For running around the Bolivian desert blowing up eco-hotels, James Bond wears the Church’s Ryder III chukkas in brown suede. You can still pick up the original boots at Herring Shoes for £360.00.
I could be wrong, but it looks like Church itself has replaced the boots Bond uses in Quantum of Solace with a model called the Ryder in Castro suede.
Features Wanted for Church’s Ryder III chukkas
More of a dress chukka shape (not a “desert boot”)
Black, solid sole, preferably with a Dainite® type sole.
2 eyelet lacing
Best Option:
The Florsheim Constable Chukka (on sale for $119.90 at Florsheim). I am moving this up just because it is such a good deal right now and they have full size run.
Options Under $100
AJB007 forum member Charmed & Dangerous has shared a great budget option. The Hampton in Brown Suede is available at Coogan London for £39.00. This is a three eyelet model, but according to Charmed & Dangerous:
“The quality is good, the fit is true to size (I’m a 44 which is roughly 9.5 in old money). The colour seems to be spot on, a nice dark chocolate brown, and the shape seems close to the Ryder’s.” Thanks for the share!
The Timberland EK Brook Park (the advantage with these ones is Daniel Craig has also been seen wearing them) are $109.95 on Amazon U.S. Sizing is starting to get a little spotty. You can also check them out on Shoes.com, on sale for $92.99 right now, with a better size selection than Amazon.
Maybe you’re looking for a more budget option with a bit of funk to it? You could try the Sebago Turner Chukka, on sale for $69.99.
Options under $200
Amazon UK has the Savile Row Brown Suede Chukka Boot is on sale for £125.00. Claims to be bench made and handcrafted (doesn’t say where that took place) and seems to only come in whole sizes. Still, it looks like a good match for the originals. You can also check them out on the company’s website or if you’re in the U.S. you can find them on Amazon here for $187.00.
Herring Shoes’ Canterbury Chukka in Brown Suede is also priced at £125.00. And like the Savile Row chukkas, the also have a pseudo-Dainite sole for a more SA look.
Three eyelets on the Barney’s Suede Chukka Boot, but they’re also on sale for $179.00$47.70 with a solid run of sizes left.
I’m also going to give a thumbs up to the Geox U Brayden 2FIT ABX boots. Yes, they have 3 eyelets and a sportier looking sole. But I had a pair of Geox (the model the Brayden replaced) for 7 years, and they were great boots; super quality (the sole finally blew out in late 2015) and highly water resistant without being too hot. If you’re a more active type, I suggest you take a good look at them. The Braydens are going for $210.00 on the Geox site, but you can find them for cheaper.
If you have a favorite alternative, feel free to share it in the comments!
The Quantum of Solace black shawl collar cardigan that Bond wore during his visit to Mathis’s villa quickly became an iconic sweater. The QoS version was provided by Tom Ford, but Bond wore a similar cardigan in Casino Royale and Daniel Craig’s character in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo also sported one.
A simple black ribbed shawl collar cardigan at a decent price is actually getting hard to find. The ones below are not perfect, but they get close.
Features Wanted for the Quantum of Solace Black Shawl Collar Cardigan
Update: Well, that didn’t last long …. I’m already looking for more alternatives but, based on my results so far, we may have to wait a little longer for the brands to release their Fall/Winter 16 line-ups.
I’m really not sure what to tell you about this one. The product page claims – multiple times – that the material is 100% cotton. And, aside from the subtle cable pattern, it looks like a good match for the Tom Ford. But the picture they’re using is exactly the same as a lot of other generic, Asian-made cardigans from other brands. And when you do zoom in on the product pic, the material seems to have the shine of a polyester. At least the product description for this one is intelligible. The description from another brand for the same cardigan includes the line, “Mabe You Are Not the Most Beauty Man Or The Most Handsome Own It You Will Feel Like Hold The Girls Heart.”
It pays to keep looking! User worldrallyx over on this Reddit thread mentioned the brand Jack Threads, so I took a look. Lo and behold, up pops the The Fisherman Cardigan! On sale for $39.99, but sizes are getting thin. 30% wool/70% acrylic, but it’s the closest I’ve seen in a while.
An option from Canadian company Le Chateau: the Yarn Shawl Collar Cardigan for $49.95. 100% Polyester, unfortunately, but has a sophisticated styling that matches the original. Sizes are getting pretty low now.
New option from a company I’m unfamiliar with. Description says it’s 100% cotton. And if though it’s missing the rib knitting of the Tom Ford, the ribbing on the collar is going horizontally. One review says it fits small, so you may want to consider ordering one size up.
The Expensive Options
This one from Rag and Bone could also be an option if you are willing to go with a waffle knit instead of the ribbed knit (the link is to East Dane, but I have seen it on other sites). Still, $275.00 for a sweater that isn’t exactly what you want might not be reasonable.
The Cashmere Heartland 4 Ply Men’s Cashmere Shawl Collar Cardigan Sweater in black is regularly $850.00, but it’s on sale now for $365.00. Still not exactly “budget”, but many people are still looking for a good alternative. Maybe go with a cheaper option in the shoes or boots and make this an investment piece?
