The drive in the Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most relaxed scenes in GoldenEye, and the passenger dresses for it. Caroline’s brown check jacket is a Pied a Terre piece in a cotton-linen blend: soft, slightly rumpled and just formal enough. This Pied a Terre brown check jacket is no longer made, but the look it represents is easy to build.
In the film
Serena Gordon’s Caroline wears the jacket in Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 as he races Xenia Onatopp. It later appeared at auction at Prop Store in London, listed as lot 401 in the GoldenEye section, with an estimate of £400 to £600 and a reported sale price of £625. The auction description is the source of the fabric and pattern details.
The details
Brown cotton and linen. The jacket is made from a brown cotton-linen blend. Linen gives it body and a dry hand; the cotton makes it more comfortable and a little less likely to crease.
A subtle check. A small check runs all over the cloth. At a distance it reads as a textured brown, close up as a pattern. That is the right amount for a daytime jacket.
Pied a Terre. Pied a Terre jackets are sold second-hand today on several resale sites. We have no information on the cut of this jacket beyond what the film shows, so we do not describe its lapels or buttons.
Wearing it now
A brown check linen-blend jacket is a summer and early-autumn piece. Wear it over a white shirt or a fine knit with stone or cream trousers, and brown leather shoes. It is smarter than a cardigan and less formal than a suit jacket, which is why it works for a drive, a lunch or a gallery.
Keep it simple. The check is doing the work, so leave the trousers and shirt plain. Add a scarf or a silk square only if the day is cool.
Care. Linen blends crease, and that is part of their charm. Steam rather than iron, and have it dry-cleaned rarely.
Finding it. The exact jacket is not made any more, so the practical route is a second-hand search. Look for a Pied a Terre jacket in a brown check cotton-linen blend and ask for measurements, as sizing in resale listings can be hard to judge.
In the same spirit
This is an alternative, not the jacket from the film:
- Sézane Will Jacket in Khaki, from No Time To Die, a current lightweight jacket in a similar earthy tone
Specifications
| Maker | Pied a Terre |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Brown cotton-linen blend |
| Pattern | Subtle all-over check |
| Worn by | Caroline (Serena Gordon) |
| Auction | Prop Store lot 401, estimate £400 to £600, sold £625 |
| Status | Out of production; found second-hand |
Questions
Who wears the Pied a Terre jacket in GoldenEye?
Caroline, played by Serena Gordon, wears it in Bond’s DB5 as he races Xenia Onatopp.
What is it made from?
A brown cotton-linen blend with a subtle check all over, according to the auction description.
Can I buy the exact jacket?
Not new. The original sold at auction, and Pied a Terre jackets turn up on resale sites, so a second-hand search is the way in.
See more of the film on the GoldenEye page, Brosnan’s world in Pierce Brosnan’s Bond, or browse clothing.
