may be used to create personally customised versions of either model from a wide selection of fabrics, styling details and measurement options.

Visit AnthonySinclair.com

One of the most famous James Bond suits is the three-piece grey suit worn by Sean Connery in the film Goldfinger (1964), recently even chosen as the second greatest suit in film history by Esquire (just after Cary Grant's suit in North by Northwest). The London tailor Anthony Sinclair still offers this suit today and getting one is a unique experience. I decided to get my own bespoke Goldfinger suit for a very special occasion and headed for London.

David Mason
Anthony Sinclair is currently run by the affable British designer David Mason. His career began as a shirtmaker in his native home of Manchester from where, in the early 1990's, he was making regular trips to London, Paris and New York, furnishing private clients with handmade bespoke shirts and neckties. David entered the inner sanctum of Savile Row, working alongside Anthony Sinclair's former apprentice, Richard W Paine, who had taken over the business when Anthony retired in 1982. David is now the creative director of the company with a commitment to preserve the founder's philosophy, maintain his standards and continue to produce timeless, classic clothing for a new generation of modern men.

David Mason (left) and Remmert van Braam in front of 34 Montagu Square

34 Montagu Square
I had met David Mason on a few occasions, first in 2012 when I visited his Savile Row boutique, but since then he has moved to another location with at least as much interesting history. The new Sinclair premises, accessible by appointment only, is located at 34 Montagu Square, Marleybone, London W1. This first floor and basement became famous when Beatles member Ringo Starr started to rent it in the mid 1960s. Ringo lived here, and fellow-Beatle Paul McCartney set up a studio in the basement where he recorded demos and worked on a few compositions. When Ringo moved out, he sublet the place to Jimi Hendrix who wrote the song “The Wind Cries Mary” in the apartment after a row with his girlfriend. In 1968, Ringo sublet the apartment to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The couple lived here for a year and shot the famous naked album cover in the bedroom. In the same year the apartment was raided by the police in search for drugs. In 1969, Ringo decided to sell the lease. In 2010, Yoko Ono revealed a Blue Plaque that commemorates the history of the building.

Read more about Montagu Square 34 on David Mason's Blog

As a Bond and Beatles fan, to enter this place so full of history is a treat in itself, but to get the Goldfinger suit measured here is beyond what I could have dreamed.

The first fitting in a historic room

Creating the Bond suit
Having a bespoke suit made is a very special experience: the process involves taking detailed measurements to produce a unique paper pattern which is used as a template to cut the cloth. The pattern is held on permanent record and used for future orders. Every details of the suit can be customised completely to the wishes of the customer.

In the Montagu Square apartment, David and I discuss the details of the suit and he writes down my requirements in a small notebook. Since I have already indicated that I would like the bespoke Goldfinger three-piece suit, some things are already set, like the grey fabric with Prince of Wales pattern and of course Sinclair's signature Conduit Cut with its distinctive 'hourglass' shape.

For the trousers I decide to go without pleats (Connery has front-pleats, but this is a bit too old-fashioned for my taste) and straight bottoms (Connery also wears straight bottoms in Goldfinger, but turn-ups are an option of course). For practicality I decide to go for a zipper fly instead of buttons, two back pockets and side belt-fasteners. The waistcoat gets lapels, just like in the movie, and two small front pockets. The back of the waistcoat and the inside of the jacket will get the same grey lining.

In only a few measuring sessions, David measures every detail to make sure the suit will fit and enhance my body shape (the ideal length of the jacket and trousers depend on your specific body shape and Mason knows like no other how it should be). The measurements are written down and kept for the records, in case I need another suit, trousers or jacket made.

The waistcoat has 6 buttons, the bottom one is left unfastened

Meeting Bond
During one of the last visits to Montagu Square, I have the unexpected pleasure of running into mr. Bond himself, Sir Roger Moore with his wife Kristina. Sir Roger is also using David Mason's skills to suit up properly before appearing on a morning tv show and going on tour through the UK. I have the chance to exchange a few words with the legendary actor and his lovely wife, before they leave on their next adventure.

The jacket has dark grey lining, the same material as the back of the waistcoat

Time to shave and look the part

Looking like Bond
Bespoke tailoring is Anthony Sinclair's core business and the Goldfinger suit one of the best sellers, so I was confident that the end result would be great. But not until I actually wear the final suit, I realise it is not just great, but spectacular. There was not much time between my first meeting and the moment I needed the suit, but the experienced people at Anthony Sinclair have made sure my suit was ready in time, which is nothing short of a miracle. At the final fitting at 34 Montagu Square the suit fits perfectly and looks stunning. I'm impressed by how well the suit fits and how good it feels: the rich fabric, the immaculate details, the unique shape. This is by far the best suit I have ever owned and together with the experience of working with David in the famous Montagu Square location, this is one of those once in a life-time events that I will cherish forever.

