Not every Bond shirt is bought for the occasion. In Tomorrow Never Dies, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond spends the second half of the film in a blue linen shirt: the one he wears while Carver holds him and Wai Lin, and the one he is wearing when they escape into Saigon on a motorbike. It was labelled Angelo Litrico, an Italian label, and the shirt later came to auction. The look, an indigo linen shirt worn open, is the part worth borrowing.
In the film
Bond wears the blue linen shirt in Tomorrow Never Dies while captured by Carver alongside Wai Lin, and then as they escape into Saigon on a motorbike. Sources describe it as an indigo blue linen shirt labelled Angelo Litrico, size L 41/42, with a costumier’s label from Angels & Bermans stitched inside and “1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Pierce Brosnan” handwritten on it. One account of the film’s novelisation says Bond borrows the clothes from one of the Vietnamese sailors killed. The shirt was offered by Prop Store, with an estimate of £1,000 to £1,500, and Christie’s has also sold a lot of it.
The look, and why it works
Indigo linen. Deep blue linen is the right cloth for heat: it breathes, it creases in a way that looks deliberate, and it takes a day of travel without complaint. Worn open at the neck with the sleeves turned back, it is the practical way to wear it.
The label. Angelo Litrico (1927 to 1986) was an Italian designer credited with introducing fashion shows for menswear. The Angelo Litrico name is still in use, and C&A sells it in Europe, while older shirts turn up on eBay, Vinted and Poshmark.
Wearing it now
A blue linen shirt is a warm-weather staple. Wear it with stone or cream trousers and loafers, or with a navy linen jacket over the top for an evening. Keep the collar soft, leave one more button open than feels natural, and do not iron it flat: linen should look lived in.
Finding one. The film shirt was sold at auction, so we cannot point you to it. Our button runs an eBay search for Angelo Litrico shirts, where second-hand shirts in linen and other cloths appear. For a new shirt in the same spirit, see the alternatives below.
Sizing. Second-hand sizing varies, so check the measurements in the listing against a shirt you already own.
In the same spirit
These are alternatives, not pieces from the film: the Connolly x Finamore Oatmeal Linen Shirt for a linen shirt in a neutral shade, and the Tommy Bahama Catalina Twill silk shirt for a warm-weather evening.
Specifications
| Label | Angelo Litrico |
|---|---|
| Cloth | Linen, indigo blue |
| Size of the film shirt | L 41/42 |
| Costumier label | Angels & Bermans, with a handwritten Tomorrow Never Dies note |
| Availability | Film shirt sold at auction; Angelo Litrico shirts found second-hand and from C&A in Europe |
| Price | Varies by listing |
Questions
What shirt does Bond wear in Saigon in Tomorrow Never Dies?
A blue linen shirt labelled Angelo Litrico, size L 41/42, worn while Bond is captured by Carver and as he escapes with Wai Lin.
Can you buy the exact shirt?
No. It was sold through Prop Store and Christie’s. Second-hand Angelo Litrico shirts are listed on eBay and elsewhere.
Who was Angelo Litrico?
An Italian fashion designer, born in 1927, who is credited with introducing fashion shows for men’s clothing.
More from the film is on the Tomorrow Never Dies page, and more looks are in clothing.