More alternatives will be added as I find them! If you’ve found an option you like, share it in the comments below! And remember to check out our Facebook page, Instagram account and Pinterest Boards for more James Bond style advice and inspiration!
Some of the information about the original Levi’s STA-PREST 306s used in the film comes from Matt Spaiser’s excellent site The Suits of James Bond. And thanks to forum member welshboy78 at AJB007 I learned that the same Bond wore the same model of Levi’s in the Quantum of Solace Haiti scenes and in the Mathis Villa visit scene, but in two different colors.
A lighter color in Haiti: A darker color with Mathis:
Levi’s is no longer using STA-PREST or the 306 (as far as I can tell), but AJB007 user sandman1935 said that 508s are close in cut. The 508s are still available in British Khaki, which is a little darker than the color in the Mathis scene, but may still work. Levi’s 508 are on sale for $49.99 at Amazon U.S. In the UK, you can find them on Amazon priced between £44.00 and £84.46.
As noted above, we want to look for lighter, almost ivory, colored jeans to capture Bond’s Haiti look. Lands’ End’s Straight Fit Natural Jeans in Sand Dollar are a good place to start. They’re currently on sale for $34.99, with almost sizes still in stock.
Uniqlo’s Miracle Air Skinny Jeans are priced at $49.90/£39.90. The 32 Beige color definitely appears to be a very light, so they may be a good choice for thinner guys.
Jack Thread’s Slim Denim Jeans in Natural Garment Dyed are going for $59.00.
Lastly, House of Fraser has the Pretty Green Castlefield Skinny Fit Jean in Stone on sale for £52.00. Still a good selection of sizes. And given the recent performance of the currency (sorry!), these good be a great value for those of you on the U.S. side of the pond. Just note that these appear to have a more aggressive taper. Might not work so well for guys with thicker legs.
Options for the Mathis Villa Levi’s STA-PREST 306s
The version of the 306s Bond wears to visit Mathis are more of true khaki/chino color. Levi’s has a lot of options in different fits. Starting with choices for guys with some mass, the Levi’s 541 Athletic Fit in Timberwolf Cruz Twill are priced priced between $44.91 and $79.99. The 514 Straight Fit Twill Pant in Chinchilla are priced between $26.00 and $58.00 on Amazon U.S. Folks in the UK can find them on Amazon for £28.26 to £85.72, where the color is called Beige.
If you’re on the thinner side, you can try Levi’s 513 Slim Straights in True Chino, priced between $37.99 and $69.50. If you want to go even slimmer (without going “full painted” on), the 511 Slim-Fit Line 8 Twill Pant in Sand is a good choice. Priced between $36.09 and $58.00.
Moving on to some non-Levi’s alternatives. MandM Direct has the Jack and Jones Glenn Original Slim Jeans in White Pepper for £14.99. Still lots of sizes left. Just for comparison, these are currently going for about £45.00 on Amazon UK.
And Amazon UK has the Pioneer Men’s Jeans in Beige 24 for £44.34. Despite the fact that the model’s a beanpole, these look like a straight cut, and have some Elastane in the fabric for stretch.
Remember you can share any alternatives you find in the comments below!
Like the Tom Ford black cardigan, for a few years after the film’s release it seemed like every brand had its own version of the Quantum of Solace Harrington jacket. Now? Not so easy to find a budget one with the right details. Here some other (famous) shots of the original from Tom Ford:
Features Wanted for the Quantum of Solace Harrington Jacket
A big round of applause for AJB007 forum member Ornithologist! He found the Onfire Harrington Jacket on sale at MandMDirect for £19.99. The 100% cotton jacket has raglan sleeves and a two button closure at the collar, but also has button cuffs and an open hem (in other words, no elasticized knit), making it an excellent affordable alternative to the original.
Honestly, if you can afford it, just save up and get a genuine Baracuta G4 in Navy. Normally they’re priced around $450.00 and up with shipping, duties, exchange rate, etc., but Baracuta just had a 30% off sale, so the price came in at $350.00 shipped to the United States. As a bonus, you will be the owner of a jacket that has a long history beyond Bond.
The Replica Option:
Find a good replica. Magnoli Clothiers have a version for $350.00 (shown below on the left) and AJB007 user SilverFinger made a popular replica sold through his Royale Filmwear site (shown below on the right). The Royale version is sold out, but you can still find people selling used ones on AJB007, and it looks like another production run is scheduled for May, 2016.
AJB007 member Hold Command shared the Cotton Rich Harrington from Marks and Spencer as an option. Sides of the waist are elasticized, but looks good otherwise. AJB007 forum member TeenageBond was kind enough some in-store pics of him trying out the M&S Harrington so we could get a look at it out in the real world. Thanks!
I’m not 100% sure, but it looks like this ships from New Zealand, although when I tried the checkout no shipping charges were added. However, you may be on the hook for GST.