If you are interested in getting a bespoke suit or maybe a pair of trousers similar to the ones worn by Connery in Goldfinger during the famous chase in the Swiss Alps, be sure to contact David Mason for an appointment, or visit the website www.anthonysinclair.com for more information, or follow Anthony Sinclair on Facebook, the Blog or Twitter.

Many thanks to David Mason of Anthony Sinclair and photographer Sam Asaert.

Text © 2013-2014 Remmert van Braam - studio photos by Sam Asaert © Bond Lifestyle

Bond fan and photographer Stuart Kortekaas reports from Melbourne, Australia, where currently the Designing 007 exhibition is on display.

For over 50 years James Bond movies have been synonymous with glamorous style, exotic locations, luxurious sports cars, and the very latest in technology. As the name suggests, the exhibition Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style gives a rare look into the craft involved in creating these films, with rare samples of design work on display from EON’s production archive.

Even before stepping inside the museum it’s clear that the scale of the exhibition is suitably larger than life, and appropriate to the world’s most iconic movie brand, with the entire front of the museum decorated with billboard sized publicity photos of all six actors who have played 007.

Organised by the Barbican Centre in London, in partnership with EON Productions, the exhibition features over 400 objects, including such iconic movie props as the attaché case used by Bond in From Russia With Love (1963), and the Aston Martin DB5 featured in both GoldenEye (1995) and SkyFall (2012).

Like Bond himself, Designing 007 is truly international in scope. First shown in London, then travelling to Toronto and Shanghai, the exhibition is currently in Melbourne for its only stop in Australia, before travelling to Russia and then the Netherlands later in 2014.

The Melbourne run of Designing 007 features several world firsts. Most notably it is the only time that the ultra rare Toyota 2000GT convertible from You Only Live Twice will be on display during the exhibition.

It is one of only two ever made by Toyota, especially for the film in 1966, as it was discovered that Sean Connery was too tall to fit into the existing 2000GT coupe! Insured for literally millions of dollars, this car rarely leaves the Toyota Museum in Tokyo, and only then for less than 3 months at a time. For this reason during the first stage of the exhibition another rare James Bond car was featured, the 1969 Aston Martin DBS that was driven on Guincho beach in Portugal by Diana Rigg at the start of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Like the Toyota, this Aston Martin is only taking part in the exhibition while it is in Melbourne.

As a qualified industrial designer, I have to say the exhibition certainly lives up to the title Designing 007. Freehand sketches, marker concept renderings, foam mock-ups, presentation scale models... there are objects on display from every stage of the design process. Being able to view scale models (both on-road & underwater specifications) of the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) I think is worth the price of admission alone!

Having followed the movies since a child, including seeing essentially every ‘Making Of’ documentaries about the films, I wondered before entering the exhibition just how many items it would contain that I wouldn’t have seen before. Well avid Bond fans, have no fear, as the curators had over 50 years of movie production to select from, I think it’s safe to say there’ll be items to interest even the most dedicated of 007 fans! For example drawings of gadgets that were considered but never used on film, such as the concept for a briefcase containing an inflatable life raft for Moonraker (1979)!

You enter the exhibition by walking through a tunnel inspired by the iconic 007 gun barrel motif, complete with a dot on the wall in the distance playing video clips. From there you travel through a series of themed rooms, each dedicated to illustrating a various aspect of the Bond world. By far the largest of the rooms is the casino room, which features mannequins dressed in some of the most stylish men’s and ladies clothing to ever be featured on film, including 007’s iconic suit from Dr. No (1962) by Anthony Sinclair, and the stunning dress Naomie Harris wore as Moneypenny during the casino scenes of SkyFall (2012).

Fashion plays a major role in Designing 007, which comes as no surprise considering the exhibition was guest curated by fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave, and Oscar® winning costume designer Lindy Hemming. With all the action and exotic locations it’s easy to overlook and take for granted that the movie characters, particularly the leading ladies, are always glamorously dressed.

Interestingly next to some of the clothing on display, such as the cat suit worn by Michelle Yeoh in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), is the original mood board containing various clippings that inspired the design, from both real world and fictional sources (which in the case of the cat suit including publicity shots of both Diana Rigg and Honor Blackman from their time in the 1960’s television series The Avengers!).

Other special additions to the exhibition in Melbourne are the models of the Aston Martin DB5 and SkyFall statue and sign.

I highly recommend this exhibition, particularly to anyone interested in fashion & design!

Designing 007 is on display at Melbourne Museum until 23 February 2014.
Website: designing007melbourne.com

Text and photos © Stuart Kortekaas

Tailor Anthony Sinclair, best known for providing the suits for Sean Connery in his James Bond movies, launched a collection of knitted neckties in 24 different colours to celebrate the upcoming production of the next 007 film Bond 24. The knitted ties are available online at the Anthony Sinclair website, starting at £75.

