Sean Connery is reintroduced as a 1970’s James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever wearing a ribbed terrycloth shirt. For Connery, terrycloth isn’t limited to his playsuit in Goldfinger. Terrycloth shirts were popular in the 1970s, and they must have done a great job at absorbing sweat in the warm setting where Bond wears this shirt. The mottled cream and beige shirt has four large buttons down the front placket, a camp collar, two breast pockets with flaps and box pleats, and a straight hem. The short sleeves are in two sections, with the ribs in a perpendicular direction on the lower pieces. A seam that comes up to a point attaches the bottom part of the sleeve to the top. The back of the shirt has a curved yoke that points down to a centre box pleat down the rest of the back.
The cream trousers have a no pleats, plain hems and a self-supporting waistband with an extension. The trousers aren’t seen much in the film, but they are likely the same trousers from the cream linen suit that he wears at the start of the film and when meeting Bambi and Thumper. As seen in behind the scenes photos, Connery does not wear shoes with this outfit.
An interesting choice from Sean. Matt, would you say that the cut is similar to those nice short sleeved shirts from Thunderball?
This shirt has a much different cut than the ones in Thunderball. This shirt is cut with a side body to give it more shape. Typically a shirt just has a side seam, and occasionally a dart at the back for more shape. The shirts in Thunderball didn’t even have darts. And there is no vent at the side of this shirt. I think that this shirt looks better on Connery because it is more fitted.
He most definitely does wear shoes in this scene, at least he dis in the trailer for Diamonds Are Forever where we see, in a shot not included in the final film, that Bond is wearing brown leather open toed Jesus Creepers sandals.
And, thankfully, no socks.
Search YouTube for Bond Mysteries 14 for a clip.
Very interesting. I’m guessing that the sandals were only worn for that shot and he was barefoot for the shots filmed.
That man on the top of the stairs might not even be Connery. I personally don’t find anything wrong with the sandals. Too me, trousers with creases look way too formal for being worn with bare feet. I also think the trousers look more like gabardine than linen.
Look at the photos here: http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/daf_reclassified_uk.php3
The wrinkles in the photo of Connery standing would signify linen. Gaberdine doesn’t wrinkle like that.
…and isn’t Guy Hamilton wearing polyester trousers with sandals which appear to match in the trailer?
http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/daf_reclassified_uk.php3
-Kurt
Ok, I see you are right about the trousers being linen. I have never seen the photo before and they don’t look nearly as wrinkled in the film. It makes me wonder, though, isn’t it possible theese are trousers from the cream linen suit he wears twice in the film? It appaers they are the same colour and creases seems a little too formal for ordinary linen “chinos” but not on trousers that is from a suit. What do you think, Matt?
They very well could be the same trousers. Linen trousers, even when worn casually, should still have a crease. They look sloppy without.
I wouldn’t at all care for the material or the mottled design of this shirt but the overall style, if produced by Turnbull and Asser or Foster (this certainly isn’t and it looks like something from a chain store) would make for a nice summer sports shirt.
As you allude to, Matt, it shows that Connery’s Bond’s style has evolved from his “Thunderball” era sports shirts (much more polished) and the 1970’s influences are in full swing here. The patch pockets give a touch of (dare I mention it) safari influence. On this evidence I’m convinced that, had Connery continued starring as Bond into the 1970’s that he (or, no doubt, had he instead continued, Lazenby) would have, quite conceivably worn an item such as this
https://www.bondsuits.com/?p=136
I agree with you, David. Although, I find Moore’s safari clothing much more appealing than this outfit, which I think is just dreadful.
I’m so glad that Safari style clothing isn’t popular nowadays. I don’t see the appeal at all….not at all.
It is actually making something of a comeback, albeit in revised form. The 70s camp collars are no more but practical light jackets with deep patch pockets and safari shirts with button-down similar pockets are about again.
As for this costume, I can’t see how it is particularly offensive – apart from the Terrycloth material, which makes it awfully dated looking.
I dislike the monochromatic appearance of this outfit. Accordingly, the shirt on its own doesn’t bother me as much as the matching shirt and pants worn together.
Strangely, I think is fine. Nothing particularly offensive, and the terry cloth fits the 1971 setting (I guess). Navy or even dark brown shorts or linen pants would have been better as I too dislike the monochromatic appearance. Considering it is on screen for maybe 60 seconds, it would make sense that it is not from Foster or Turnbull or whomever.