Bond’s shoes in The World Is Not Enough are as quietly chosen as the rest of his Istanbul clothes. With a blue shirt and a cream linen suit he wears brown monk shoes, and our sources think they are probably Church’s. Both halves of that sentence matter. These are brown monk shoes, a style, and we cannot yet name the exact pair.
In the film
Pierce Brosnan’s Bond wears the shoes in The World Is Not Enough (1999) as part of the Istanbul outfit, with the blue shirt and the cream linen suit. The maker is given as “probably Church’s” and the confidence in the record is low, so we present this as a look to follow rather than a verified product.
The details
The monk strap. A monk shoe fastens with a buckle across the instep instead of laces. It sits between a dress shoe and a loafer, which is why it works with a lightweight summer suit where a black oxford would look heavy.
Brown, not black. A brown leather shoe warms a cream suit. It reads as relaxed but still correct, particularly in a hot city.
Church’s. The English maker sells monk straps today in both single- and double-buckle styles, according to its own site, so the nearest current pair is easy to find. We have not matched it to the pair in the film, and the current range will differ in detail.
Wearing it now
Pair a brown monk shoe with a pale linen or cotton suit, a blue shirt and no tie. This is summer tailoring for travel: unlined jacket, light trousers, leather that has been looked after. Wear it with fine socks or none in the heat.
Single or double? A single buckle is the quieter choice and easier to wear with casual trousers. A double buckle is more distinctive and wants cleaner tailoring around it.
Care. Keep shoe trees in them between wears, brush the uppers and rotate pairs. A good leather shoe is judged by how it looks after years, not on the first day.
Where to buy. The button here goes to Church’s own monk-strap page, because that is the nearest current equivalent. It is a purchase in the spirit of the film, not the pair seen on screen.
In the same spirit
For a different take, Crockett and Jones’s Highbury in black calf is in our catalogue under monk straps and dress shoes. It is an alternative, not a pair from the film.
Specifications
| Maker | Church’s (probable) |
|---|---|
| Style | Monk strap shoe |
| Colour | Brown |
| Worn with | Blue shirt and cream linen suit |
| Model | Not identified |
| Current equivalent | Church’s single- and double-buckle monk straps |
Church’s range is on its own monk-strap page.
Questions
Are Bond’s shoes in The World Is Not Enough Church’s?
Probably, but it is not confirmed. Our records say “probably Church’s” with low confidence, and no model is given.
What is a monk strap shoe?
It is a shoe closed by a buckle strap across the instep instead of laces, in single- or double-buckle form.
Can you wear brown monk shoes with a suit?
Yes, with a lightweight or pale suit in particular. They work best in linen, cotton or light wool, without a tie.
More footwear is in the shoes collection, and the actor’s looks are gathered under Pierce Brosnan.