Traditionally worn casually with tweeds and other textured cloth, the knit was famously adopted by Sean Connery in the early Bond films and paired with formal suits by Anthony Sinclair. The trend continued long after Connery had surrendered his license to kill and remains a signature 007 look. The black and navy ties are the most Bond 'style' versions, but the other colors will set you apart from the crowd.

David Mason, creative director of the company comments: “Slim, simple and incredibly versatile, knitted neckties are a staple wardrobe requirement. The solid, sophisticated colours are easy to co-ordinate with patterned suits or shirts, but their texture provides interest when paired with plain materials. Whilst black or navy blue will undoubtedly remain the most popular choice, we think that offering a broad spectrum of brighter shades for Spring/Summer 2014 will be fun for seriously well-dressed men”.

The new collection is available in a range of 24 colours to mark the upcoming production of Bond 24, which is the working title for the 24th film in the James Bond film series. Each necktie is presented in a stylish gift box and prices start from £75 including VAT (order here).

Visit AnthonySinclair.com

A black knitted tie was for example worn with the famous three-piece suit by Anthony Sinclair in Goldfinger. Read the article Getting the Anthony Sinclair Goldfinger suit

Bond Lifestyle presents a selection of stylish Father's Day gifts. Order your gift now so you can unwrap it on June 15th 2014.

1. John Smedley V-Neck jumper

As worn by Bond in SkyFall, this classiv V-neck jumper is now available with 20% off if you use promo code DAD14.
Get the Bobby on the official John Smedley website for $230 (USA) or £130 (UK) or €165 (Germany/rest of Europe) and apply the code for the 20% discount.

2. Tom Ford Marko sunglasses

Also worn in SkyFall, these Tom Ford with shiny rhodium frame and blue glasses are not only stylish, but also very light and comfortable.

Get Tom Ford Marko sunglasses here:

Amazon.com ($174 - $338)
Amazon.ca (CDN$380)
Amazon.co.uk (£150.00)

3. Anthony Sinclair Knitted Tie

The silk knitted tie was made popular by Sean Connery in the 1960s and is currently just as hip as it is stylish. Bond's tailor Anthony Sinclair now offers this classic knitted tie in classic black, navy blue, and 22 other colors on AnthonySinclair.com.

4. Sophie Harley Loveknot cufflinks

An original gift from the London based jewellery designer Sophie Harley who created the famous Algerian Loveknot necklace for Vesper in Casino Royale. The cufflinks are part of the Algerian Loveknot collection and available in Silver or in Gold/Silver with diamond on SophieHarley.com.

5. Sunspel Riviera Polo shirt

Created by Sunspel for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, this navy polo shirt (£80.00 / €96 / $128) is one of most popular Bond items and still available. The polo shirt is now also available as part of the Riviera Set (the navy polo, white v-neck shirt and grey crewneck shirt) or the Riviera Polo Set (three Riviera polos in the color of your choice) which gives you a 12,5% savings on the individual price.

Bond Lifestyle recommends the Riviera polo in Navy (as seen in Casino Royale), Sky (a color reminiscent of the Dr No polo worn by Sean Connery) and Black (the Quantum of Solace style shirt). This set can be ordered for $336 / £210 / €252 on the official Sunspel website (12,5% discount on the individual items).

Buy the Riviera Set ($272, USA) or Riviera Polo Shirt Set ($336)

Buy the Riviera Set (£170, UK) or Riviera Polo Shirt Set (£210)

Buy the Riviera Set (€204, EU) or Riviera Polo Shirt Set (€252)

Read more about the Sunspel shirts in Casino Royale

Get more ideas in the sections Gift Ideas, Clothing, Accessories, Books.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Goldfinger's release Slazenger have collaborated with Anthony Sinclair to re-issue the golf sweater that was shot to fame in in the 1964 classic, Goldfinger.

The most famous suit created by Sinclair, during Connery's tenure as 007, was undoubtedly the three-piece Prince of Wales ensemble in which Bond rolls in the hay with Pussy Galore. In another memorable moment from the film, Connery again finds himself in the long grass, but on this occasion he is battling with a somewhat less attractive opponent, in the form of German actor Gert Fröbe, who plays the role of Bond villain Auric Goldfinger.

The scene is the legendary golf round between the rivals, where the hero outsmarts his nemesis, not only with gamesmanship and guile, but also in the sartorial stakes.

Connery cuts a slim figure in frog-mouthed pocket trousers by Anthony Sinclair. They are paired with a grey marl polo shirt and topped with a burgundy V-neck sweater, both produced by historic British sportswear manufacturer Slazenger and embroider with the company's distinctive Panther logo.

In 2014, 50 years after the release of Goldfinger (17th September 1964) Slazenger and Anthony Sinclair have collaborated to re-issue this iconic golf sweater, which is available now on AnthonySinclair.com.

Slazenger Heritage is the division of Slazenger responsible for creating peerless quality garments inspired by original vintage pieces. The Limited Edition sweater has been beautifully styled in the finest Merino wool and carries the authentic period logo worn by Sean Connery in his most stylish portrayal of the World's favourite secret agent.

