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James Bond’s top secret new swimming trunks have been revealed as a pair from British men’s beachwear savior Orlebar Brown.
The Daily Telegraph’s Men’s Fashion Editor Luke Leitch identified the gleaming detail which gives them away, the shiny, nickel-free trouser tighteners at Craig’s waist in the poolside shot.
Compare them to Brown’s sky blue Setter style (£125) and its a dead give away, even though the designer is not allowed to cotton on.
Every fashion designer would gladly take on an Odd Job Bowler Hat attack – to have their threads worn by James Bond.
But for a company founded just five years ago, from his Fulham bedroom selling only three styles – the short Setter, the mid-length Bulldog (as pictured) and the longer Dane – has become a fast-growing global business.
And for one that doesn’t have a budget for product placement, this is quite the coup.
Following from the fanfare made when Daniel Craig emerged from the sea in Casino Royale – Orlebar Brown has been chosen to tailor Bond’s trunks because he creates elegant, dignified men’s swimming shorts. A rare wardrobe commodity, which everyone, even 007, needs.
The Telegraph reports that Brown spotted this need while on holiday with friends in Rajasthan six years ago.
Scanning his poolside chums, he had a revelation: “The women all looked great – and the men all looked terrible.”
The men wore either low-slung, surfie-style boardshorts (passable on a teenager, but cruel on a middle-aged Englishman), ‘ballooning, voluminous floral boxer shorts with elasticated waists’ or even budgie-smugglers – favoured by Europeans and Aussies.
Back in London, Brown set to work on crafting a decent pair of men’s swimmers. Most of the details – such as those trouser tighteners, darts and a properly fitted, unelasticated waist – he adapted directly from well-tailored trousers.
Cut-wise, Orlebar Browns steer a graceful middle ground between Casino Royale-tightness, and floral-boxer bagginess.
As Brown explains: “If a man wears a nicely cut anything – jacket, shirt, trousers or swimming shorts – the effect will be flattering, whatever shape he happens to be.”