The Pretty Green Kingsway Casual Full Zip Harrington Jacket is going for £85.00/$132.00 on their website. Would be easier to recommend if it didn’t have that damn chest logo. It also looks like they’ve just come out with a new option: the Navy Cresthill Jacket is also £85.00/$132.00, but is made from a lightweight 91% polyester/8% nylon cloth.
A new option suggested by AJB007 forum member _Stocks. The Barbour Heritage Harrington Slim Wax Jacket is on sale at Country Attire for £139.27, with most sizes still in stock. Brand new, the fabric has a bit of a shine to it due to the waxing, but if my experience with these types of jackets is anything to go by, it should dull down after a couple of months of wear. The front zipper and corduroy lined collar aren’t exactly screen accurate either, but not deal breakers (at least for me). We all know Barbour is a quality brand, so this could be a nice “investment piece”. Thanks for the share!
Elasticized Hem Options:
The following options have the elasticized or rib knit hems, but at least the cuffs are button closure. From least to most expensive.
A new option from House of Fraser: the Howick Regatta Harrington for £85.00. The jacket uses snap buttons and front zipper placket. Unfortunately,when the jacket is open, the silver from the buttons and zipper can be a little distracting.
The Gant College Jacket in Evening Blue is on sale for $162.50 at their website.
I tried not to include alternatives with the knitted cuffs and hem, but that would have left only two expensive options. Honestly, if you don’t mind the elasticized or knitted cuffs/hem, there are many more options available in all price ranges.
If you’ve found a Harrington that works for you, share the link in the comments below. And remember to check us out our Facebook page and Pinterest Boards for more James Bond style advice, inspiration and info on where to find the latest deals!
The original Casino RoyaleSunspel Riviera Polo is still available from the company for $120.00 before shipping, duties and taxes. Tom Ford made the polo used in Quantum of Solace, inspired by the Sunspel version.
Update: Matches Fashion has the Sunspel Riviera Polo in the piqué cotton available for $101.00 right now.
So what’s so hard about finding a navy polo? It’s in the details:
Features wanted Casino Royale Sunspel Riviera Polo
Cotton mesh fabric
Self facing fabric collar (not rib knit; the collar material looks the same as the rest of the shirt)
Uniqlo’s Dry Shirt Collar Polo Shirt is available for the low price of $14.90. Three button placket unfortunately, but otherwise a good match! Those of you in the U.K. can check it out here.
The more I look at this one, the more I think it’s a great alternative. It has self-fabric collar, the two button placket, and the more rounded shape for the bottom of the chest pocket. And now that the price has dropped to $41.70, I think it’s worth a very serious look. Keep an eye out for sales. It recently went as low as $25.00.
The J.Crew Broken-in Pocket Polo has all the style features we’re looking for. But the cotton fabric is more blown-up Bond at the end of QoS than Bond in Haiti.
Same needs to be said about the fabric of the Woolrich First Forks Pocket Polo. Goes for $39.00, but again it looks almost too broken in and the color too washed out.
Is this new offering from Mack Weldon the perfect alternative? Many seem to think so, if the press is to be believed. Am I still hesitant about including it on this list? Yep, and it really has nothing to do with the actual shirt. If you’re interested in knowing my reasons, you can read this post on AJB007. If you couldn’t care less about my ethical quandary, then buy it and be happy.
I kind of hesitated about including this next one at first. The Gant Rugger R. Chest Pocket Polo has all the right features but it’s also started at $98.00 (or only $3 cheaper than an actual Sunspel) and the fabric is more broken in. But now that the price has dropped to $80?
Not much to say about the Jack Threads Daily Polo. Shirt style collar, two button placket, lighter weight fabric and a slimmer fit. At $20 it could be a good beater option.
Canadian clothing company Spier & Mackay have just launched their new Shirt Collar Polo Shirts. At $35.00 Canadian (about $27.00 U.S.), they’re a real deal, and feedback on other forums about their polos has been overwhelming positive. You can read my review of the polo in this post. Summary? Great for the price, but you may need to trim a couple of loose threads.
Even though it doesn’t have the chest pocket, I still have to give a shout out to the Ken Wang Polo for $65.00, simply because it gets so much love on the men’s style forums for its fit and collar design.
Have some other options? Share the links in the comments! And check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more fund Bond stuff!
Man, James Bond really does find some nice stuff on his adventures. Case in point: the Adidas Y-3 jacket Bond steals in Haiti in Quantum of Solace. Created in collaboration with designer Yohji Yamamoto, the Y-3 is a simple jacket based on a traditional design and it’s nearly impossible to find now (here’s a link to an old Ebay listing where you can still check out some pictures of the original). BAMF Style does a solid job of providing details on the whole Haiti look.
How traditional is the design? Compare this 1970’s Silton Golf Jacket to the screen used jacket. I swear, given some of his wardrobe choices, Craig’s Bond is ready to hit the links at any moment.