The Legend Jumper, by Slazenger, is a genuine heritage product made from superfine two-fold (2/44) Merino wool yarn to create a unique knitted garment. The clean construction of the sweater provides a look of distinction and a quality akin to handcrafted tailoring.

The soft, luxurious hand of the sweater is further enhanced by unparalleled characteristics of performance and practicality, having excellent resistance to pilling and abrasion, whilst being machine washable and total easy care (TEC) treated for tumble drying. With peerless colour brightness and fastness, together with timeless styling, the finished product has a longevity that is second to none.

Order the Slazenger "Legend" sweater now on AnthonySinclair.com

MR PORTER added an entertaining video to their website about the history of spy style. James Bond, Ian Fleming and Bond's tailor Anthony Sinclair are prominently featured.

Watch the short video on MR PORTER

The video is released in conjunction with the Kingsman: The Secret Service movie, for which MR PORTER created a special collection. The Kingsman collections features suits, jackets, ties, cufflinks, shoes, Bremont watches, Swaine Adeney Brigg bags, Turnbull & Asser shirts and more. All the items will be worn or used by characters in the film, mainly by Colin Firth and Taron Egerton.

Check out the collection, which is exclusively available on MR PORTER.

Anthony Sinclair, the creator of the famous conduit cut suit worn by Sean Connery in his Bond films, now offers a ready-to-wear version of the mid-grey Conduit Cut Sharkskin suit on their website.

SPECIAL OFFER
To celebrate this launch, customers who order the new ready-to-wear Conduit Cut Sharkskin suit may add a white double-cuff or cocktail-cuff shirt, a solid-coloured knitted necktie and a crisp linen pocket square, and the whole look (normally priced at £1,000.00) is available for just £700.00 (£583.33 exc.VAT). At checkout enter the coupon code CCSUIT and the discount will be applied. The offer ends on 31st May 2015. Visit the special offer page on AnthonySinclair.com for more details.

Special offer: order the ready-to-wear Conduit Cut suit and add a shirt, knitted necktie and pocket square

Sinclair's very first ready-to-wear Conduit Cut suit is available in two body fits: Slim is cut close to the body. Regular is a more relaxed cut, with less suppression at the waist. Sizes are available from 36” to 46”.

The Conduit Cut Sharkskin Suit is produced from Super 130s yarn, woven in Italy by renowned textile manufacturer, Carlo Barbera. The suit features a natural shoulder, roped sleeveheads, and a degree of chest drape. Along with the suppressed waist and slightly flared skirt, these create the subtle hourglass silhouette that is the hallmark of the Conduit Cut. The mid-grey sharkskin cloth and the 9oz (270g) weight make it the perfect suit for any occasion in any season. 

The single-breasted, two-button jacket features two slanted side pockets, a ticket pocket, and welted breast pocket, as well as side vents, working four-button cuffs, and a natural shoulder with roped sleeveheads. 

The flat-fronted, plain bottom trousers feature a zip fly, two straight side pockets, two rear pockets and a fob pocket. For added comfort and fit, there are also strap-and-buckle side adjusters, as well as braces buttons.

Anthony Sinclair has recently added many more interesting Bond related clothing items to their webshop.

The cocktail cuff or turnback cuff shirt is a must have for any sartorial Bond fan. Get it now with the suit in the special offer.

Complete the conduit cut suit with white moiré Albert Thurston Braces with gilt clasp which were worn by Bond in Casino Royale and are still quite popular.

Available again are the trousers Sean and Daniel, which were launched in 2013. The Sean trousers (pictured above) are very similar to the trousers worn in the Goldfinger chase scene in Switzerland, and the Daniel trousers are a contemporary version of the Sean trousers with a low rise and slim cut.

For more British clothing and the ready-to-wear Conduit Cut, visit AnthonySinclair.com.

Also read the Bond Lifestyle article "Getting the Anthony Sinclar three-piece suit from Goldfinger" or visit the Bespoke Tailoring section at Anthony Sinclair.

David Mason, the man behind the recent reawakening of the Anthony Sinclair brand, has launched his own label, Mason & Sons. Coinciding with the launch, Mason announced the resurrection of three other brands, Mr. Fish, Curry & Paxton and Motoluxe.

Four and a half years ago, David Mason, together with the help of his sons and colleagues, began the process of reawakening the Anthony Sinclair brand from a long period of dormancy. Starting with the famous bespoke three-piece Goldfinger suit, the business grew quickly, adding ready to wear suits, shirts and ties to its brand.

The business moved from Savile Row to another famous location, 34 Montagu Square, a former residence of John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Jimi Hendrix. Here you can be fitted for your bespoke suit in luxurious surroundings steeped in history. Bond Lifestyle got a bespoke Goldfinger suit fitted here in 2013.

