As the selection process for the 26th James Bond enters its final stage, with candidates such as Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult undergoing screen tests, attention has also turned to the wardrobe details of his predecessor, Daniel Craig. A retrospective on 007's style highlights a surprisingly accessible choice: a pair of sneakers. In the 2012 film Skyfall, the secret agent appears during MI6 physical tests wearing a black sports suit of the Secret Intelligence Service, paired with Adidas Gazelle II sneakers. The scene, designed to demonstrate to M his recovery fitness, is one where 007 strives to show his compatibility with active missions, a moment when wardrobe details, including footwear, go unnoticed by the casual viewer. [1]
A careful analysis of the image reveals that the sneakers worn by Craig are not custom-made pieces exclusively for the film, but off-the-shelf models from Adidas's spring 2011 collection. For a character whose wardrobe is scrutinized by critics with obsessive attention, the choice is notable for its simplicity. The specific pair is defined by the dark indigo hue of the suede materials, Argentinean blue stripes, a white rubber sole, and the gold Gazelle inscription on the side. There is a subtle difference between the sneakers available to the general public and those used in the film. The commercial version included a light blue detail on the heel, while the costume department's version features a darker shade. The fan site Bond Lifestyle suggests the costume team may have modified the detail, although this modification has not been officially confirmed. [1]
The Adidas Gazelle model, initially launched in 1966 as a multifunctional training shoe, marked the first sneaker model made in suede by the German giant. Choosing this model for Bond's training scene is not just aesthetic but functional: the thin sole ensures easy ground contact, and the color palette harmonizes perfectly with the tracksuit. Moreover, the model evokes a solid British cultural history, being associated with football stands in the 1980s and the Britpop movement in the 1990s, an ideal symbol for a Generation X agent, quintessentially British. The collaboration between the James Bond franchise and Adidas continued until the film No Time to Die in 2021, resulting in an official collection focused on Ultraboost running shoes. This line included subtle references to Bond's tuxedo faction and the villain Safin's porcelain mask; the Q Branch special edition even included a secret compartment in the laces area, useful in improvised situations. Today, the original Gazelle sneakers worn by Daniel Craig in Skyfall are difficult to obtain, although similar models remain available on the market for those wishing to emulate the agent's style without resorting to specialized secondary markets. This article is an adaptation of material originally published in British GQ. [1]
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