Back to the Y-3. The fit is everything with this jacket; while a lot of the possible alternatives get the details right, they’re cut like a box leaving you looking like either a 15 year old skateboarder or little league baseball coach. That actually leaves very few viable options for the more budget conscious among us, but there are a few on the market.
Features wanted for the Adidas Y-3 Jacket:
Harrington or Eisenhower style jacket with zip front and spread collar with storm tab (the storm tab was hidden or removed for the film, so it’s not absolutely essential for a screen accurate look).
Cotton/polyester blend material; should have a bit of sheen but not look like nylon
Welt pockets
Button side adjuster tabs and button cuffs
No knitting on the cuffs or hem; while the original Y-3 did have a partially elasticized hem at the back, we don’t want the whole hem to be elasticized.
Trim fit through the body and sleeves with higher armholes.
No visible logos if possible
The Replicas
There are a few trusted replica manufacturers you may want to check out first.
Magnoli Clothiers offers their Solace Jacket on a made-to-measure basis for $350.00.
Royale Filmwear’s Quantum Haiti Jacket is $189.00. Currently sold out unfortunately, but I believe another production run is planned soon. Email them at royalefilmwear@gmail.com to get your name on the waiting list.
Logan’s Closet (snikt!) doesn’t show their version of the Y-3 on their website, but their work does get good reviews on this older filmjackets.com forum thread. You can also see some of their work on this AJB007 thread.
No side tabs and it’s 100% cotton, so you won’t get the shiny effect of the original’s material, but it is a slimmer cut. It also has a light fleece pile lining, so it will be better for colder weather.
This one’s a bit of risk. In some pictures it looks huge; in others more fitted. It also has the Dickies tag on the waist (seam ripper!). However, there are side adjuster tabs and button cuffs . Try it on first if you can or seriously consider sizing down. Those of you in the UK can see it on Amazon; they call it the Lined Eisenhower Jacket and it sells for £49.97 – £59.97.
A great suggestion from Nick in the comments. The jacket is part of their David Beckham line; fabric is 100% cotton so, as Nick says, it probably won’t have the sheen of the original. Thanks for the share!
Coming to you from Urban Outfitters. Can’t say I’m too crazy about that. Fabric is a cotton/poly blend, and the jacket has button cuffs and a rose logo embroidered on the chest for good measure. On the plus side, it’s from streetwear brand OBEY, so we’re most likely getting a slim fit.
It’s coming to you from Amazon, which explains the price spread. Most regular sizes are around $60.00. No side adjuster tabs on this one, but it seems to have a trimmer fit.
Brands will be releasing their new fall lines soon, so I’m hoping more options will appear. I’ll keep adding them as I find them. As always, you can share your finds in the comments below.
I’ll get to the details below. For those of you who just want to know whether or not this is the alternative for the Tom Ford Harrington jacket we’ve been waiting for, I’ll simply say this:
Buy it now while there’s still some left!
Oh, and pay careful attention to the sizing chart on the ROYALE Filmwear site. It’s accurate. And the jackets do fit small, as they clearly state on the site.
The ROYALE Filmwear Quantum Jacket Review
This is my first jacket from ROYALE Filmwear. And I am honestly in awe of what owner Daniel Love has accomplished. Those of us who know him from AJB007 understand that these jackets are a passion project for him. And that passion is what elevates this piece far beyond any mass produced alternative you’re going to find.
A size large Quantum jacket on a size 40 mannequin
The Material and Finishing
In the launch email Daniel sent out, he shared the fact that he produced his own fabric for this new version of the Quantum. The 100% cotton material weighs in at 300 grams per square meter. The weave is fine and smooth. But nothing about it feels lightweight. On the contrary, as soon as you put the jacket on, you know it could take a beating. And the color is a dark, dark navy for a screen accurate look. The photo on the right below is very true to life. The jacket is lined with a dark grey, almost black, rayon. Which makes it easy to slip the jacket on and off and helps with breathability.
As you can also see in the pics above, the stitching on the jacket is almost perfect. I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to things like loose threads, missed stitches and crooked seams. And, yes, if you look really hard at the Quantum jacket, you’ll find two or three stray threads. But I mean that literally: only two or three. Seriously, the finishing on the button holes of my $375 Barbour Beauly looks like amateur hour when compared to the quality of ROYALE Filmwear’s work.
In short: beautiful fabric and exemplary finishing
The Details
If you’re going to buy a replica jacket, you want it to be as screen accurate as possible. And the Quantum jacket doesn’t disappoint. Single button collar and button-and-loop closure pockets? That’s the easy stuff. How about piping around the pocket seams? How about thick, edge finished, leather zipper pulls? And what about the correct positioning of the sleeve seams?
The Quantum has all of those. And then there’s the little touches Daniel has added. Like the zippered internal chest pocket. And the deeper front pockets. Not to mention the details you don’t see. For example, the jacket is constructed using overlapped, double stitched flat felled seams. So it’s basically bombproof.
All in all, when comes to getting the details right, ROYALE Filmwear delivers.
The Quantum jacket with the Spier & Mackay shirt collar polo, Pepe London jeans, and To Boot New York suede chukkas.