David Mason (left) and Bond Lifestyle's Remmert van Braam in front of 34 Montagu Square

Read more: Getting the Goldfinger Three-Piece Suit

The Anthony Sinclair website grew from a small offering of knitted ties into a platform for 16 different heritage brands, allowing customers to acquire a complete James Bond-style wardrobe online.

Popular James Bond related items on the website include the Slazenger Heritage Goldfinger Golf jumper, the Sanders & Sanders Chukka boots, Dents gloves, Sunspel shirts,John Smedley Bobby V-neck sweater,Albert Thurston braces and the famous Baracuta Harrington jacket.

Recently Anthony Sinclair was recognised as one of the 125 Great British Brands by Country & Town House magazine in their 2016 luxury brand bible.

Now with the launch of the new brand Mason & Sons, the Anthony Sinclair website has been renamed MasonandSons.com and still offers the wide variety of heritage brands, and adding three new historic brands: Mr. Fish, Curry & Paxton and Motoluxe.

Mr. Fish

Michael Fish Fitting Sean Connery's shirt

To many, Michael Fish needs no introduction. He was the shirtmaker at Turnbull & Asser who famously fitted Sean Connery with cocktail cuffs for his 007 debut in 1962. Four years later, Fish opened his eponymous store on Clifford Street in Mayfair, from where he led the Peacock Revolution, making dresses for Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and boxing robes for Muhammad Ali along the way.

Find Mr. Fish on masonandsons.com

Mr. Fish x Anthony Sinclair

A special collection of dress shirts is available under the Mr. Fish x Anthony Sinclair label, find them here. 

Curry & Paxton

Michael Caine wearing Curry & Paxton sunglasses

Curry & Paxton made ophthalmic instruments in the Victorian age, and by the mid-19th Century had developed a nationwide chain of optician stores in the UK. Michael Caine was a customer, wearing their spectacles in the Harry Palmer film trilogy and The Italian Job.

The brand will relaunch in September 2016 with bespoke optical frames and ready to wear sunglasses.

Motoluxe

In 1905, Motoluxe began making alpaca coats and travel requisites for early motorists who needed protection from the elements during winter driving. It was undoubtedly the world’s first motoring apparel brand, and its reintroduction will offer a collection of performance tailoring, inspired by a century of love between man and his cars.

Anthony Sinclair

Anthony Sinclair ready to wear suits and shirts are now exclusively available on masonandsons.com. You can now customize suits with the Conduit Cut in a wide variety of fabrics, and with alterations including sleeve lenght and shoulder width, try it here.

The 007 for £700 deal is still available as well. This popular deal gives you a two piece Anthony Sinclair suit, together with a shirt, plain knitted necktie and pocket square of your choice, all for only £700. Read more about the deal here and use code CCSUIT at checkout.

Find out more about the new brands, Anthony Sinclair and Mason & Sons on the brand new website masonandsons.com

Anthony Sinclair partnered with Deakin & Francis to release a pair of cufflinks inspired by the pair worn by Sean Connery in the early Bond films.

These stylish cufflinks quickly sold out but a new batch is scheduled for January delivery and can be pre-ordered on Mason & Sons for £245.

The cufflinks are worn in the first scene featuring James Bond, in Dr. No at the Baccarat table in London’s famous Les Ambassadeurs Casino.

James Bond in Dr No

Bond wears a midnight blue Anthony Sinclair dinner jacket, a Lanvin double-cuffed dress shirt, and a pair of square cufflinks in rose gold, with rounded corners and engine turned detail.

In Goldfinger (1964) we see Bond wearing cufflinks again, and it looks like the same cufflinks he wore with his dress shirt in Dr.No. Bond wears the cufflinks during the meeting in M's office, for the black-tie dinner with Col. Smithers at the Bank of England, and when Q shows Bond the Aston Martin DB5 for the first time.

James Bond wearing cufflinks when seeing the Aston Martin DB5 for the first time in Goldfinger

Later in the film, following a round of golf at Stoke Poges with Auric Goldfinger, Bond appears to switch to a pair of unusual, torpedo-shaped cufflinks with his Anthony Sinclair barleycorn tweed jacket and ecru double cuff shirt. Their shape is quite a departure from those Connery has worn up until this point, and they have been the subject of bemusement with Bond-style aficionados for many years.

Whilst on first inspection these seem to be a different pair of cufflinks entirely, an eagle-eyed employee of Anthony Sinclair recently spotted that they are, in fact, the same pair... they have simply been put in backwards!

This could've been a mistake by the wardrobe department whilst on location that wasn’t picked up by continuity. Perhaps Connery was confused by the contraptions whilst trying to dress himself, or maybe James Bond had actually intended to make a fashion statement to follow on from the blue towelling onesie worn earlier in the film.

Throughout the remainder of the movie, Bond continues to wear the cufflinks with various outfits, the "correct" way round. There is even a moment where he adds a tie-slide to his outfit. However, Sean Connery would never wear cufflinks this often as Bond again, even going so far as to pair a cocktail cuff shirt with his dinner jacket in Thunderball.

