The most useful piece in Daniel Craig’s Bond wardrobe is not the dinner jacket. It is a grey t-shirt. In Casino Royale, Bond wears it in Madagascar, at Miami Airport and at the wheel of a yacht in Venice, and it never once draws attention to itself. Sunspel originally designed the Riviera for the film and still makes it. The Sunspel Riviera crew neck t-shirt in grey melange is, in our view, the right place to start with Bond’s off-duty clothes.
In the film
Bond wears grey Riviera t-shirts in several scenes of Casino Royale (2006): in Madagascar, at Miami Airport under a leather jacket, and in Venice, steering a yacht through the canals. Sunspel says the style was originally designed for Craig in the film. The brand still sells it, now listed as the Riviera Midweight T-shirt, so we would not promise cloth identical to the 2006 original.
The details of the Sunspel Riviera crew neck t-shirt
Midweight cotton. Sunspel describes the Riviera as slightly heavier than its Classic T-shirt. The extra weight gives it more body, which matters when it is the only layer under a jacket and has to hang properly rather than cling.
A slim, tailored cut. The chest is cut like the Classic T-shirt, but the heavier fabric makes the Riviera feel more fitted. Sunspel’s model is 6’2″ with a 38″ chest and wears a medium, a useful guide if you are deciding between sizes.
Grey melange. A melange is made from yarns of mixed tones, so the colour is soft and slightly variable rather than flat. We would call it the most forgiving shade a man can own: it sits happily with navy, olive, tan and black, and it is the colour Bond wears on screen.
Cut and cloth. Sunspel has been making t-shirts for over a century, and the Riviera relies on cut and cloth alone.
Wearing it now
This is a shirt for the hours that are not formal and not quite casual either. Wear it under an open navy overshirt or a suede jacket, or with a leather jacket as Bond does in Miami. Add dark chinos or well-fitting indigo denim, and suede boots or plain white leather trainers. In summer it needs only a pair of linen trousers.
Grey or something else? The Riviera also comes in white, navy, black and charcoal melange, among other colours. We would choose the grey melange: it is the film’s colour, and it is the easiest to wear with everything else you own.
Riviera or Classic? Sunspel’s Classic T-shirt is the lighter of the two and is made in England. We would take the Riviera if you want the style from the film and a cloth with more weight, and the Classic if you prefer something thinner for hot weather or layering.
Care. Sunspel’s guidance is a gentle 30°C wash with similar colours, no tumble dryer and no dry cleaning. Follow it and a good t-shirt lasts for years.
Specifications
| Maker | Sunspel |
|---|---|
| Style | Riviera crew neck T-shirt (sold today as the Riviera Midweight T-shirt) |
| Colour | Grey melange |
| Fit | Slim; same chest cut as the Classic T-shirt, feels more fitted in the heavier cloth |
| Fabric | Midweight cotton. Sunspel lists the black Riviera as 100% Supima cotton, extra-long staple, traceable to California |
| Made in | Portugal (as listed by Sunspel for the black Riviera; check the grey melange page) |
| Care | Gentle wash at 30°C with similar colours; do not tumble dry; do not dry clean |
| RRP | See Sunspel for the current price |
Current details, sizes and availability are on Sunspel’s own page for the grey melange Riviera.
Questions
What t-shirt does Bond wear in Casino Royale?
Bond wears a grey Sunspel Riviera t-shirt in several scenes, including Madagascar, Miami Airport and Venice. Sunspel says it originally designed the style for Daniel Craig in the film.
Is the Sunspel Riviera the same as the shirt in the film?
Sunspel sells it as the style designed for the film, now as the Riviera Midweight T-shirt. We cannot promise the fabric is identical to the 2006 original.
How does the Sunspel Riviera fit?
Slim. It has the same chest cut as Sunspel’s Classic T-shirt, but the heavier cloth makes it feel more fitted. Sunspel’s model is 6’2″ with a 38″ chest and wears a medium.
What is the difference between the Riviera and the Classic T-shirt?
The Riviera is a slightly heavier, midweight cloth and is the style designed for Craig’s Bond. The Classic is the lighter t-shirt and is made in Sunspel’s factory in Long Eaton, England.
For more of what Craig’s Bond wears, see our Bond clothing or meet the Bonds.
