Just an update on my Connery Bond suit archaeology. So far I've recently re-watched DN through Thunderball. What I have discovered is that Connery's Bond not only wears double vent, but single vent as well as ventless suits. Go figure. For some reason I remembered Connery's Bond as primarily wearing double vent suits. Not true. In any event, I'll probably go for the double vent because to my mind it's more synonymous with British style. I've also been looking at the pockets. Next up YOLT with a beefier Connery. I just love Connery's Bond, what a treat it's been!
DG
Anthony Sinclair himself preferred double vents and was doing them in the 1950s before they were mainstream. Connery wore suits with double vents, single vents and no vents about equally in the 1960s. Diamonds Are Forever skews it to double vents. I can't give you an exact number since I can't tell if the blue suit Bond wears to Q's lab in Goldfinger has a single vent or double vents. But it's about 6 or 7 of each.
SPOILER ALERT: Connery's two suits in You Only Live Twice both have single vents. All of the suits in Diamonds Are Forever have double vents. Diamonds Are Forever adds an additional 7 double-vented suits to the number above. I didn't count sports coats, blazers, dinner jackets or the Naval Uniform.
Just an update on my Connery Bond suit archaeology. So far I've recently re-watched DN through Thunderball. What I have discovered is that Connery's Bond not only wears double vent, but single vent as well as ventless suits. Go figure. For some reason I remembered Connery's Bond as primarily wearing double vent suits. Not true. In any event, I'll probably go for the double vent because to my mind it's more synonymous with British style. I've also been looking at the pockets. Next up YOLT with a beefier Connery. I just love Connery's Bond, what a treat it's been!
DG
Anthony Sinclair himself preferred double vents and was doing them in the 1950s before they were mainstream. Connery wore suits with double vents, single vents and no vents about equally in the 1960s. Diamonds Are Forever skews it to double vents. I can't give you an exact number since I can't tell if the blue suit Bond wears to Q's lab in Goldfinger has a single vent or double vents. But it's about 6 or 7 of each.
SPOILER ALERT: Connery's two suits in You Only Live Twice both have single vents. All of the suits in Diamonds Are Forever have double vents. Diamonds Are Forever adds an additional 7 double-vented suits to the number above. I didn't count sports coats, blazers, dinner jackets or the Naval Uniform.
Matt S, yes that was about the same conclusion I had come to. That Connery as Bond wore an almost equal number of the styles. But the real eye opener was the fact that Connery also wore ventless suit jackets. To me it's astonishing! I would have thought with all the rough an tumble Connery engaged in, some kind of vent would have allowed for better movement. But I suppose with a bespoke suit movement is not necessarily an issue.
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Just an update on my Connery Bond suit archaeology. So far I've recently re-watched DN through Thunderball. What I have discovered is that Connery's Bond not only wears double vent, but single vent as well as ventless suits. Go figure. For some reason I remembered Connery's Bond as primarily wearing double vent suits. Not true. In any event, I'll probably go for the double vent because to my mind it's more synonymous with British style. I've also been looking at the pockets. Next up YOLT with a beefier Connery. I just love Connery's Bond, what a treat it's been!
DG
Anthony Sinclair himself preferred double vents and was doing them in the 1950s before they were mainstream. Connery wore suits with double vents, single vents and no vents about equally in the 1960s. Diamonds Are Forever skews it to double vents. I can't give you an exact number since I can't tell if the blue suit Bond wears to Q's lab in Goldfinger has a single vent or double vents. But it's about 6 or 7 of each.
SPOILER ALERT: Connery's two suits in You Only Live Twice both have single vents. All of the suits in Diamonds Are Forever have double vents. Diamonds Are Forever adds an additional 7 double-vented suits to the number above. I didn't count sports coats, blazers, dinner jackets or the Naval Uniform.
Matt S, yes that was about the same conclusion I had come to. That Connery as Bond wore an almost equal number of the styles. But the real eye opener was the fact that Connery also wore ventless suit jackets. To me it's astonishing! I would have thought with all the rough an tumble Connery engaged in, some kind of vent would have allowed for better movement. But I suppose with a bespoke suit movement is not necessarily an issue.
DG
A suit without vents will look neater for someone moving a lot. Connery's suit in fight scene inside the Fort Knox vault looks very sleek because there aren't any vents. I've heard people complain about Roger Moore's double vents looking sloppy in fight scenes. Vents are better for sitting; vents make sitting more comfortable and the skirt won't wrinkle as much either. Double vents make it easy to access your trouser pockets. But for running and jumping, vents don't make it any easier.
