The best shirt in a suit outfit is the one nobody comments on. In No Time To Die, Tom Ford put Daniel Craig’s Bond in a Sea Island poplin collared shirt beneath a grey Prince of Wales suit. It is a plain piece of dressing, and the right Tom Ford Sea Island poplin shirt is worth more to a wardrobe than most of the things worn over it.
In the film
Bond wears the shirt in No Time To Die (2021) with the grey Prince of Wales suit. Tom Ford’s announcement of its work on the film lists a Sea Island Blue Poplin Collared Shirt and an off-white silk pocket square among the pieces. Other sources describe a white shirt, so we have not committed to a colour here.
The details
Sea Island cotton. Sea Island is known for a soft hand and a gentle sheen, and it is among the finest cottons used in shirting. Against the skin it feels finer than ordinary cotton, and it looks quietly expensive without a logo in sight.
Poplin. A tight, plain weave with a crisp, even surface. It is smoother and more formal than oxford cloth and sits flat under a jacket, so the tailoring above it does the talking.
The pocket square. The off-white silk pocket square listed alongside the shirt is the only other note in the outfit. Folded flat, it gives the shirt a quiet partner rather than a competitor.
Wearing it now
This is a shirt for the suit, and it earns its place when the suit is good. We would pair it with grey tailoring in a quiet check, a dark tie and an off-white silk pocket square folded flat and simple. Polished black or dark brown shoes finish it.
It also dresses down well. Worn open at the neck beneath a navy jacket, with the sleeves turned back in a plain fold, it makes a better weekend shirt than most. Keep everything else restrained, so that the cloth does the work.
Care. Fine cotton like this rewards gentle handling. Follow the care label, wash cool, and press it while it is slightly damp. Owners on Styleforum report that Sea Island shirts can wear faster than heavier cloths, so rotate it rather than wearing it daily.
Finding one. We found no current Tom Ford listing for this shirt, so any pair you find will be second-hand; the button on this page is an eBay search. Check the colour in the photographs, given the doubt over the film shirt.
Choosing. If you are building a wardrobe around Bond’s tailoring, this is where we would start, before the suit and long before the watch. More ideas are in our clothing edit.
In the same spirit
These are alternatives, not the shirt in the film. Turnbull & Asser Casino Royale White Dress Shirt is a plain white dress shirt from a shirtmaker, and Tom Ford Pleated Front Dress Shirt, White Cotton is a Tom Ford shirt in white cotton, though it is an evening shirt with a pleated front and not poplin.
Specifications
| Maker | Tom Ford |
|---|---|
| Style | Collared dress shirt |
| Fabric | Sea Island cotton |
| Weave | Poplin |
| Colour | Unconfirmed; sources differ |
| Film | No Time To Die (2021) |
Questions
Does Bond wear a Tom Ford shirt in No Time To Die?
Yes. Tom Ford dressed Daniel Craig’s Bond for the film, and its Sea Island Poplin Collared Shirt is worn with the grey Prince of Wales suit.
What colour is the shirt in No Time To Die?
It is unconfirmed. Tom Ford’s announcement lists a Sea Island Blue Poplin Collared Shirt, while other sources describe a white one. We would treat the colour as open until the maker confirms it.
What is Sea Island cotton?
It is a cotton known for a very smooth feel and a gentle sheen, and it is among the finest used in shirting. The trade-off is durability, so a Sea Island shirt is best rotated.
How do you care for a Sea Island cotton shirt?
Wash it cool, follow the care label and press it while slightly damp. Rotate it with other shirts rather than wearing it daily.
For the rest of the outfit, see the film page and our guide to the Bonds.
