No one nails the suited look quite like James Bond, and it’s in the casino where he always seems to look his best. Whether it’s Dr. No, Thunderball, or the most recent Casino Royale, Bond has the knack of looking cool, calm, and collected in a tuxedo like no other man on this planet can. So if you’re looking for the perfect casino look, some tips and even online bonuses for popular games, then you came to the right place.
But it’s not just about looking the part. Not so easy. You’ll need to feel the part too and that means being self-confident. You don’t want to just look like you know what you’re doing in the casino, you want to actually know. That means the first logical step is to sharpen your gaming skills.
Perfecting your card skills
There’s no point in heading for the casino looking all dapper if you can’t play the games like 007 can. And no, even though they’re lots of fun, we can’t recall ever seeing Bond playing on the slot machines. Bond spends all of his time at the tables.
Interestingly enough, poker isn’t actually the game that Bond plays in the majority of the movies. Pay attention and you’ll see that it’s baccarat that 007 sits down for, although he did also play blackjack just the once in Licence to Kill (1989). He did, however, play poker in the Casino Royale remake of 2006.
Once you have honed your skills, it’s time to start looking at your threads.
The suit
Now, don’t go thinking that you can just pick up any old dinner jacket from a rental shop. Bond oozes class and, if you want to emulate his look, you’ll need to go fully tailored. With high quality clothes. It might seem a tad on the expensive side, but the truth is that a tailored black suit is the staple of every man’s wardrobe. You can wear it on formal occasions, but most importantly, it will actually fit you.
A slim shawl collar will be the best option as it’s a timeless classic. Some men like velvet while other prefer silk but, if you’re looking for a less than ostentatious look, stick with a fabric collar that blends in with the suit. The rounded edges on the collar is what will set your jacket apart rather than the finish.
Remember though, the suit simply has to fit. Even if you buy off the rack, it’s a good idea to take the time to have the tailor make sure you buy the right size for your body shape. Nothing ruins a look more than an ill-fitting jacket or voluminous pants. Besides, you wouldn’t see Bond looking like this.
The shirt
The shirt is one aspect of formal wear that is often ignored. After all, it’s just a shirt, right? Wrong! Your choice of shirt will have a massive impact on your overall look. It could be a key element. Pleated, ruffled, buttons showing or hidden; there are so many choices, and that’s before we even get to colours.
Actually the colour is your easiest choice — it’s always going to be white. For the most part, all the Bonds, from Connery to Craig, like their shirts wide pleated with exposed buttons. Pierce Brosnan had studs but we prefer the simplicity of buttons. Whatever you do, don’t do a George Lazenby — stay away from ruffled shirts.
The shoes
Simple, leather, and black. As easy as that. So effective. There’s nothing more to it than that. Well, they should be great quality too and polished to a shine, but that’s plain common sense. Luckily, finding Bond-style dress shoes is pretty easy. Northampton shoe manufacturer Crockett & Jones have supplied shoes to the Bond Franchise for some time now. Buying shoes from Bond’s actual shoemaker? Take my money!
The accessories
Right, where to start? Let’s go with the bow tie. Bond has been known in the past to wear over-sized butterfly bow ties but, unless you’re Roger Moore and can carry off a white dinner jacket, we’d avoid this option. Instead go for a simple slim bow tie like Sean Connery wears in Thunderball. A slimmer tie makes for a more refined and stylish look that doesn’t scream ‘look at me and my bow tie!’
If you’ve opted for a jacket with an outer breast pocket, then you’re going to need a pocket square. Keep it simple and go for a plain white square in a presidential fold. Don’t over complicate things with two or three-point folds. Simple is always better, and it’s the way that Bond would wear it.
Your socks should be black and long and tight enough that no one will ever see an inch of bare leg even if you’re sitting with your legs crossed. If you opt for a navy suit (we told you black, but whatever) try to match your as closely as possible to the suit. Remember, you don’t want people to look at your ankles. You want them to look at you and how suave and debonair you look.
Unfortunately, your watch won’t come from Q
The final accessory is the watch. 007 has worn numerous watches throughout the franchise, so you have plenty to choose from. His most popular brand of choice is Rolex, but we can’t all afford one of those. He also wears Breitling and Omega watches, while there have been quite a few Seikos on his wrist too. Whatever watch you opt for, it needs to be minimalistic so that it doesn’t become the focal point of your look. So forget that diver’s watch or the one you wear out jogging.
And that is pretty much it. The truth is that no one will ever look as cool as Bond in a tuxedo, but follow the tips above and you’ll certainly be the best-dressed man at the casino.