Anthony Sinclair himself preferred double vents and was doing them in the 1950s before they were mainstream. Connery wore suits with double vents, single vents and no vents about equally in the 1960s. Diamonds Are Forever skews it to double vents. I can't give you an exact number since I can't tell if the blue suit Bond wears to Q's lab in Goldfinger has a single vent or double vents. But it's about 6 or 7 of each.
SPOILER ALERT: Connery's two suits in You Only Live Twice both have single vents. All of the suits in Diamonds Are Forever have double vents. Diamonds Are Forever adds an additional 7 double-vented suits to the number above. I didn't count sports coats, blazers, dinner jackets or the Naval Uniform.
Matt S, yes that was about the same conclusion I had come to. That Connery as Bond wore an almost equal number of the styles. But the real eye opener was the fact that Connery also wore ventless suit jackets. To me it's astonishing! I would have thought with all the rough an tumble Connery engaged in, some kind of vent would have allowed for better movement. But I suppose with a bespoke suit movement is not necessarily an issue.
DG
A suit without vents will look neater for someone moving a lot. Connery's suit in fight scene inside the Fort Knox vault looks very sleek because there aren't any vents. I've heard people complain about Roger Moore's double vents looking sloppy in fight scenes. Vents are better for sitting; vents make sitting more comfortable and the skirt won't wrinkle as much either. Double vents make it easy to access your trouser pockets. But for running and jumping, vents don't make it any easier.
Ah, I see. I suppose I was viewing the vents in the same manner as the action pleat on the sides of the Indy Wested jacket of which I have two versions. But what you say makes a lot of sense. Still, I don't think I'll be going ventless. When I'm engaged in rough and tumble, I'm not wearing a suit so...
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I do recommend double vents. They are by far the most effective style for everyday wear and are flattering on most people. It's no wonder Savile Row tailors favour them.
I remember checking my favorite Bond films and North by Northwest when I was getting into suits. I read somewhere that the British preferred double vents and was pretty shocked to see Connery wear all types of suits. I concluded that Bond should wear a suit with double vents for normal or formal occasions. For more casual affairs, he might wear a suit with a single vent or maybe ventless.
I remember checking my favorite Bond films and North by Northwest when I was getting into suits. I read somewhere that the British preferred double vents and was pretty shocked to see Connery wear all types of suits. I concluded that Bond should wear a suit with double vents for normal or formal occasions. For more casual affairs, he might wear a suit with a single vent or maybe ventless.
Vent-less is the most formal and most old-fashioned style, which has mostly been seen on Bond's dinner jackets. Single vents are best for sports coat (like on the hacking jacket from Goldfinger and Thunderball or the ones in A View To A Kill), but Bond has worn single-vented suits sporadically through the years (as recently as Casino Royale). Double vents go well on everything. They are a necessity for blazers.
Double vents go well on everything. They are a necessity for blazers.
Single vent on my Dunhill blazer, Matt...
I feel that since the single-breasted navy blazer is derived from the double-breasted blazer (which in turn comes from the naval reefer) double vents are more appropriate. All of Bond's single breasted blazers (worn in 6 films) had double vents. However, Roger Moore wore a really nice single-vented 3-button blazer in the black and white series of The Saint. The classic American sack blazer has a single hook vent, which is one reason I think single vents on a British-style blazer are to be avoided.
Anthony Sinclair has "trunk shows" in the US. i plan on meeting with a representative to order a suit and maybe a shirt. i would appreciate hearing about any experiences that anyone has had with them
I met with David Mason today. He was in NYC. A very nice fellow who seems to be very excited to offer Anthony Sinclair clothing and was quite at ease with the whole Bond connection. He was wearing a suit modelled on the Goldfinger suit but not the glenn urquhart check plaid. It also had less drape and was, according to him, updated with a more fitted cut. In any event, my suit is on order.
David Mason had some interesting bits of information and said that he had also been in contact with Matt S who, according to Mason, is quite knowledgable.
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I met with David Mason today. He was in NYC. A very nice fellow who seems to be very excited to offer Anthony Sinclair clothing and was quite at ease with the whole Bond connection. He was wearing a suit modelled on the Goldfinger suit but not the glenn urquhart check plaid. It also had less drape and was, according to him, updated with a more fitted cut. In any event, my suit is on order.
