The six best-dressed Bond villains, from Dr No to Goldfinger – British GQ

James Bond has a wardrobe to die for. There are Tom Ford power suits, sunshine-ready linen two-pieces from Brioni and super-tight rollneck knits that wouldnt go amiss in one of Alessandro Micheles Gucci campaigns. But its not just good men who know how to dress: over the years, the costume department have reminded us that bad men can dress dapperly too.

There have been 104 Bond villains since Dr No was released in 1962. Some have even had better wardrobes than 007 himself. While Bonds costume designers the team is currently led by Harry Potter mastermind Jany Temime and El Caminos Louise Frogley have found the best versions of a traditional wardrobe to kit out Craig et al, the 104 Bond villains are where the production team get to really let loose. Weve seen everything from gender-bending Jacques Bouvar to Skyfalls Raoul Silva, and in November well be treated to the parka-shrouded, masked mystique of Rami Malek.

We trawled the archives to find the Bond villains whose wardrobes wed steal in a heartbeat.

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In 1962 Joseph Wiseman graced screens as evil scientist Dr Julius No, the first on-screen Bond villain. The master of a Mandarin-collared Nehru jacket, Dr No served workwear realness long before it was hitting the runway. This sort of cut has a long history outside of just being la mode: these collars have been worn in the Slavic and Russian church and are mainstays in the uniforms of the USSR, US and British armies.

Wisemans No has also been the inspiration for a host of other films villains and not just Dr Evil in the Austin Powers series. As well as being replicated in the costume of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (first seen in From Russia With Love), anyone who has seen a Star Wars film will know that the Mandarin collar was the go-to for the sinister Empire officers.

The late Christopher Lee played Francisco Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun: an assassin who, you guessed it, is identifiable for his use of a golden gun. That said, it was his wardrobe, rather than his weapon, that has us interested. His wardrobe of ivory single-breasted suits, billowing Cuban collars and all-white loafers bests even the linen-clad Bond of Pierce Brosnans era in how to do summer in Catalonia.

Before Harry Styles and Ezra Miller, the gender-bending movers and shakers of this generation, there was Jacques Bouvar. Portrayed by stuntman Bob Simmons, Colonel Jacques Bouvar was an influential member of Spectre who goes bad. The French antagonist starred in 1965 James Bond film Thunderball and had a wardrobe that weve not had the like of in a 007 movie since (although George Lazenbys flamboyantly dressed Bond comes close). More men in fur hats and heels, if you please, Barbara Broccoli.

The druglord Dr Kananga, who appears in Live And Let Die and was portrayed by Yaphet Kotto, seriously gives Bond a run for his money when it comes to his suit collection. From his bright red and purple tailoring to his red shirt and white suit combo, everything about his wardrobe is bold, eye-catching and sharply tailored. He is the flashy dandy of the Bond franchise, with bronze-buttoned double-breasted suits, kick flares and wide lapels to rival those of Roger Moores 1970s Bond.

If Del Boy was to walk in a Thom Browne catwalk show, hed probably wear a look similar to Goldfingers. Dressed somewhere between a Peaky Blinders extra and a market trader down Peckhams weekend flea market, Gert Frbes iconic villain fused a preppy vibe with second-hand vintage. He runs the full sartorial gamut from silk suits to woollen golfing attire, but you can always be sure hell step out in a glorious gold, amber or honey.

Javier Bardems character Silva was put in clothes with as delicate a silhouette as the voice he used to play the villain, and both have just enough artful insanity to keep us intrigued. His Thom Sweeney cream silk jacket is slightly drawn in at the waist and features elegant, softly padded shoulders, while his olive-hued waistcoat and matching slacks have been tailored to fit perfectly. The most elegant Bond villain thus far? Wed be willing to bet yes.

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The six best-dressed Bond villains, from Dr No to Goldfinger - British GQ