Does Craig's Bond recycle his clothing?

Mattia De Varti

Reading a very interesting article in the blog The Suits of James Bond (https://www.bondsuits.com/how-does-james-bond-dress-after-leaving-the-service), I came to an interesting question: is it possible that Bond recycles his clothes from previous movies in NTTD?

Here’s my thoughts about that. We know that after the Matera chase Bond is supposedly to be retired in his Jamaican villa. So, having left active service he probably has no more the "privileges" he had while working for MI6 (i.e. or his salary is very high – as Fleming too stated in some novels – or the Secret Service gives his employees a budget for clothing). Also, think about the Titanium Omega, issued by the government to agents - as specified on the case-back.

For these reasons, we can think that Bond uses some of the garment he previously purchased. Let’s think about the Tommy Bahama "Catalina" shirt (forgive me Matt, I’ve already read your opinion about that in the blog): we know, as eagle-eyed people, that is not the same Alfani black shirt he wore at the Only & Only in Casino Royale, but for a non-attentive viewer who has a vague reminiscence of the film, it will look the same (patch pocket, straight hem…).
The same thing for the grey shirt he wears with the swimming trunks: isn’t it very similar to the Sunspel "Riviera" for the Venetian romance with Vesper? The only difference are the holes, but after an intensive use…





Another singular detail I noticed in the commentary from Cary Fukunaga is that when Craig unveils the V8 Vantage in the garage we see some suits well stored and covered to protect them from dust. As we have not seen the movie yet, this is only speculation, but, from the angle, it seems part of the scenography just like I illustrated in the photo.
Is it possible that he had them made previously? (let’s also consider a little bit of movie magic and that some suits are ready for him when required). If the detailed was confirmed, it could also lead us to believe the scene is set in London; he suits up and then goes to report to M at MI6.



Furthermore, looking at the clothes hang in his bedroom while talking with Nomi, some garments caught my eyes. The photo is a little grainy, but it is possible to distinguish a light blue linen shirt and what seems to be a navy polo shirt: a nod to Spectre?



Anyway, as I mentioned before, these are just speculations. Let me know your opinion.

HalfMonk HalfHitman

Fun spots - the suits in storage must be a bit of a thematic touch - his whole previous life in mothballs, etc.

I do wonder if the costume designers are even paying as much attention as we are to the clothing continuity, but I suppose anything is possible.

Westward_Drift

I brought up the Tommy Bahama and Alfani similarities in the comments to Matt's blog post.

I've always thought the Tom Ford polo shirt in QoS was meant to be the Riviera polo from Casino Royale.

Good spot with the suits in the garage scene and the linen shirt in the Jamaica villa.

bondfan10

Never noticed the shirts hanging in the Jamaican villa. Wonder which they are!

emtiem

I know this isn't what the thread is about, but I only just saw this very interesting article about Bond's suits from Goldfinger and how it looks very much like they were recycled from Connery's previous movie, Woman of Straw!
https://www.bondsuits.com/sean-connerys-suits-in-woman-of-straw-vs-goldfinger/

bosoxfan

How about if we take this to the next logical step and just for fun, best guess what shirts are hanging in the villa scene, middle perhaps the blue shirt from the train in Spectre, the one on the right, the dark polo from The American hotel scenes and the other, perhaps a dark Sunspel polo from somewhere in the past.

bondfan10

bosoxfan wrote:

How about if we take this to the next logical step and just for fun, best guess what shirts are hanging in the villa scene, middle perhaps the blue shirt from the train in Spectre, the one on the right, the dark polo from The American hotel scenes and the other, perhaps a dark Sunspel polo from somewhere in the past.

Let's do it! I'd also have to go with the OB Morton for the middle. I agree with you on the one on the right, it appears to be short-sleeved shirt and perhaps could be a dark navy polo (Sunspel). The one on the left and the ones covered behind the curtain (convenient enough) look to be identical/same color and design to the TB one. Would love to hear others' opinions!

Cajun

I know the OP's ideas have been mentioned in at least one previous thread. I think the consensus was that the movie-to-movie similarities in some of DC's wardrobe can easily be interpreted as him recycling. The Ocean Club and Catalina shirts are a perfect example.

Intentional or not, the theory adds more realism and relatability to the hero as far as I'm concerned. B-)

walther p99

I see it as just a style callback to the beginning of his tenure (with a dash of QOS) opposed to literally being the same clothes he had over a decade ago. We know Bond does reuse clothing items within a film but I would be surprised if Craig's Bond still had any of his CR-era clothes.

Cajun

walther p99 wrote:

I see it as just a style callback to the beginning of his tenure (with a dash of QOS) opposed to literally being the same clothes he had over a decade ago. We know Bond does reuse clothing items within a film but I would be surprised if Craig's Bond still had any of his CR-era clothes.

Gotcha.

My perception is the movie settings' timelines don't necessarily correspond with the actual movie release date timelines.

CharlesRobinson

Cajun wrote:

walther p99 wrote:

I see it as just a style callback to the beginning of his tenure (with a dash of QOS) opposed to literally being the same clothes he had over a decade ago. We know Bond does reuse clothing items within a film but I would be surprised if Craig's Bond still had any of his CR-era clothes.

Gotcha.

My perception is the movie settings' timelines don't necessarily correspond with the actual movie release date timelines.

There's certainly an implication that Quantum of Solace is directly following on from Casino Royale, indeed they link all four.