David Mason had some interesting bits of information and said that he had also been in contact with Matt S who, according to Mason, is quite knowledgable.
DG
Great you have a suit on order! Any more details on the process etc, bespoke or using his special order system?? The special order prices seem very reasonable.
I met with David Mason today. He was in NYC. A very nice fellow who seems to be very excited to offer Anthony Sinclair clothing and was quite at ease with the whole Bond connection. He was wearing a suit modelled on the Goldfinger suit but not the glenn urquhart check plaid. It also had less drape and was, according to him, updated with a more fitted cut. In any event, my suit is on order.
David Mason had some interesting bits of information and said that he had also been in contact with Matt S who, according to Mason, is quite knowledgable.
DG
Great you have a suit on order! Any more details on the process etc, bespoke or using his special order system?? The special order prices seem very reasonable.
Hmm, might pay a visit next time in London!
Well, I plan to write an article for AJB about the purchase of my Anthony Sinclair suit, and I think Mantis wants to do a video podcast. So all the details about my purchase will be included there. I can tell you that the process of making the suit takes about two months. I met with Mr. Mason at his hotel in NYC in mid February, so my suit should be ready by mid April. A very nice fellow.
I ordered a special order suit.
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I just wrote an article for my blog about the new Anthony Sinclair that you may find interesting. Check it out here: http://thesuitsofjamesbond.com/?p=704
I just wrote an article for my blog about the new Anthony Sinclair that you may find interesting. Check it out here: http://thesuitsofjamesbond.com/?p=704
Very nice!
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I just wrote an article for my blog about the new Anthony Sinclair that you may find interesting. Check it out here: http://thesuitsofjamesbond.com/?p=704
Very nice!
DG
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to hearing about your suit. When it arrives be sure to take pictures of it, on you of course.
I just wrote an article for my blog about the new Anthony Sinclair that you may find interesting. Check it out here: http://thesuitsofjamesbond.com/?p=704
Very nice!
DG
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to hearing about your suit. When it arrives be sure to take pictures of it, on you of course.
I will indeed post pictures when it arrives. As I said earlier, according to Mr. Mason, you are quite knowledgeable. So, your blog is undoubtedly one to follow regarding sartorial Bond. Glad you are among us here at AJB.
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to hearing about your suit. When it arrives be sure to take pictures of it, on you of course.
I will indeed post pictures when it arrives. As I said earlier, according to Mr. Mason, you are quite knowledgeable. So, your blog is undoubtedly one to follow regarding sartorial Bond. Glad you are among us here at AJB.
DG
Thank you very much! Compared to most of the people here, I am more interested in tailoring than I am in collecting and replicating clothing. But I do have a number of Bond's Turnbull & Asser ties, mostly grenadines.
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to hearing about your suit. When it arrives be sure to take pictures of it, on you of course.
I will indeed post pictures when it arrives. As I said earlier, according to Mr. Mason, you are quite knowledgeable. So, your blog is undoubtedly one to follow regarding sartorial Bond. Glad you are among us here at AJB.
DG
Thank you very much! Compared to most of the people here, I am more interested in tailoring than I am in collecting and replicating clothing. But I do have a number of Bond's Turnbull & Asser ties, mostly grenadines.
You don't have to be into collecting. I collect because it's in my nature to collect. Moreover, I collect in other areas unrelated to Bond. When I met my wife, I owned a Co-Op apartment and she remarked that it looked like a museum with all the busts of figures from the American Revolutionary period, wall art, white rug, etc.
Some Bond aficianados, such as your self, don't necessarily collect Bond. You're area of expertise is tailoring in general and Bond tailoring in particular. That's an important addition to AJB. As for the grenadine ties, that's precisely what Connery wore in Dr. No. It was not the silk knit tie. Am I right?
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
As for the grenadine ties, that's precisely what Connery wore in Dr. No. It was not the silk knit tie. Am I right?
DG
That mostly what he wore. He wore knit ties throughout Goldfinger and one in You Only Live Twice. He wore a ribbed black tie and a plain pink tie in Diamonds Are Forever, but the rest were grenadine.