The Sizing and Fit
Given the accuracy of the size chart on the ROYALE Filmwear site, the sizing shouldn’t be a problem. But I can see how some people might get a little confused. The cut and style of the jacket is meant to be screen accurate. That means a shorter jacket length, a more fitted chest and shoulders, and longer sleeves. This is not the loose fit of a Baracuta G9.
I’m 5’9″, 175 lbs, with a 40″ chest, 32/33″ waist, a 16″ collar, a 33″ sleeve length, and slightly wider than average shoulders. Daniel Love recommended I go with a size large in the Quantum. Below are photos of me in the large and comparisons shots of Daniel Craig in the Tom Ford from Quantum of Solace.
Size large with the 1st waist adjuster button done up.
Personally, I really like the fit. The jacket feels structured, but definitely not restrictive. The longer and slightly narrow sleeves will take a little getting used to, especially given the initial stiffness of the fabric. But I imagine that feeling will improve as the material breaks-in and softens. In fact, that’s true of the entire jacket. I feel like this is a piece that will conform to my shape the more I wear it. Luckily, I plan on wearing it a LOT. And I’ll play around with the button tab waist adjusters and cuffs to dial it in a little more. If push comes to shove and I still think the sleeves are too long, I’ll just have them shortened slightly.
Size large with the 2nd waist adjuster button done up.
Tips on the sizing: go by the shoulder and chest measurements on the ROYALE Filmwear site. Maybe I could have gotten away with a medium. And that would have helped with the sleeve length. However, the jacket length, the chest and especially the shoulders of the size large feel spot on for me. So a size smaller may have given me a slightly more “fitted” look. But it definitely would have felt more constrictive.
Conclusions
I hope that those of you who’ve read my other reviews know that I don’t pull many punches. If I see something is wrong or questionable about the piece I’m reviewing, I try to call it out. I owe it you folks to keep things honest around here.
And honestly, the Quantum jacket isn’t just a “screen accurate Harrington”. It’s an absolutely beautiful jacket in it’s own right. A jacket anyone would be proud to be seen wearing. Serious respect to ROYALE Filmwear for the incredible work they’ve done here. And for keeping the price fair and reasonable. Congratulations Daniel and thank you; your hard work, attention to detail and commitment have given Bond fans exactly the jacket we’ve been looking for!
The James Bond QUANTUM Harrington Jacket is available for $199.00 on the ROYALE Filmwear website. At the time of this writing, sizes X-small to large were still in stock.
ROYALE Filmwear provided the author with one jacket at no cost for the purposes of this review. Photo of Daniel Craig by Karen Ballard.
While winter is barely half way over, most of the stores out there are dumping their cold weather inventory to make way for the new spring arrivals. Which means it’s a great time to pick up a warm coat. The Quantum of Solace navy wool overcoat that Bond wore during his visit to Mitchell’s apartment is about as classic an example of men’s winter outwear as you can get.
And in case you’re thinking it will only work with a suit, we have a “4 Ways to Wear It” post coming soon to illustrate just how versatile this piece can be.
Features Wanted for the Quantum of Solace Navy Wool Overcoat
Navy wool or wool-blend fabric
Three button closer (not fly-front)
Notch lapels with a slightly lower top button stance
Chest pocket
Two flap covered hip pockets
5 button cuffs
The two features that are the most difficult to find are the ticket pocket and the five button cuffs. But we’ve done our best! To get more info on Bond’s complete look in that scene, you can read this article at The Suits of James Bond.
Best Option for the Quantum of Solace Navy Wool Overcoat
Other than being a little shorter than Bond’s coat, this option from Farah is a damn close match. It has the ticket and chest pockets and the slightly lower top button stance of the Tom Ford. Fabric is a 55% wool/45% polyester blend. And sizes medium to XXL are in stock (although they’re disappearing fast).
It’s missing the chest pocket and ticket pocket. But, hey; we need to sacrifice some things when we’re on a budget. Fabric is a 61% re-cycled wool, 34% polyester, 2% nylon, 2% acrylic, 1% rayon blend. And seeing as this is H&M, we can expect the fit to be on the slim side. They have sizes 36R and 40R to 46R in stock.
Just a heads up. Sizing is getting spotty with this one. They’re down to XS and large at the time of writing. But for those of you looking for a simmer take on the classic overcoat, Mango’s option is pretty good. Obviously, it’s missing the ticket pocket (as are most options). But it does have the buttons at the cuffs. Fabric is a blend of 63% wool, 29% polyester, 4% acrylic, 3% polyamide, 1% viscose. God forbid we didn’t have that 1% viscose ….
Coming at ya from ASOS. Which means free worldwide delivery is included in the price. They’re calling the fabric “wool-rich”. Which, when translated into actually fibers, means 60% Wool, 25% Polyester, 10% Nylon, and 5% other fibers. Be warned the that the jacket looks like a real slim fit and they’re down to sizes 36 to 40. So this one may be for you smaller guys out there.
