The slinky gown hiatus is almost up. The new James Bond film Spectre is looming and our style buds are salivating. Ignore the tailored suit please; we can’t wait for the dresses.

The Bond girls are a cult in their own right, inspiring fashion disciples throughout the decades. This refined breed of female, with style just as sharp as their minds, has set the benchmark and billboards for high-end fashion designers since the dawn of the Bond franchise.

Women want to be them and men want to be with them. What is it that makes these ladies and their style so appealing?

Mayday, A View to Kill

Elektra King, The World is Not Enough

Pussy Galore, Goldfinger

Tracy Draco Di Vicenzo, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Tatiana Romanova, From Russia with Love

Severine, Skyfall

Solitaire, Live and Let Die

Domino Derval, Thunderball

Could it be siren style supported by an erudite mind and a sophisticated defence mechanism – namely, articulating “no” more than some or wielding impressive firearms?

Indeed, as with any icon, to judge style in isolation from its owner is redundant. Everyone knows that the most stylish piece turns to junk if their canvas doesn’t rally them to call.

And the canvas?

Complex, mysterious, blessed with good genes and accomplished in fields not traditionally associated with women (an antidote to the oft-accused misogynist works of Fleming). They excel higher than their cheekbones in the extracurricular: skiing, flying, shooting, ballet, music, coding, skating…. infinite abilities mean infinite wardrobes.

To really get involved in the build up to Spectre, shop the looks which have stood the test of time.

Words by Rosalyn Wikeley

Bond girl Wardrobe

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