Daniel Craig’s Bond reshaped 007’s wardrobe for a more rugged, modern era.
Daniel Craig’s films marked one of the biggest transformations in Bond’s on-screen style. While tailored suits remained a core part of his look, it was his embrace of casualwear that set him apart. The days of Bond wearing a suit in every situation were gone. In their place came rugged knitwear, fitted polos, and functional outerwear. These choices mirrored both contemporary fashion and a grounded, physical interpretation of the character.
This article explores how Bond’s wardrobe evolved during the Craig era. The shift to Tom Ford, and the rise of now-iconic casualwear like the Sunspel Riviera polo and the Harrington jacket. These choices helped shape modern menswear far beyond the screen.
From Brioni to Tom Ford: A new direction
When Daniel Craig took over as James Bond, his wardrobe underwent a significant evolution. Casino Royale retained elements of the sartorial elegance seen in previous films, but it also introduced a more grounded, practical approach to Bond’s clothing. Brioni—the Italian tailoring house that had defined Pierce Brosnan’s Bond—made its final appearance here, before Tom Ford took over as the franchise’s primary outfitter.
Costume designer Lindy Hemming, who had overseen Bond’s wardrobe since Goldeneye, continued with Brioni for Craig’s formal tailoring in Casino Royale. The standout is the black dinner suit Bond wears upon arriving at the Montenegro casino—a key moment that reestablishes Bond’s signature elegance in the newly rebooted series. Yet beyond the tuxedo, the film marked a shift. Casual, functional clothing appeared more frequently, with standout pieces like the Sunspel Riviera polo in the Bahamas and the rugged Madagascar chase outfit—a patterned short-sleeve shirt layered over a grey T-shirt, paired with light linen trousers.
For Quantum of Solace, Louise Frogley took over costume design and ushered in a new era with Tom Ford. This partnership would define the rest of Craig’s tenure. While the suits in Quantum retained a fairly traditional cut, by Skyfall and SPECTRE, the tailoring had become noticeably slimmer. Taking over from Frogley, Jany Temime fully embraced Tom Ford’s ultra-slim O’Connor silhouette—characterised by narrow lapels, high button stances, and razor-sharp fits. The result was a lean, athletic look that echoed Craig’s physical presence on screen. It felt modern and uncompromising, but not everyone was convinced. Some Bond fans applauded the sleek, contemporary lines, while others argued the suits looked uncomfortably tight—especially in the heat of the action.
For No Time to Die, Tom Ford’s role in Bond’s wardrobe was scaled back considerably, limited to a handful of tailored looks. Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb preserved the sharp aesthetic of Bond’s suiting, but with a slightly more relaxed fit. Meanwhile, the film leaned more heavily into casual and tactical clothing, with a wider range of brands helping to define Bond’s evolving style in his final outing.
Iconic outfits
James Bond has long been defined by his tailored suits. But while earlier actors sometimes dressed down, Daniel Craig’s films marked the shift to casualwear. His 007 is the first to consistently favour casual clothing over Bond’s traditional lounge suits and dinner jackets. While Bond has worn casual outfits throughout the series, such as Thunderball, we still tend to picture him dressed formally. Think of the previous Bonds and, aside from Roger Moore’s safari suits, the image that comes to mind is one of tailored suits and evening wear.
This shift makes perfect sense, of course, as suits have become far less common in everyday life. In Sean Connery’s day, Bond’s usual cover as a wealthy businessman demanded bespoke tailoring to blend in. But twenty-five years into the 21st century, things couldn’t be more different. These days, the wealthy are more likely to wear jeans and a T-shirt than bespoke tailoring.
Suits
One of Daniel Craig’s most memorable looks is the three-piece pinstriped suit worn by Craig at the end of Casino Royale. Made by Brioni, it offers a traditional, powerful silhouette that seems appropriate for the moment.
It’s a strong look, although the similar two-piece suit from the pre-title sequence of Quantum of Solace is arguably more effective. Designed by Tom Ford, it’s sleek and understated, and the lack of a waistcoat makes it much more Bond-like for me.