A nice, basic jacket from Moss Bros. with clean lines. Fabric is again a wool/poly blend. But they have plenty of sizes in stock. And you can choose the length.
Probably the best deal of the bunch right now. If you can do without the ticket pocket. Regular price is $450, so they’ve priced this to move. They’ve used a wool/cashmere blend and the coat comes with a four button cuff. Saks has sizes medium to XL in stock.
If you can spend up, then John Lewis has an excellent alternative. Good color match. It has the ticket pocket. And a four button cuff. Only downsides? The slightly shorter length and the fabric. It’s a 60% wool/40% polyester blend. Honestly, I’d expect a slightly better quality for this price. They have most sizes still in stock.
Macy’s has this option from Michael Kors. The regular price was close to $500, so it’s a pretty sweet deal. Especially if you use one of Macy’s frequent codes to get another 20% to 25% off. They state the fabric is a wool/nylon/cashmere blend. But they don’t give the actual percentages. Macy’s has sizes 38 short to 42 long available.
Gagliardi has used a 90% wool/10% cashmere blend from the famed Italian mill for their coat. They’ve kept the classic style (without a ticket pocket) but used a more modern, streamlined fit. Regular price is €450, so it’s pretty good value for the money at it’s current price. They have sizes 38 to 48 in stock.
Any I missed? Let us know about your favorite alternatives for the Quantum of Solace navy wool overcoat in the comments! And for more Bond-style inspiration, visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
At Iconic Alternatives, we try to focus on affordable clothing that will help us get the Bond style we want without emptying our wallets. So it doesn’t make a whole lot of financial sense to invest in a piece and then only use it with one “screen accurate” look. Versatility is the name of the game. That’s where our “4 Ways to Wear It” series comes in. We take one piece of iconic Bond clothing and combine it with other affordable 007 inspired alternatives to extend our wardrobe and get the most bang for our buck. In this post we look at the James Bond navy overcoat from Quantum of Solace.
Now I say Quantum of Solace. But Bond wore a very similar coat in Skyfall as well. The first time is when he meets Q at the National Gallery (more on that look from BAMF Style). The second time is when he’s admiring the London skyline at the end. And the same style of outwear can be used to update a couple of Brosnan’s looks from Goldeneye and Die Another Day or Dalton’s Bratislava look from The Living Daylights. The Suits of James Bond has more details on those films.
Not only is the navy overcoat a good choice if you want to capture a variety of Bond looks. As I hope we’ll show below, it’s also an extremely versatile piece of outerwear in its own right. For our four outfits below, we’ve gone with the Mango Tailored Wool-blend Overcoat, which is on sale for $99.00 at the time of writing. Sizes are running low on this alternative. But you can find more options in this post.
I’ll get this out of the way at the start. That suit is crazy expensive for a website that focuses on affordable alternatives. So if you’re looking for options more in keeping with our philosophy, you can try this one from Ike Behar for $380, this one from DKNY for $300, this one from Tommy Hilfiger for $82.63 to $227.82 or this one from Charles Tyrwhitt for $399. When looking for staple suits, it’s always a good idea to check out discount sites like Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th and Yoox. The rest of the look is pretty straight forward and emphasizes the monochromatic look Bond has favored since Quantum of Solace.
Obviously, this one is primarily inspired by Bond’s outfit when he infiltrated M’s flat in Casino Royale. We’ve added some flavor from some of Craig’s other Bond films to keep things interesting. Together, they create a look that works great for a date night at a nicer restaurant or for a more formal take on “business casual”. What keeps it versatile is the polo shirt. Depending on the temperature, you can go with a lighter weight cotton option if you’ll be spending a lot of time indoors. And if the weather’s a little cooler? Try a style in merino wool like this one from Marks & Spencer. Whatever your choice, tucking it in will definitely dress things up.
Watch:Citizen Eco-Drive AT2340-56A on sale for $262.90; alternative for the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Rolex Chronograph ref 6238. More options here.
Notes
Yeah, this looks leans a little hipster. But it’s not that extreme. And who says it’s a bad thing to get out of your comfort zone every once and a while? The fact that we’re going with black leather boots (double monks no less!) and gloves helps keep things from going full on lumbersexual. Especially if you shave the beard.
Sunglasses:Persol PO3135S on sale for $148.00; alternatives for the Goldeneye Persol 2611S. More options here.
Notes
I’ve made no secret of my love for this look from Goldeneye. And winter is the perfect time to bring it up-to-date. Two reasons for that. First, it is the perfect example of effective layering. You can easily add or remove pieces and still look put together. Second, winter is the only time I believe a grown man should even consider wearing a scarf. And so we have a legitimate reason to use an alternative for Brosnan’s ascot. ‘Cause I just can’t do ascots. We’ve also gone a more casual route here than SA outfit. Swapping out the original’s pleated khakis, dress shirt and oxford wingtips for jeans, a chambray shirt and boots in similar colors honors Bond’s look while giving it a modern spin.
