The "Bond girl" look

Last week we had a deep and thought-provoking discussion about what James Bond wears when he (hypothetically) takes time off from double-O work. This week, in continuation, we’re flipping the card over to the Queen of Hearts — the Bond Girl.

Loewe Autumn/Winter 2015 Accessories Collection.

She’s sometimes an ally, sometimes an enemy, sometimes both. She can be a fleeting lover or a soul mate doomed by Bond’s fate to walk alone. But ultimately she is simply the female version of Bond — fearless, independent, dexterous and (must we spell it out?) sexy. With that killer trait combo, there’s no way she’d ever let her clothes keep her from her potential.

To baby-step into her style, a Bond girl can be recognised these three essential looks, which we incidentally believe all women should own.

Bathing suit

One of the most iconic Bond girl moments is her emergence from the ocean, water trickling down the curves of her bikini-clad body. We have in mind 1962 Bond girl Honey Rider, brought to life by Swiss bombshell Ursula Andress, and orange-juicy Jinx, played by Halle Berry in 2002’s Die Another Day. Contrary to the general assumption, the Bond girl swimsuit is practical and relatively modest. Forget fringe, complicated criss-crossing, loud patterns, thongs or other coverage faux pas. These read: trying too hard. The allure of a Bond girl is that she’s never begging for attention, nor is she the girl at the beach in danger of twisted straps and nip slips. She’s smart and ready to brace the waves with swimwear that gracefully holds her body.

Misty Mynx Autumn/Winter 2015.

Evening gown

The evening gown is to the Bond girl as the suit is to the Bond. Length is important, because a Bond girl is too mature for skimpy cocktail dresses. But don’t think any grand full-length dress will suffice — a Bond girl’s style stresses mobility. High stilts, light layers and flowing materials are her favoured tailoring requests for high-profile events. She also couldn’t care less about fancy details, an exposing neckline or accessories. The only add-on she might go out of her way to obtain is a holster discreetly installed under her dress — otherwise a small bag will do the job. As for colours, black is her best friend, but a Bond girl knows when to shake us up with an unexpected colour, such as Spectre Bond girl Madeleine Swann’s stunning silver-blue number.

Resort wear (aka classy casual wear)

You’ll find that the Bond girl’s casual wear follows the pattern of her swimwear and evening gown — classy, practical and effortlessly sensual. There’s no rule here about showing off shape or skin. She’ll still catch your eye in something long and loose. The key is a tasteful balance — just enough to incite intrigue. This is also the occasion she’d be willing to sport a few patterns and accessories. Tinted eyewear or full-on shades are definitely essential, as is a small watch, and possibly subtle earrings or a necklace, but nothing more. Less is really more here. And don’t forget to match shoes with the vibes of the accessories.