Timothy Dalton is the Fifth Most Fashionable James Bond

Timothy Dalton is the Fifth Best Dressed Bond

Fans of the 007 James Bond series of films tend to be extremely biased regarding which Bond is their favorite. After all, a variety of different actors have taken on the role over the years, most of whom have not only done a fantastic job, but have given Bond their very own brand of specialized swagger. James Bond is arguably the best-dressed film character of all time and has been an iconic beacon of manliness for many generations. While it’s difficult to say who was the best Bond, Timothy Dalton is certainly in the running. Dalton played the role of Bond from 1987 to 1994 and his approach and style is a direct reflection of that era’s aesthetic. We place Dalton on the 5th spot on our Top 5 Most Stylish James Bond List, and have broken down a list of Dalton’s most stylistic moves.

The Wide Lapel

Timothy Dalton’s Bond put wide lapels on the map. Each Bond has taken their own approach on fits, shapes and silhouettes of 007’s trademark suits and tuxedos. Dalton most definitely "out-lapeled" the other actors and wins the award for the largest lapels ever. Lapel width all comes down to proportion and a large lapel is the right choice for a large man with a wide chest and broad shoulders. Dalton filled out his suits and dinner jackets and his large lapels and did it in style and in proportion.

C’est la Vie to the Tie

Like Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton decided to say c’est la vie to the tie and therefore giving James Bond a more informal and pedestrian aesthetic. This was perhaps the biggest difference between Dalton and most of the other Bonds, as it added a huge casual element to the character’s overall appearance. While the tie (and bow tie, of course) certainly looks fantastic on Bond, dropping it added a “devil may care” element that helped him to take on an entirely different side of Bond. Dalton was able to breath more depth into the Bond role by breaking the rules and losing the tie. Losing the tie is not always the right choice, but it worked perfectly when Dalton took on the role.

Takeaways for the Modern Man

Take a lesson from Timothy Dalton and know when to break the rules. Dalton opted for a more informal look in his role of Bond which allowed him to explore a different, more casual angle. That’s not to say that Dalton didn’t look dynamite in a tuxedo and bow tie when the situation called for it. The modern man needs to remember to break away from their everyday fashion tendencies now and again to allow some new habits and looks to form. The trend right now is leaning towards leaner, slimmer lapels but unfortunately, a man’s silhouette is always trumps the trends. Men with broad builds should also opt for a larger lapel of balance and proportion.