Got some favorite ways to mix and match your James Bond navy overcoat? Leave suggestions in the comments below! Or, if you’re feeling really sociable, you can email us a picture at info@iconicalternatives.com and we’ll post it in our Gallery!
So did Daniel Love, owner of ROYALE Filmwear, do it again? Short answer: yep, he did.
I’ll come clean right now. I was never that crazy about the Y-3 jacket from Quantum of Solace. The Harrington? That was love at first site. But Bond’s basic black jacket from Haiti always struck me as a little … meh. With its big collar and elasticized waist back, it reminded me of a generic Tommy Hilfiger or Dickies jacket a granddad might pick up at Macy’s. Except Bond’s fit much better.
Behold the FIT!
So when I received the ROYALE Filmwear Quantum Haiti jacket, I didn’t exactly rip into the box the way I did when their version of the Harrington showed up at my door. It was coming from Daniel and so, based on past experience with his work, I knew it would be a nice piece. But it wasn’t exactly a style I was drooling for.
Then I tried it on ….
The ROYALE Filmwear Quantum Haiti Jacket Review
First, a little background on the screen-used piece. The Y-3 jacket Daniel Craig’s Bond “borrows” from the recently deceased Slate was the result of a collaboration between Adidas and renowned Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Bond wears the jacket with a Tom Ford navy polo shirt, Levi’s STA-PREST 306 jeans in a light cream color, dark brown suede Church’s Ryder III chukkas, and a black Saffiano leather Prada belt. Check out BAMF Style’s analysis of the complete look for more details.
Back the ROYALE Filmwear version. At this point, I really shouldn’t be surprised by Dan’s ability to create beautiful jackets. And his latest version of the Haiti jacket is no exception.
ROYALE Filmwear Haiti Jacket, size medium, on a size 40 mannequin.
The Material and Finishing
For the Haiti, ROYALE Filmwear has used what they call a lightweight 96% cotton/4% Elastane twill fabric. I’d actually call it mid-weight, very close to the material they used for their Harrington, but with a smoother finish and a slight sheen. The big difference is that small percentage of Elastane. More on that when we discuss fit.
The jacket is also fully lined in black Rayon so it’s easy to slip on and off. The lining in the Haiti feels a hair thicker than the material used inside their Harrington. And it has a slightly “plastic” or coated hand to it. But it certainly doesn’t feel cheap. And, as I found out, that slightly slicker finish also plays a role in the fit.
As for the finishing: the stitching is impeccable both inside and out. The buttons at the cuffs and waist adjusters are sewn solidly in place with no loose threads. And the double YKK zipper operates smoothly. In you own any other ROYALE Filmwear jackets, then you’ll be very happy with the quality of the craftsmanship on the Haiti.
Closeup of the collar stitching. Note the detail stitching along the shoulder seam. Another detail needed for screen accuracy.
Summary: Heavier and slightly stiffer than you may expect, the Haiti is another jacket from ROYALE Filmwear that combines quality fabrics with equally high-grade finishing. I can’t think of anything anyone would be disappointed with. One thing I will note: the fabric is a lint/dog hair/fluff magnet. Seriously, when I was doing the photos for this review, I must have brushed the jacket twenty times to keep it clean. And I still ended up with some fluff in a few pics. I don’t think this is a flaw. Just part of owning a black jacket in the real-world. #firstworldproblems.
The Details
The Y-3 was a pretty simple jacket to begin with. But, true to form, Daniel has made sure each detail from the screen-used garment is built into the Haiti. Collar and waist adjuster tabs with slightly rounded corner? Check. Matte black, two-way front zipper? Got that too. And then there are the little touches Daniel adds, like the inside zip pocket. I’ll admit I haven’t studied the Y-3 as obsessively as I did the Tom Ford Harrington. But I can’t think of anything ROYALE Filmwear has missed this go around.
Collar and waist tab adjusters, and that inside pocket.
The Sizing and Fit
The basics: I’m 5’9″, 165 lbs, with a 39″ chest, 32″ waist, a 15.5″ collar, a 33″ sleeve length. For reference, I went with a size large in ROYALE’s Harrington (although I probably could’ve gotten away with a medium) and a size medium in the ROYALE Shanghai Peacoat and I’m very happy with both. I like my jackets to be fitted, but not skin tight. After a quick back and forth with Daniel, I went with the medium in the Haiti.
Okay, remember that Elastane I mentioned earlier? Here’s where that comes into play. Out of the package and zipped up 3/4 of the way, the Haiti felt very snug, especially through the torso. But thanks to the stretch provided by the Elastane, it definitely doesn’t feel restrictive. It has a bit of give that keeps things trim but comfortable.
The Haiti jacket on me, in no way helped by my poor modeling skills.
Adding to that sense of comfort is some excellent tailoring work by Daniel and his team. The shoulders and armscyes are spot on for my frame. Overall jacket length also hits the sweet spot for me. The sleeves were perhaps a touch long. But I won’t be getting these ones shortened, as I did for their Harrington and peacoat.
