Last night, the Barbican in London opened its Designing 007 exhibition, which coincides with 50 years of the James Bond franchise and celebrates what co-curator Bronwyn Cosgrove noted is “the cutting-edge style of Bond, as the look has always one step ahead.” From Sean Connery’s Aston Martin, which greets visitors as they walk in, to sketches and props like snake candlestick holders from Live and Let Die as well as David Morris jewels, this is a very comprehensive retrospective.
Partygoers at last night’s opening party, like Little Britain’s David Walliams and Richard Buckley, were shaken and stirred in their finery, and all received a James Bond “passport” in lieu of a ticket. Fashion lovers will recognize sexy jersey dresses worn by the characters of Plenty O’Toole and Domino Derval mixed with Oscar de la Renta, Roberto Cavalli, and Versace Bond girl ensembles. Speaking of which, legendary Golden Girl Shirley Eaton joked that her doppelgänger “had a cheekier bottom” than her famous derriere. As for the boys, I would take home any of the brocade Brioni dinner jackets in the Casino Royale room for my closet. Being a Bond show, après-ski and plage looks were aplenty, including the bikinis of Halle Barry and Ursula Andress. When I asked Oscar-winning costume designer and co-curator Lindy Hemming which was her most difficult fitting, she teased, “Daniel Craig’s Grigio Perla trunks,” with a sparkle in her eye. Those are on display along with the rest of the lot through September 5.
—Cameron Silver
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