Some of the best costume choices in the Bond films are the plainest. In No Time To Die, Madeleine Swann is dressed for a day in southern Italy: a white ribbed dress, buttoned at the front, with nothing added. The Massimo Dutti ribbed dress is a lesson in how much a simple shape and a restrained texture can do when nobody is trying to impress.
In the film
Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann wears the dress in No Time To Die during the Aston Martin DB5 chase through Matera, Italy. The dress was sold with a belt, but Madeleine does not wear it on screen. Worn loose, it reads as relaxed rather than styled, which is a useful detail for anyone recreating the look. Our guide to the film has the wider context.
The details of the Massimo Dutti ribbed dress
A ribbed texture. Rib has natural give, so a fitted shape follows the body without clinging. Ribbed trims finish the dress and keep the surface quiet.
V-neck, short sleeves. The neckline is a modest V and the sleeves are short. It is a summer shape that stays understated, with nothing added for effect.
A button front. The buttons run down the front of the dress. They are practical as well as decorative: you can open it a little more in the heat, or close it for a more formal line.
A straight fit, and a belt you can leave off. The dress hangs straight. Massimo Dutti supplied a belt with it, but the film shows it unbelted, and we think that is the better choice. Belted, it becomes a different dress, neater and more deliberate. Unbelted, it is the one she wears.
Wearing it now
The honest position is that this dress is out of reach in its original form. It was a Massimo Dutti piece from the Spring Summer 2019 season and is no longer in the maker’s range. The brand’s current dresses can be seen on Massimo Dutti’s own site, but you will not find this one there. Pre-owned examples do surface from time to time, and our button runs an eBay search for the dress by its name. If you go looking, check the button front, the V-neck and the short sleeves against the film, and ask for measurements rather than relying on a size label.
If you would rather work in the spirit of the dress than chase it, the formula is easy to hold on to: white or off-white, a soft ribbed texture, a clean neckline, short sleeves and no ornament. Wear it with flat leather sandals or white trainers, and a plain leather bag. We would keep jewellery to a single watch or a thin chain. It is a dress for a long lunch, a day in an unfamiliar town or a drive with the windows down, and it needs nothing else to look finished.
Specifications
| Maker | Massimo Dutti |
|---|---|
| Name as sold | Ribbed Dress With Belt |
| Colour | White |
| Fit | Straight |
| Neckline and sleeves | V-neck, short sleeves |
| Fastening | Button front, ribbed trims |
| Belt | Supplied with the dress; not worn in the film |
| Season | Spring Summer 2019; no longer in Massimo Dutti’s range |
| RRP | Not confirmed |
Questions
Who wears the Massimo Dutti ribbed dress in No Time To Die?
Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann wears it. She is in it during the Aston Martin DB5 chase in Matera, Italy.
Does Madeleine wear the belt with the dress?
No. The dress was sold with a belt, but she wears it without one on screen. We think it works better that way, as a relaxed and unfussy shape.
Can you still buy the Massimo Dutti ribbed dress?
Not new from Massimo Dutti. It was a Spring Summer 2019 piece and is no longer in the range, so the realistic route is a pre-owned example.
What does the Massimo Dutti ribbed dress look like?
It is a white, straight-fit dress with a V-neck, short sleeves, a button front and ribbed trims. It came with a belt, which is optional.
In the same spirit
For the same quiet, sunlit mood from the same film, we would start with Madeleine’s Sézane Will jacket in khaki to throw over it, and the Michael Lo Sordo Paloma maxi dress for the evening. Both are alternatives to the look, not the dress itself.
More of what the cast wears is in our clothing and film guides.
