Imogene & Willie: indigo in the blood

At first glance it might not seem it but this segues nicely with the previous Bond post, because Imogene & Willie is also based in Nashville, where Bille Reid, the maker of James Bond's peacoat is from (their HQ is just outside if you want to be pedantic).

So we have a pattern emerging here, which I'm guessing is something similar to what Willie said when he set about designing his first pair of jeans. The fit is what sets them apart, as well as the fact that they are truly US made.

Watch the video - I'm almost tempted to get on a plane to Nashville.

Skyfall: Dare to be Bond

It's the opening weekend of Skyfall, the new Bond film, and after a couple of weeks of almost blanket coverage of the agent, the man who plays him and what he wears, I've been asking myself one question: is it actually cool to dress the same as James Bond? 

By this I don't mean to dress in the manner of Bond, with his English gent panache, his icy essence - that unquestionably is cool. What I'm talking about is wearing the precise items of clothing. Because let's face it. You couldn't imagine Ian Fleming's agent sitting down in front of his computer to trawl the internet for a Billy Reid peacoat or a Barbour Tokito sports jacket because he'd seen a bloke in a film wearing one. But try Googling either of them and you'll see they have both sold out since they were identified as items worn by Daniel Craig in the film. Then there's the watch. The Omega Seamaster. To own one is nodding to Bondishness, to own one with the 007 logo at the 7 o'clock marker smacks of fanboy geek with too much disposable income. And God help you if the target of your affections spots you wearing it in the bar. That is one mission you will be guaranteed not to accomplish, because there's no bigger turn-off for a woman than a bloke with an unhealthy obsession for a fictional boys-own character.

I admit, I was taken by the Billy Reid peacoat and its peak lapel - it does look the nuts - but I just couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. There were a few reasons for this - the customs charges (Billy Reid is American - do you know how much duty costs these days?), the risk that it would fit like a sack of spuds, the hassle involved with an exchange. But one of the reasons for my hesitation was the Bond fanboy factor, of being just that little bit too obsessed. It's the sartorial equivalent of having a massive great movie poster on your bedroom wall. And that is not cool. When you're 40.

So best to avoid if you ask me. There are plenty of Barbours and Peacoats out there for you not to have to slavishly follow Mr Bond into that dark place they call geekville. And no matter how faithful you are to the look, the true essence of Bond comes from within, from that steely gaze that says: "I could kill you with my little finger." That doesn't cost anything, but to a 007 geek it is the most unobtainable of all Bond memorabilia.

Mind you, the Skyfall wardrobe really is something else, and in the words of one Bond outing, Never Say Never (Again). Below top, and above: Billy Reid Bond peacoat; centre: Barbour Tokito sports jacket; bottom: Levi's Vintage Clothing 1930s leather bomber.

Iron Man 3 official trailer: the wait begins

After a trailer of the trailer, the official trailer of Iron Man 3 has now been released, and you're going to have to wait until April until it is released. Six months. By which time the hype will have eclipsed even Tony Stark's ego.

Gumball 2012 trailer: Out Here by 13th Witness

So the Gumball 3000 is still going. You don't hear about it a lot these days, or it could be that I'm just not in the loop. This is a trailer for a film by 13th Witness, shot entirely in Super 8, with commentary from the likes of Futura, Bun B, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Terry Kennedy and Nigel Sylvester.

James Bond Friday: new Skyfall images

Today is Global James Bond day apparently. Perhaps the only government agent to have a day named after him, how about that. 

But then is is quite a chap, or he is now. When Roger Moore was him he was more of a slightly odd uncle with a dodgy haircut. Who was good at getting women.

These days Bond is witty, slick and nails. As in hard as. He doesn't seem to have softened up in Daniel Craig's third outing. More of the same then, that's the spirit.

This time Bond's nemesis appears to be Javier Bardem, who is about as badass as you can get.

Here's a few publicity shots from Skyfall.

Nick Sullivan: The way I dress

I like Nick Sullivan. When he was at GQ around 2001, he commissioned me to write a feature on trainers. I have always been very thankful for that. Shortly after that he disappeared, and I had no idea where he went. I did wonder if it was something to do with the feature.

It looks as if he went to America, or at least that's where he is now, as fashion editor of Esquire. This little film of him getting ready to go out is full of insights into Nick's style preferences, some of which, such as "no tie clips," I wholeheartedly endorse. Others, such as "no hoodies" I would have to disagree with. There are some very nice hoodies out there, after all.

Nick's style is very much the smart man-about-town. Structured jackets and brogues, that kind of thing. It's a look he is comfortable with, and that is the key to style of any preference.