In the Mexico City pre-title sequence of Spectre, Daniel Craig’s Bond is dressed for a crowd rather than a mission, and a black top hat is part of his Day of the Dead disguise. The Spectre top hat is a Jaxon & James Victorian: wool felt, a gently tapered crown, a brim bound in ribbon and curled at the edges. It is an inexpensive hat, which is much of its appeal. It asks very little of the man who buys it and rewards him on the right evening.
In the film
Bond wears the Victorian in the opening sequence of Spectre (2015), as part of his Day of the Dead disguise in Mexico City. It is the black Jaxon & James model, still made by the maker as style 193900.
The details of the Spectre top hat
Wool felt, firmly finished. The hat is 100% wool felt with a firm finish, so the crown holds its line rather than slumping.
A tapered crown. At 15cm (6 inches) the crown is tall but not theatrical, and it widens gently towards the top. That slight taper is the Victorian shape, and it reads as period without tipping into pantomime.
A bound, curled brim. The brim is 5cm (2 inches) wide and edged in grosgrain ribbon, then curled up at the sides. The binding gives the edge a clean, finished line, and the curl frames the face rather than shading it.
A leather sweatband. Inside sits a leather band, the part that touches your head, which is a sensible place for the maker to have used leather.
A feather you can remove. The hat comes with a side feather that detaches. We would leave it off.
Wearing it now
Let us be plain about what this is. It is a wool felt hat at a modest price, not a hatter’s silk topper, and it belongs to the occasions where a top hat is a pleasure rather than a requirement: a Day of the Dead evening, a Halloween party with a black-tie dress code, a Dickensian Christmas, a themed wedding weekend. For a formal race meeting or a society wedding with a stated dress code, buy from a proper hatter instead.
What to wear with it. Keep everything else plain. A black or midnight suit, a white shirt and a dark tie leave the hat as the single decision. Anything busier, and the whole effect tips into costume.
Feather or no feather? No feather. Without it the hat is quieter and easier to carry off in a room where nobody else has dressed up as much.
Sizing. Measure your head just above the ears and eyebrows with a soft tape, and compare the figure with the maker’s size chart. Retailer listings run from 6 ⅞ to 7 ¾, so those with larger heads should check availability before ordering.
Looking after it. Brush it lightly with a soft hat brush, store it crown down or in a box, and keep it away from radiators. Kept like this, it will be ready for the next occasion.
Specifications
| Style number | 193900 (Victorian Top Hat, Black) |
|---|---|
| Material | 100% wool felt |
| Crown | 15cm (6 inches), tapered |
| Brim | 5cm (2 inches), grosgrain ribbon bound edge, curled up |
| Lining | Leather sweatband |
| Extras | Removable side feather |
| Sizes | Listed from 6 ⅞ to 7 ¾ at one US retailer; check the maker’s chart |
| RRP | £69.95 (RRP at the time of writing, October 2026) |
Full details and current sizes are on Jaxon & James’s own page for the Victorian Top Hat.
Questions
Is this the hat Bond wears in Spectre?
Yes. Our film records identify the Jaxon & James Victorian Top Hat as the black hat Bond wears in the Mexico City opening of Spectre, as part of his Day of the Dead disguise.
What size should I order?
The one that matches your own head measurement. Measure just above the ears and eyebrows with a soft tape and compare the figure with the maker’s size chart. Retailer listings run from 6 ⅞ to 7 ¾.
How much does the Spectre top hat cost?
The RRP at the time of writing, October 2026, is £69.95 on the Jaxon & James site. Retailer prices and currencies vary.
Can you wear it to a formal event?
Only where costume is welcome. It is a wool felt hat made for parties, themed weekends and fancy dress rather than a silk hat for a strict morning-dress code.
More from the film is on our Spectre page, and Bond’s wider wardrobe under Daniel Craig sits alongside it in our accessories collection.
