Most swim shorts are an afterthought. Daniel Craig’s Bond in Skyfall wears a pair that is not: pale blue, cut short, and finished with the small hardware of a tailored trouser. The Orlebar Brown Skyfall Setter is that pair, a swimming short that has more in common with a good pair of chinos than with a surf brand’s boardshorts.
In the film
Bond wears the Setter in Sky at the Shanghai hotel pool in Skyfall (2012), seen resting on the edge of the rooftop pool and sitting in the water. The pair sold in Orlebar Brown’s 007 Collection matches the colour and details of the film shorts.
The details of the Orlebar Brown Skyfall Setter
Sky blue. A clear, pale blue, neither powder nor electric. It reads as a colour that belongs by water, and it sits comfortably against tanned skin and a white shirt.
A short, tailored cut. The Setter is Orlebar Brown’s shorter-length style. It is cut close rather than cut baggy, so it neither flaps in the water nor looks like beachwear once you are out of it.
Engraved side adjusters. Metal tabs at each side let you take the waist in or out by a notch. It is a tailor’s detail, and it means the fit is yours to fine-tune, before swimming and after lunch.
Proper pockets and a proper fly. There are two side pockets and a zipped pocket at the back, and the fly closes with a zip and a single press stud. Nothing here is decoration.
A touch of red. Orlebar Brown puts a small run of red stitching at the hem of the leg. It is the house signature, easy to miss and all the better for it.
The guarantee. Orlebar Brown states a five-year guarantee on its swim shorts, a useful assurance on a garment that sees chlorine, salt and sun.
Wearing it now
These are for the pool, the beach and the short walk between them. The cut is shorter than many men are used to, so try the Setter on before committing. If it is too brief for you, Orlebar Brown’s Bulldog is the mid-length alternative.
Away from the water, treat them as you would any pale shorts. A white or navy linen shirt, a plain navy polo or a faded cotton tee all work, with leather sandals or canvas shoes. Keep everything else quiet: Sky blue is already the one note that matters.
Care. Rinse them in fresh water after the pool or the sea, and dry them flat rather than on a radiator. Look after them and the colour stays clean.
Availability. The Sky colourway has come and gone. It was discontinued around 2015, returned in 2019 as part of the first 007 Collection, and later reappeared as the Skyfall Setter. Check Orlebar Brown’s 007 Collection for current stock and sizes. If you buy a second-hand pair, make sure the colour is the correct Sky; it is the whole point.
Specifications
| Style | Orlebar Brown Setter, shorter length |
|---|---|
| Colour | Sky (light blue) |
| Closure | Zip fly with single press stud |
| Pockets | Two side pockets, one zipped rear pocket |
| Adjusters | Engraved metal side adjusters |
| Details | Red stitching at the leg hem |
| Guarantee | Five years on Orlebar Brown swim shorts |
| Price | See Orlebar Brown for the current price |
Questions
What swim shorts does Bond wear in Skyfall?
Bond wears Orlebar Brown Setter swim shorts in Sky blue at the hotel pool in the Shanghai sequence. Orlebar Brown has since sold a replica as part of its 007 Collection.
Is the Skyfall Setter still available?
Not reliably, as stock changes, so check Orlebar Brown directly. The Sky colour was dropped around 2015, came back in 2019, and has since reappeared as the Skyfall Setter.
How short is the Orlebar Brown Setter?
It is a shorter-length cut, though not the shortest in the range; Orlebar Brown’s Springer is shorter still. The Bulldog is the mid-length option if you prefer more cover.
Can you wear them as everyday shorts?
Yes. The pockets, the fly and the tailored shape mean they pass for ordinary shorts on holiday. We would pair them with a linen shirt or a plain polo and keep the rest of the outfit quiet.
For more of Bond’s off-duty wardrobe, see our clothing guide and the pieces Craig’s Bond wore.
