Daniel Craig’s Bond at his most relaxed in Quantum of Solace needs very little: a white dress shirt and a black cardigan. The Tom Ford black cardigan from Quantum of Solace is a shawl-collar knit with pockets, made to be worn over a shirt in place of a jacket. The exact cardigan is out of production and found second-hand, so the button below is a search of eBay for it. It is, in our view, a useful lesson in dressing down without letting go of structure.
In the film
Bond wears the cardigan in Quantum of Solace (2008), in Italy, when he visits Mathis. He has it over a white dress shirt. Tom Ford was secretive about the clothing made for the film, but the black cardigan is one item confirmed.
The details
The shawl collar. A shawl collar is one continuous rolled band that runs round the neck and down the front. With no lapel notch and no point, the cardigan looks softer than a jacket but keeps a clear line at the chest.
Pockets. The cardigan has pockets, which makes it a working garment rather than a layer to be admired. It also keeps the hands occupied, which is half of looking at ease.
Black, worn plain. Black knitwear over white cotton is a two-colour argument that needs no further help. There is nothing to date it, and nothing to explain.
Wearing it now
Treat a black shawl-collar cardigan as the evening and travel layer that replaces the blazer on days when a blazer would be too much. Over a crisp white shirt, collar open, it works for dinner, a long flight or a weekend away. We would keep the rest quiet: dark trousers, plain leather shoes, no pocket square.
Choosing one. If you buy second-hand, check the knit, the collar and the pockets in each listing; if you buy new, the right one is a matter of proportion rather than label. Look for a true shawl collar, pockets and a fine, close knit in black. Try it over a shirt before you buy: the body should sit close without pulling at the buttons, and the sleeves should end at the wrist bone. Tom Ford’s current men’s knitwear is a sensible place to start.
Pairing. It sits at the casual end of Bond’s wardrobe, much as it does for Daniel Craig in the Italy scene of Quantum of Solace.
Specifications
| Maker | Tom Ford |
|---|---|
| Style | Black shawl-collar cardigan with pockets |
| Worn with | White dress shirt |
| Availability | Out of production; originally sold through Tom Ford’s exclusive retailers; found second-hand |
Current men’s knitwear is on Tom Ford’s own site.
Questions
What cardigan does Bond wear in Quantum of Solace?
He wears a black shawl-collar Tom Ford cardigan with pockets, over a white dress shirt, in Italy when he visits Mathis.
Can you still buy the Tom Ford cardigan from Quantum of Solace?
Not new. It was sold through Tom Ford’s exclusive retailers and is out of production, so it is found second-hand. A cardigan in the same spirit is the better route if you want one new.
What should you wear with a black shawl-collar cardigan?
A white shirt, dark trousers and plain leather shoes. Keep the shirt collar open and skip the tie.
For more on how Bond dresses, start with our guide to the Bonds.