But with Skyfall and SPECTRE, the fit of Bond’s suits tightened noticeably. The Tom Ford designs in these films reflect the slim tailoring trend of the time, but often go too far. Jackets strain across the chest and shoulders, while trousers are cut so narrowly they appear uncomfortable. Whether Tom Ford was responding to fashion or helping shape it, the result is that many of these suits are much too tight for the character. And for the kind of physical action Craig’s Bond is expected to perform.
And I’m not a fan for Bond’s more casual suits either, often in pale browns and soft fabrics. That’s not at all how I see Bond dressing. Bond works best in darker, more assertive colours — grey, navy, and black.
Dinner jackets
The best dinner jacket worn by Daniel Craig was supplied by Brioni for Casino Royale. Although Craig bulked up for the film, it is the one that best conceals his body shape.
Certainly, the dinner suits in Skyfall and No Time to Die were ill-fitting. They make him look more like a nightclub bouncer than someone who is completely at ease in a suit. The white dinner jacket from SPECTRE looks better, but its two-button fastening detracts from the overall effect.
Casualwear
In Casino Royale, Craig’s Bond emerged as a more rugged, physical presence, with a wardrobe to match. The film introduced attire that felt natural for a man of action, aligning with the broader trend of increasing casualness in menswear. Knitwear became increasingly important in Bond’s wardrobe, with sweaters and, much less successfully in my view, cardigans.
The navy Sunspel Riviera polo (top), seen briefly in the Bahamas paired with khaki trousers, became one of the film’s most enduring fashion statements. Simple, refined, and effortlessly cool, it was an instant smash with fans and remains a popular item even now. That look appears to have influenced the wardrobe in Quantum of Solace. Bond wears a navy Tom Ford polo with white Levi’s in Haiti, while in Bolivia later he wears a navy polo with jeans and a Harrington jacket. This is a really good look.
Casino Royale also introduced Bond to the pea coat, which makes sense given his Royal Navy background. He wears it in Dryden’s office during the black and white pre-title sequence. The pea coat makes a return in Skyfall, after Bond arrives in Shanghai. Provided by Billy Reid, Craig wears it over a white shirt and black V-neck sweater with a tie. Topped off with a peaked cap, he seamlessly blends into the airport crowd, allowing him to follow Patrice unnoticed.
In SPECTRE, Bond pays a visit to Mr White’s isolated house in Austria in freezing weather. Bond wears a navy wool-and-cashmere jacket over a light grey roll-neck cable-knit sweater and black-and-grey trousers. He completes the outfit with black gloves and a navy knitted hat and boots. It’s practical and looks great in an environment in which any hint of formalwear would seem completely out of place. Equally good is the outfit he wears for his appointment at the Hoffler Klinik. There Bond wears a navy quilted jacket with knitted sleeves, navy trousers, black leather boots and gloves, and Vuarnet Glacier sunglasses. Once again it’s a great outfit that combines warmth and style in the snowy landscape.
While I’m not so keen on Bond’s look while in Matera, his Jamaican look in No Time to Die fits well with his lifestyle there. In particular the black silk Tommy Bahama shirt with grey jeans when meeting Felix looks great. Combined with Sperry Topsiders, it’s a practical outfit that seems entirely suited to his life in Jamaica.
Although not strictly casualwear, Bond’s tactical clothing when he and Nomi infiltrate Safin’s lair reflects the same grounded, functional approach seen throughout Craig’s tenure. The ribbed N Peal combat sweater, paired with cargo-style trousers, blends military utility with sharp styling.
Craig’s Bond made casualwear feel like part of the character rather than a break from it. That same idea sits behind this MI6/SIS logo T-shirt, inspired by Bond’s training sequence in Skyfall.
→ MI6/SIS logo T-shirt inspired by Skyfall
Bond reimagined for a new era
Daniel Craig’s films redefined how James Bond dresses, balancing tradition with modern practicality. While the dinner jackets and tailored suits remained, their styling shifted to suit modern fashion trends. Meanwhile, the rise of casualwear brought a fresh, believable realism to the character. Bond felt more like flesh-and-blood, dressed to move, fight, and survive.
While some choices remain divisive, the overall effect was a man whose wardrobe evolved with the world around him.
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