Hi there - sorry for the delay but finally photos of Anthony Sinclair's establisment - not quite what I expected - the shop front isn't branded and it's only a small plaque on the wall
Still cool though. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Comments
Anthony Sinclair himself preferred double vents and was doing them in the 1950s before they were mainstream. Connery wore suits with double vents, single vents and no vents about equally in the 1960s. Diamonds Are Forever skews it to double vents. I can't give you an exact number since I can't tell if the blue suit Bond wears to Q's lab in Goldfinger has a single vent or double vents. But it's about 6 or 7 of each.
SPOILER ALERT: Connery's two suits in You Only Live Twice both have single vents. All of the suits in Diamonds Are Forever have double vents. Diamonds Are Forever adds an additional 7 double-vented suits to the number above. I didn't count sports coats, blazers, dinner jackets or the Naval Uniform.
Matt S, yes that was about the same conclusion I had come to. That Connery as Bond wore an almost equal number of the styles. But the real eye opener was the fact that Connery also wore ventless suit jackets. To me it's astonishing! I would have thought with all the rough an tumble Connery engaged in, some kind of vent would have allowed for better movement. But I suppose with a bespoke suit movement is not necessarily an issue.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
A suit without vents will look neater for someone moving a lot. Connery's suit in fight scene inside the Fort Knox vault looks very sleek because there aren't any vents. I've heard people complain about Roger Moore's double vents looking sloppy in fight scenes. Vents are better for sitting; vents make sitting more comfortable and the skirt won't wrinkle as much either. Double vents make it easy to access your trouser pockets. But for running and jumping, vents don't make it any easier.
Ah, I see. I suppose I was viewing the vents in the same manner as the action pleat on the sides of the Indy Wested jacket of which I have two versions. But what you say makes a lot of sense. Still, I don't think I'll be going ventless. When I'm engaged in rough and tumble, I'm not wearing a suit so...
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Vent-less is the most formal and most old-fashioned style, which has mostly been seen on Bond's dinner jackets. Single vents are best for sports coat (like on the hacking jacket from Goldfinger and Thunderball or the ones in A View To A Kill), but Bond has worn single-vented suits sporadically through the years (as recently as Casino Royale). Double vents go well on everything. They are a necessity for blazers.
Single vent on my Dunhill blazer, Matt...
I feel that since the single-breasted navy blazer is derived from the double-breasted blazer (which in turn comes from the naval reefer) double vents are more appropriate. All of Bond's single breasted blazers (worn in 6 films) had double vents. However, Roger Moore wore a really nice single-vented 3-button blazer in the black and white series of The Saint. The classic American sack blazer has a single hook vent, which is one reason I think single vents on a British-style blazer are to be avoided.
http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/david-gandy
David Mason had some interesting bits of information and said that he had also been in contact with Matt S who, according to Mason, is quite knowledgable.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Great you have a suit on order! Any more details on the process etc, bespoke or using his special order system?? The special order prices seem very reasonable.
Hmm, might pay a visit next time in London!
Well, I plan to write an article for AJB about the purchase of my Anthony Sinclair suit, and I think Mantis wants to do a video podcast. So all the details about my purchase will be included there. I can tell you that the process of making the suit takes about two months. I met with Mr. Mason at his hotel in NYC in mid February, so my suit should be ready by mid April. A very nice fellow.
I ordered a special order suit.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Very nice!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to hearing about your suit. When it arrives be sure to take pictures of it, on you of course.
I will indeed post pictures when it arrives. As I said earlier, according to Mr. Mason, you are quite knowledgeable. So, your blog is undoubtedly one to follow regarding sartorial Bond. Glad you are among us here at AJB.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Thank you very much! Compared to most of the people here, I am more interested in tailoring than I am in collecting and replicating clothing. But I do have a number of Bond's Turnbull & Asser ties, mostly grenadines.
You don't have to be into collecting. I collect because it's in my nature to collect. Moreover, I collect in other areas unrelated to Bond. When I met my wife, I owned a Co-Op apartment and she remarked that it looked like a museum with all the busts of figures from the American Revolutionary period, wall art, white rug, etc.
Some Bond aficianados, such as your self, don't necessarily collect Bond. You're area of expertise is tailoring in general and Bond tailoring in particular. That's an important addition to AJB. As for the grenadine ties, that's precisely what Connery wore in Dr. No. It was not the silk knit tie. Am I right?
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
That mostly what he wore. He wore knit ties throughout Goldfinger and one in You Only Live Twice. He wore a ribbed black tie and a plain pink tie in Diamonds Are Forever, but the rest were grenadine.
Still cool though. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
One picture I missed