The footwear in Matera is the quietest part of a loud sequence. The Drake’s Crosby moc-toe chukka boot is a brown suede chukka with three eyelets, a crepe sole and a line of moccasin stitching across the toe. For Daniel Craig’s Bond it carries a car chase, a hotel stay and a slow walk through town. It is also a pair we would happily own with no film attached.
In the film
Bond wears the boots through the Matera sequences of No Time To Die. They appear in the Aston Martin DB5 chase with the Massimo Alba sloop suit, around the Palazzo Lucareschi hotel, and on the walk with Madeleine Swann, where they are worn with a blue Connolly jacket and Massimo Alba corduroy trousers. One caution: the boots on the IMAX poster, with Bond on the Triumph motorcycle, are the stunt rider’s and not these.
The details of the Drake’s Crosby moc-toe chukka boot
The moc-stitched toe. Moccasin-style stitching runs around the vamp. It is the one decorative gesture on an otherwise plain boot, and it keeps the Crosby from reading as a standard desert boot. Drake’s describes it as the cousin of its Clifford Desert Boot, with a three-eyelet silhouette.
Unlined suede. There is nothing between the suede and your foot, so the boot is lighter and more flexible than a lined one, and it settles to the foot rather than holding a shape of its own. The trade-off is that it is a boot for dry days and mild weather, not for deep winter.
A rubber crepe sole. Crepe is flexible and forgiving, which suits a day of walking. It is also informal by nature, which is why the boot works with relaxed tailoring rather than formal tailoring.
Made in Italy. Drake’s makes the Crosby in Italy and finishes it with a leather insole carrying an embossed logo, a small mark that only the wearer sees.
Wearing it now
The Crosby is a boot for the man who wants a suede chukka and nothing louder. It sits best with the clothes Bond wears in Matera: a blue jacket, corduroy trousers, a plain white Henley. It also works with a grey flannel trouser and a knit, or with plain indigo denim. We would stop short of wearing it with a dark business suit; the sole and the soft shape say weekend.
Which colour? Drake’s also makes the Crosby in other suedes, including tobacco and sand, and in a rough-out dark brown with a rubber sole. For the film boot, choose the Brown Suede. It is the colour Bond wears, and it is dark enough to take a pale or a navy trouser without a clash.
Sizing. Drake’s recommends going up half a size on the Crosby in tobacco suede. Check its size guide for the brown before ordering, and use the fit scale on its product page.
Care. Treat the suede with a protector spray before the first outing, brush it after wearing, and let it dry naturally if it gets wet. Cedar shoe trees help the unlined upper keep its shape between wears.
Specifications
| Model | Drake’s Crosby Moc-Toe Chukka Boot, Brown Suede (the colour worn in No Time To Die) |
|---|---|
| Upper | Suede, unlined |
| Toe | Moc-stitched, moccasin-style stitching around the vamp |
| Lacing | Three eyelets |
| Sole | Rubber crepe |
| Insole | Leather, with embossed logo |
| Made in | Italy |
| Price | Varies by market; see Drake’s for the current price |
Full details and the size guide are on Drake’s own page for the Crosby.
Questions
Are these the boots Bond wears in No Time To Die?
Yes, for the Matera scenes. Bond wears the Drake’s Crosby in Brown Suede in the DB5 chase, at the hotel and on the walk with Madeleine. The boots on the IMAX poster are the stunt rider’s and are not these.
Do the Drake’s Crosby chukka boots run true to size?
Not necessarily. Drake’s advises going up half a size on the Crosby in tobacco suede. For the brown, check the size guide and fit scale on its product page before you order.
Can you wear suede chukka boots in the rain?
Not for long. Suede is not waterproof, and an unlined boot is best kept for dry weather. A protector spray helps with light showers. If they do get wet, let them dry naturally and brush the nap back afterwards.
Can you return them if the fit is wrong?
Yes, within 14 days of delivery. Drake’s accepts returns through its returns portal, for a refund or an exchange. Check the terms for your own country at checkout.
More footwear is in our shoe collection, and the rest of the wardrobe is with the Bonds.
