Pierce Brosnan’s Bond is often remembered for his dark suits, but in The World Is Not Enough there is a pair of light brown monk shoes in the wardrobe, and they are worth a closer look. A monk strap is the shoe for a man who finds laces tiresome and wants to look composed regardless. If you want those light brown monks, the Church’s Westbury is the closest current shoe we know of, and Church’s has made it since 1970.
In the film
With a lined suit and a blue shirt, Bond wears a pair of light brown monk-style shoes in The World Is Not Enough. Church’s shoes appear in several Bond films, but the model here is not confirmed. One source calls them the Westbury, another says “probably” the Westbury 173, and a third says the Westbury is the most similar shoe in Church’s current catalogue. In the same film, Bond also wears the black Church’s Presley monk. We treat the Westbury as the closest match we can identify, not a verified fact.
The details of the Church’s Westbury
The shape. A single monk strap with a silver buckle, in calf leather, on an almond toe. The Westbury was introduced in 1970 and has been a bestselling monk strap since, according to Church’s.
The make. A Goodyear-welted construction, according to one retailer, which means the sole can be replaced when it wears. That is much of the point of paying for a shoe like this.
The colour. The film pair is light brown. Church’s current listing that we found shows the Westbury in black, and a retailer shows a brown leather version, so check the colour before buying.
Wearing it now
A single monk is the smartest shoe you can wear without laces. It suits a lined suit in mid-grey or navy, as in the film, and a blue shirt; it also sits well with cream or stone trousers in summer. Light brown is more relaxed than black, and works on weekends and in warm weather, but we would keep it away from black tie.
Black or brown? If you own only one pair, black is the safer choice for the city, and brown is the one that looks like Bond’s. We would choose brown if you rarely wear black suits.
Fit. Try a pair before you buy. A monk should hold the heel firmly and the buckle should close on the middle hole, leaving room for the foot to settle over the day.
Price. At the time of writing, in October 2026, Church’s US pages list Westbury styles above US$1,000, and one retailer lists a brown pair at €1,070.
Specifications
| Model | Church’s Westbury (Westbury 173 on the Church’s site) |
|---|---|
| Style | Single monk strap, silver buckle, almond toe |
| Leather | Calf; polished binder on the black version Church’s lists |
| Construction | Goodyear-welted, according to one retailer |
| Introduced | 1970, according to Church’s |
| Price | Above US$1,000 on Church’s US site; €1,070 for a brown pair at one retailer (October 2026) |
Full details are on Church’s own page for the Westbury 173.
Questions
Are Bond’s brown monk shoes in The World Is Not Enough Church’s?
Probably. Sources point to the Church’s Westbury, but the identification is not confirmed. The black monk in the same film is more firmly identified as the Church’s Presley.
When did Church’s start making the Westbury?
In 1970, according to Church’s. It has been a bestselling monk strap since.
Can the Westbury be resoled?
One retailer describes it as Goodyear-welted, which is the construction that allows a cobbler to replace the sole.
For more from the film see the The World Is Not Enough page, or the shoes section.