Anthony Sinclair approached British jewellers Deakin & Francis (who also worked on cufflinks for the Mr Porter's Kingsman: The Secret Service brand), to create a product that emulated the originals, replicating them as closely as the reference material would allow.

The Bond inspired Deakin & Francis X Sinclair cufflinks are available in both Rose Gold-Plated Sterling Silver (which resemble the movie cufflinks) and Sterling Silver.

Only a few days left to get the 007 look £700. Mason and Sons announced that their popular offer finally ends on February 14th 2017.

The deal includes a ready to wear Anthony Sinclair Conduit Cut two-piece suit, a formal shirt, one of the solid-coloured knitted neckties and a crisp linen pocket square. This combination is normally priced at £1,000.00, but in the special offer available for just £700.00 (£583.33 exc.VAT). If you want to trade up to a Special Order or Handmade, the price increment will simply be added.

At checkout enter the coupon code CCSUIT and the discount will be applied. Visit the special offer page on Mason & Sons for more details.

You could use the saving to buy a pair of Bond-inspired rose-gold cufflinks (now back in stock) to complete the outfit.

007 Offer page on the Mason & Sons website

Also read the Bond Lifestyle article "Getting the Anthony Sinclar three-piece suit from Goldfinger".

Mason & Sons have recreated the jacket and trousers worn in Goldfinger (1964) by Sean Connery.

The hacking jacket and cavalry twill trousers are inspired by horse-riding outfit and are a good match for action and driving comfortabely in an Aston Martin.

Sean Connery, as James Bond, wears the Barleycorn tweed hacking jacket with cavalry twill trousers after the famous golf match at Stoke Poges with Auric Goldfinger. He then gets in his Aston Martin DB5 and follows Goldfinger and the Rolls-Royce all the way to Switzerland. He still wears the outfit when he meets Tilly Masterson and later when he spies on Goldfinger's factory.

Mason & Sons commissioned the 180-year-old West Yorkshire mill Abraham Moon to recreate the brown Barleycorn tweed that was worn in the film. In addition to the tweed, the mill has also produced a Cavalry Twill fabric for the trousers which pairs with the jacketing to complete the iconic outfit.

Barleycorn tweed jacket
The single breasted jacket, made from 100% Wool, features two button, slanted side pockets, an outside ticket pocket, out breast welt pocket, centre vent in the back and four button cuffs.

For more information on the history of the Hacking jacket, visit masonandsons.com or order the jacket here.

Cavalry Twill trousers with "frogmouth" pockets
The cavalry twill trousers are cut by Anthony Sinclair, the tailor that dressed Sean Connery in his first Bond films.

But unlike the high-waisted pleated trousers made by Sinclair for the majority of Connery’s Bond suits, this model has a slimmer line with plain fronts and “frogmouth” pockets (usually associated with horse riding trousers) which are more easily accessed when seated.

Furthermore, the trousers feature a flat front, zip fly, strap & buckle side adjusters, braces buttons a fob pocket and plain bottoms.

THe trousers are available to order via the Mason & Sons website.

The jacket and trousers were also worn by Sean Connery in the next James Bond film Thunderball (1965) and in the 1964 crime thriller Woman of Straw in which he starred with Gina Lollobrigida.

Complete the look
In the Goldfinger scenes, the outfit is matched with a brown knitted tie, white ecru shirt with double cuffs and a pair of rose gold cufflinks which, on close inspection, appear to have been attached back to front (the detailed story can be found here).

Find this and other timeless James Bond and Steve McQueen inspired clothes at the Mason & Sons website.

Bond fan and photographer Stuart Kortekaas reports from Melbourne, Australia, where currently the Designing 007 exhibition is on display.

For over 50 years James Bond movies have been synonymous with glamorous style, exotic locations, luxurious sports cars, and the very latest in technology. As the name suggests, the exhibition Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style gives a rare look into the craft involved in creating these films, with rare samples of design work on display from EON’s production archive.

Even before stepping inside the museum it’s clear that the scale of the exhibition is suitably larger than life, and appropriate to the world’s most iconic movie brand, with the entire front of the museum decorated with billboard sized publicity photos of all six actors who have played 007.

Organised by the Barbican Centre in London, in partnership with EON Productions, the exhibition features over 400 objects, including such iconic movie props as the attaché case used by Bond in From Russia With Love (1963), and the Aston Martin DB5 featured in both GoldenEye (1995) and SkyFall (2012).

Like Bond himself, Designing 007 is truly international in scope. First shown in London, then travelling to Toronto and Shanghai, the exhibition is currently in Melbourne for its only stop in Australia, before travelling to Russia and then the Netherlands later in 2014.

The Melbourne run of Designing 007 features several world firsts. Most notably it is the only time that the ultra rare Toyota 2000GT convertible from You Only Live Twice will be on display during the exhibition.

