When Bond is living off the grid in Skyfall, he does it in a brown leather jacket that looks as if it has been worn for decades. The Levi’s Menlo jacket is a reproduction of a 1930s Levi’s design, cut short, distressed by hand and lined in orange. It is the Levi’s Menlo jacket from Skyfall, and it is among the better-judged pieces of casual outerwear in the Craig films.
In the film
Daniel Craig’s Bond wears a brown Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1930s leather jacket in the sequence the costume notes call “Enjoying Death”, when he is rougher-looking, with a beard and casual clothes. Collectors have identified it as the Menlo.
The details of the Levi’s Menlo jacket
Sheepskin. The leather is sheepskin, which is softer and lighter than the cowhide most people expect from a jacket of this type. It is deliberately distressed, so there is no need to wait years for it to look right.
Working details. It has an action back, cinch straps at the waist to adjust the fit, and breathing holes under the arms. The lining is orange, 100% polyester. A reviewer found it warm indoors, so it is a jacket for cooler weather.
A cropped, slim cut. It is short and narrow in the waist, with a more generous chest and sleeve opening. That gives a V-shaped silhouette when zipped, but the length will not suit anyone who likes a longer jacket.
Wearing it now
Treat it as a replacement for a bomber or a field jacket. It looks best over a plain knit or a white or blue cotton shirt, with dark denim or heavy chinos and boots. Keep everything else quiet: the jacket is the statement, and the distressing does the work.
Fit. Sizing is the awkward part. Levi’s has made the jacket across several seasons, and measurements differ between them; one reviewer found theirs fitted a size larger than labelled. Ask for the actual garment dimensions before buying, particularly if you are looking at a pre-owned one.
Which version. Levi’s current Menlo Cossack is described as a reproduction of the jacket worn by Albert Einstein. The shade changed between seasons, with later runs lighter than the first, so compare photographs with the film if the colour matters to you.
Specifications
| Maker | Levi’s Vintage Clothing |
|---|---|
| Style | 1930s Menlo (Cossack) jacket |
| Material | Sheepskin leather, 100% polyester lining (orange in the reviewed season) |
| Colour | Brown; shade varies by season |
| Details | Action back, waist cinch straps, underarm breathing holes |
| Price | See Levi’s current listing |
Questions
What leather jacket does Bond wear in Skyfall?
A brown Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1930s Menlo jacket in sheepskin, worn in the sequence in which Bond is living rough.
Is the Levi’s Menlo jacket still made?
Levi’s lists a Menlo Cossack jacket in brown on its UK site. Colour and details vary by season, so check against the film.
Does the Levi’s Menlo jacket run large?
Sizing varies between seasons. One reviewer reported that their jacket measured about an inch larger than the label in every dimension, though the waist is slim.
See more from the film on our Skyfall page, the rest of Daniel Craig’s Bond, and more clothing.