The final part of the fit equation is the that slick lining. It keeps the jacket moving smoothly over whatever shirt you’re wearing underneath, so nothing bunches or rides up. I’m not sure if that was by intentional design. But it sure makes wearing a tighter jacket easier!
Sizing is always a big question when it comes to ordering any jacket on line. So here’s my take take. First, follow the sizing chart on the ROYALE Filmwear website. It’s accurate. Second, if I really wanted Bond’s super tight jacket look from Quantum of Solace, I might have been able to squeeze into a size small. But the shoulders and length on the medium Haiti are just right for my frame. My gut feeling is the small would have been just too tight on me to be comfortable, even with that stretch in the fabric.
Conclusions
Honestly, I’m still not the biggest fan the Y-3’s design. But that has nothing to do with ROYALE Filmwear’s work. They’ve created a faithful replica, and I have no doubt that fans of the style will be more than happy.
The ROYALE Filmwear Quantum Haiti jacket with a Spier & Mackay Polo, Massimo Dutti jeans, To Boot suede chukkas, Velez Saffiano leather belt, and Ray-Ban aviators.
From my perspective, Daniel and his team have done something more interesting with the Haiti. With a combination of excellent fabrics, their usual high quality construction and (perhaps most importantly) amazing tailoring, they’ve created what is easily one of the best fitting jackets in my closet and one I plan to wear often. Now, it’s one thing to create a piece for the detail-focused fan. But to produce something that also takes the customer from “meh” to “I want to wear this NOW”? That takes some real skill. ROYALE Filmwear’s Haiti has actually made me a bigger fan of the Y-3. And I don’t think I know of a better way to recommend a company’s work.
The James Bond QUANTUM Haiti Jacket is available for $199.00 on the ROYALE Filmwear website. At the time of this writing, sizes X-small to large were still in stock.
ROYALE Filmwear provided the author with one jacket at no cost for the purposes of this review.
I can’t speak for all fans of Bond’s style. But for me, 007’s suit and tie from the Green Party scene in Quantum of Solace remains one of my favorite looks from the franchise. The dark navy Tom Ford suit, with it’s near perfect fit, combined with the crisp white shirt and subtle navy and white basket weave tie is about as timeless as it gets. We’ll discuss alternatives for the midnight blue suit in a later post. Right now, I want to focus on that tie.
Honestly, basket weave ties are pretty common. So there are plenty of options available at almost all price points. But I was looking for something special, a statement tie. At the right price, of course. Which brings us to the Aklasu Navy Micro Pattern Six-Fold tie.
About that Pattern …
No, the Aklasu tie is not a basket weave. Meaning it’s not screen accurate. And if that’s going to be a deal breaker for you, I understand.
But in person, the Aklasu’s subtle white and light blue micro pattern on the navy background gives a similar effect to what we see onscreen. Up close, the pattern is remarkably detailed and gives the fabric a certain depth and texture you just won’t find on cheaper ties. Definitely Bond-worthy.
Close-up of the pattern details on the Aklasu Six-Fold Tie
However, the real reason I decided the Aklasu was the right tie for me was the way it’s made.
The Construction of the Aklasu Navy Micro Pattern Six-Fold Tie
I am really hesitant about recommending “close enough” alternatives to people. You want things to be as screen accurate as possible. I want things to be as screen accurate as possible. So if something isn’t as screen accurate as possible, there better be a damn good reason why I’m sharing it.
In the case of the Aklasu tie, that reason is the construction. Mensah, the owner and main designer at Aklasu, starts with a high quality, medium weight silk woven in Como, Italy. This is also where Aklasu has each of its ties handmade. In the case of the six-fold, they’ve gone with a self-tipped design. Meaning the “envelope” on the back of the blade is made of the same material as the rest of the tie. The silk is then wrapped around a 100% wool interlining and folded six times to give the tie it’s shape.
A look at what’s behind a six-fold construction …
The Result?
When done right, a six-fold construction using high-quality materials results in tie that perfectly balances weight, drape and durability. And Aklasu has nailed it. With the medium weight silk and just the right amount of heft to wool interlining, the Navy Micro Pattern drapes beautiful and almost naturally creates a four-in-hand knot with a great shape and an excellent dimple. The 3.25″ blade width is also spot on for me.
This is one of those cases when I was happy to trade some screen accuracy in return for a high quality product at a great price that gives me the look I want. Aklasu sells their Navy Micro Pattern Six-Fold tie for $101.00 U.S/£75.00. And that may seem like a steep price. But when you consider that most quality six-fold ties on the market start at $140 and go up from there, you quickly realize what a deal you’re getting from Aklasu. Personally, when I factor in the quality of the material and construction and the tie’s timeless design and width, the price seems even more reasonable.
In conclusion: this will easily become one of the “go to” ties in my collection.
The Aklasu Navy Micro Pattern Six-Fold Tie is available from their website. Priced at $101.00 U.S., Aklasu offers free shipping in Canada and the U.S. You can read our review of the Aklasu Grenadine Ties here.
Aklasu provided the author with one tie at no cost for the purposes of this review.