It is one of only two ever made by Toyota, especially for the film in 1966, as it was discovered that Sean Connery was too tall to fit into the existing 2000GT coupe! Insured for literally millions of dollars, this car rarely leaves the Toyota Museum in Tokyo, and only then for less than 3 months at a time. For this reason during the first stage of the exhibition another rare James Bond car was featured, the 1969 Aston Martin DBS that was driven on Guincho beach in Portugal by Diana Rigg at the start of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Like the Toyota, this Aston Martin is only taking part in the exhibition while it is in Melbourne.

As a qualified industrial designer, I have to say the exhibition certainly lives up to the title Designing 007. Freehand sketches, marker concept renderings, foam mock-ups, presentation scale models... there are objects on display from every stage of the design process. Being able to view scale models (both on-road & underwater specifications) of the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) I think is worth the price of admission alone!

Having followed the movies since a child, including seeing essentially every ‘Making Of’ documentaries about the films, I wondered before entering the exhibition just how many items it would contain that I wouldn’t have seen before. Well avid Bond fans, have no fear, as the curators had over 50 years of movie production to select from, I think it’s safe to say there’ll be items to interest even the most dedicated of 007 fans! For example drawings of gadgets that were considered but never used on film, such as the concept for a briefcase containing an inflatable life raft for Moonraker (1979)!

You enter the exhibition by walking through a tunnel inspired by the iconic 007 gun barrel motif, complete with a dot on the wall in the distance playing video clips. From there you travel through a series of themed rooms, each dedicated to illustrating a various aspect of the Bond world. By far the largest of the rooms is the casino room, which features mannequins dressed in some of the most stylish men’s and ladies clothing to ever be featured on film, including 007’s iconic suit from Dr. No (1962) by Anthony Sinclair, and the stunning dress Naomie Harris wore as Moneypenny during the casino scenes of SkyFall (2012).

Fashion plays a major role in Designing 007, which comes as no surprise considering the exhibition was guest curated by fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave, and Oscar® winning costume designer Lindy Hemming. With all the action and exotic locations it’s easy to overlook and take for granted that the movie characters, particularly the leading ladies, are always glamorously dressed.

Interestingly next to some of the clothing on display, such as the cat suit worn by Michelle Yeoh in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), is the original mood board containing various clippings that inspired the design, from both real world and fictional sources (which in the case of the cat suit including publicity shots of both Diana Rigg and Honor Blackman from their time in the 1960’s television series The Avengers!).

Other special additions to the exhibition in Melbourne are the models of the Aston Martin DB5 and SkyFall statue and sign.

I highly recommend this exhibition, particularly to anyone interested in fashion & design!

Designing 007 is on display at Melbourne Museum until 23 February 2014.
Website: designing007melbourne.com

Text and photos © Stuart Kortekaas

Tailor Anthony Sinclair, best known for providing the suits for Sean Connery in his James Bond movies, launched a collection of knitted neckties in 24 different colours to celebrate the upcoming production of the next 007 film Bond 24. The knitted ties are available online at Mason & Sons, starting at £75.

Traditionally worn casually with tweeds and other textured cloth, the knit was famously adopted by Sean Connery in the early Bond films and paired with formal suits by Anthony Sinclair. The trend continued long after Connery had surrendered his license to kill and remains a signature 007 look. The black and navy ties are the most Bond 'style' versions, but the other colors will set you apart from the crowd.

David Mason, creative director of the company comments: “Slim, simple and incredibly versatile, knitted neckties are a staple wardrobe requirement. The solid, sophisticated colours are easy to co-ordinate with patterned suits or shirts, but their texture provides interest when paired with plain materials. Whilst black or navy blue will undoubtedly remain the most popular choice, we think that offering a broad spectrum of brighter shades for Spring/Summer 2014 will be fun for seriously well-dressed men”.

The new collection is available in a range of 24 colours to mark the upcoming production of Bond 24, which is the working title for the 24th film in the James Bond film series. Each necktie is presented in a stylish gift box and prices start from £75 including VAT, available on Mason & Sons (formerly AnthonySinclair.com).

A black knitted tie was for example worn with the famous three-piece suit by Anthony Sinclair in Goldfinger. Read the article Getting the Anthony Sinclair Goldfinger suit

Bond Lifestyle presents a selection of stylish Father's Day gifts. Order your gift now so you can unwrap it on June 15th 2014.

1. John Smedley V-Neck jumper

As worn by Bond in SkyFall, this classiv V-neck jumper is now available with 20% off if you use promo code DAD14.
Get the Bobby on the official John Smedley website for $230 (USA) or £130 (UK) or €165 (Germany/rest of Europe) and apply the code for the 20% discount.

2. Tom Ford Marko sunglasses

Also worn in SkyFall, these Tom Ford with shiny rhodium frame and blue glasses are not only stylish, but also very light and comfortable.

