The name is Bond, James Bond, and he is a man of class and style. Daniel Craig starred in his last film as James Bond in “No Time to Die,” and as a huge fan of the franchise, I was eagerly waiting to see the fashion in the film. The franchise is known for the sexy and scandalous Bond girl dresses and the exceptionally cut suits of James Bond. However, this movie was very different from how the costume was handled because we see James 5 years into retirement and the women were more complex as characters. Phoebe Waller-Bridge was brought on to the writing team to develop female characters that were well-founded and developed. The clothing was more understated than the other movies, but still made the impact that was needed.
Paloma
Ana de Armas plays the role of Paloma and truly redefines the definition of Bond Girl. In the past, they were women who were confident and sexy but still required help from James Bond to save her. In “No Time to Die,” Paloma is there to help Bond on his trip to Cuba. She is someone who is bubbly and excited for one of her first missions but isn’t someone who comes off as ditzy. Her black evening gown by Michael Lo Sordo is classy and scandalous but does not stop her from fighting her enemies. She fights them off with ease, and her dress or heels never get in the way. Her Chopard jewels are the perfect accent to the full look without being distracting. This version of the Bond Girl shows a refusal to choose between femininity and strength and we respect that.
The New 007
One of the most radical things in this movie is the introduction of the new 007, Naomi. For the first time, the 007 title is held by a woman. Naomi, played by Lashana Lynch, is confident, strong and powerful. She holds her ground in every scene and is the quintessential 007 agent, but just more rule-following. She is introduced in the movie as a party-goer trying to go home with James Bond. She is seen in an incredible white top with cargo pants, that makes her look gorgeous, while still being practical as an undercover agent. All her clothing was structured and included pants. Her outfits demanded authority and were practical to her career. The clothing did not hide her figure, like a lot of military or official women’s clothing. I also loved that she kept her natural hair and how her clothing felt lived in and personal. Overall, I am a huge fan of the new 007.
Bond, James Bond
We are all used to seeing James Bond in stunning suits that are well-tailored and custom-made for him, but “No Time to Die” showed a very different side of the character. Since he has been in retirement and older now, his style is more relaxed and “mature.” I am a huge sucker for incredible suits, but this time my favorite outfits were his final act outfit and his long green trench. The green trench is relaxed, but his whole outfit still looks put together and well thought out. However, his final act blue knit sweater and cargo-Esq pants were my favorite. The color was perfect for the whole movie and Daniel Craig. The look was practical and stylish while remaining lived in and confident. There are only a couple of scenes with Daniel Craig in a suit, but I felt they were perfectly sprinkled in and the costuming gave James Bonda a more well-rounded character.
This entire movie was an absolute treat and a great ending to Daniel Craig’s stint as James Bond. The ending was controversial, but I am hopeful for the future of the franchise. More well-rounded and complex women, as well as fashion that is more relatable and practical to each character, bodes for sustained popularity for future movies.