Get Tom Ford Marko sunglasses here:

Amazon.com ($174 - $338)
Amazon.ca (CDN$380)
Amazon.co.uk (£150.00)

3. Anthony Sinclair Knitted Tie

The silk knitted tie was made popular by Sean Connery in the 1960s and is currently just as hip as it is stylish. Bond's tailor Anthony Sinclair now offers this classic knitted tie in classic black, navy blue, and 22 other colors on Mason & Sons (formerly AnthonySinclair.com).

4. Sophie Harley Loveknot cufflinks

An original gift from the London based jewellery designer Sophie Harley who created the famous Algerian Loveknot necklace for Vesper in Casino Royale. The cufflinks are part of the Algerian Loveknot collection and available in Silver or in Gold/Silver with diamond on SophieHarley.com.

5. Sunspel Riviera Polo shirt

Created by Sunspel for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, this navy polo shirt (£80.00 / €96 / $128) is one of most popular Bond items and still available. The polo shirt is now also available as part of the Riviera Set (the navy polo, white v-neck shirt and grey crewneck shirt) or the Riviera Polo Set (three Riviera polos in the color of your choice) which gives you a 12,5% savings on the individual price.

Bond Lifestyle recommends the Riviera polo in Navy (as seen in Casino Royale), Sky (a color reminiscent of the Dr No polo worn by Sean Connery) and Black (the Quantum of Solace style shirt). This set can be ordered on the official Sunspel website (12,5% discount on the individual items).

Read more about the Sunspel shirts in Casino Royale

Get more ideas in the sections Gift Ideas, Clothing, Accessories, Books.

Anthony Sinclair, the creator of the famous conduit cut suit worn by Sean Connery in his Bond films, offers their ready-to-wear version of the Conduit Cut suit on Mason & Sons (formerly AnthonySinclair.com) now also in Navy Blue.

SPECIAL OFFER
Customers who order the new ready-to-wear Conduit Cut suit (Sharkskin Grey or Navy blue) may add a white double-cuff or cocktail-cuff shirt, a solid-coloured knitted necktie and a crisp linen pocket square, and the whole look (normally priced at £1,000.00) is available for just £700.00 . At checkout enter the coupon code CCSUIT (or CCSUIT2 or CCSUIT3 for two or three suits) and the discount will be applied. Visit the special offer page on Mason & Sons for more details.

Special offer: order the ready-to-wear Conduit Cut suit and add a shirt, knitted necktie and pocket square

Sinclair's very first ready-to-wear Conduit Cut suit is available in two body fits: Slim is cut close to the body. Regular is a more relaxed cut, with less suppression at the waist. Sizes are available from 36” to 46”.

The Conduit Cut Sharkskin Suit is produced from Super 130s yarn, woven in Italy by renowned textile manufacturer, Carlo Barbera. The suit features a natural shoulder, roped sleeveheads, and a degree of chest drape. Along with the suppressed waist and slightly flared skirt, these create the subtle hourglass silhouette that is the hallmark of the Conduit Cut. The mid-grey sharkskin cloth and the 9oz (270g) weight make it the perfect suit for any occasion in any season.

The single-breasted, two-button jacket features two slanted side pockets, a ticket pocket, and welted breast pocket, as well as side vents, working four-button cuffs, and a natural shoulder with roped sleeveheads.

The flat-fronted, plain bottom trousers feature a zip fly, two straight side pockets, two rear pockets and a fob pocket. For added comfort and fit, there are also strap-and-buckle side adjusters, as well as braces buttons.

Anthony Sinclair has recently added many more interesting Bond related clothing items to their webshop.

The cocktail cuff or turnback cuff shirt is a must have for any sartorial Bond fan. Get it now with the suit in the special offer.

Complete the conduit cut suit with white moiré Albert Thurston Braces with gilt clasp which were worn by Bond in Casino Royale and are still quite popular, available on Mason & Sons (formerly AnthonySinclair.com) for £55 / $79 / €69.

Available again are the trousers Sean and Daniel, which were launched in 2013. The Sean trousers (pictured above) are very similar to the trousers worn in the Goldfinger chase scene in Switzerland, and the Daniel trousers are a contemporary version of the Sean trousers with a low rise and slim cut.

For more British clothing and the ready-to-wear Conduit Cut, visit Mason & Sons (formerly AnthonySinclair.com).

Also read the Bond Lifestyle article "Getting the Anthony Sinclar three-piece suit from Goldfinger".

MR PORTER added an entertaining video to their website about the history of spy style. James Bond, Ian Fleming and Bond's tailor Anthony Sinclair are prominently featured.

Watch the short video on MR PORTER

The video is released in conjunction with the Kingsman: The Secret Service movie, for which MR PORTER created a special collection. The Kingsman collections features suits, jackets, ties, cufflinks, shoes, Bremont watches, Swaine Adeney Brigg bags, Turnbull & Asser shirts and more. All the items will be worn or used by characters in the film, mainly by Colin Firth and Taron Egerton.

Check out the collection, which is exclusively available on MR PORTER.