The pipeline from James Bond to a fashion-savvy icon is a path Mr Daniel Craig is paving – and we are loving it.
Daniel Craig is known by many as a gun-toting action man who scales buildings and beats the bad guys, and all while wearing a cracking suit.
But in recent years the action superstar has holstered his MI6 equipment and jazzed up his red-carpet looks, opting for fresh fashion-forward fits and longer locks as he waltzes into middle age looking fresh.
The actor, 56, has looked better than ever in recent months as his appearances at premieres and fashion shows have stunned fans who are becoming obsessed with this change in styling.
Just last night, the actor appeared at the Queer Spotlight Gala Premiere, at the 62nd New York Film Festival.
The actor wore a fashionable double-breasted forest green suit with shades, and a high black shirt, all complemented by his longer sandy grey hairstyle.
The look was sharp and caught the attention of fans who have been clocking on to his transformation in recent months.
After appearing at London Fashion Week with his wife Rachel Weisz, fans said it looked like the duo had raided a jazzy vintage shop together. And yet, the pair looked undoubtably cool in this retro style that fans and stylists just loved.
Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at online fashion destination SilkFred, told that Daniel best exemplified the ‘male midlife makeover’.
‘Fashion month gave us many ‘wow’ moments – the Coperni show at Disneyland, Travis Scott walking for Vetements and Chemena Kamali’s sophomore show for Chloé – but the biggest buzzword was the ‘male midlife makeover’.
‘Exhibited by Willem Dafoe, Rob Lowe and Jeff Goldblum – middle-aged men truly slayed this fashion month, showing that menswear is more than tailored suits.’
‘One of our favourite proponents of this movement was Daniel Craig who attended the Loewe show in parachute pants, a colourful knit and tinted sunglasses – almost unrecognisable from his Bond days.’
She emphasised that his look was ‘refreshing’ and showed a ‘thrilling evolution’ that challenged the traditions of masculinity.
‘Craig’s departure from his classic James Bond style is nothing short of refreshing.
‘We’re used to seeing him in sharp, impeccably tailored suits, but this new direction showcases his versatility and willingness to push fashion boundaries.
‘By embracing oversized silhouettes, playful colors, and unexpected textures, he’s making a bold statement – one that challenges traditional notions of masculinity in fashion. His collaboration with Loewe is a perfect example of how he’s stepping into a more experimental, almost rebellious space, and it’s a thrilling evolution to witness.’
Luke Leitch, a contributor to Vogue complimented the actor in a comment to The Guardian.
‘It’s maybe unconsciously challenging for some people to see an actor so closely associated with such an anachronistic but established male archetype as James Bond attired like they’re an independently wealthy contemporary art curator indulging in a low-level midlife crisis through directional dressing.’
‘But I think it’s great. The idea of what’s “smart” or “normal” or not is a canard designed to restrict, just like “common sense”.’
At one point in his career, the actor was styled by celebrity stylist Mark Holmes who currently works with Kevin Bacon and Ryan Seacrest.
Further back in his career in the noughties when he became a household name, the actor took fewer fashion risks and opted for more classic slim-cut tailoring that was popular at the time.
The actor fell into the classic male styling of wearing just suits on the red carpet and shying away from bold colours and prints.
While some fans are less keen on his new stylish wardrobe, and prefer the more clean-cut edge-free style the actor was known for, stylists continue to praise Daniel’s ‘new era’.
‘I’m really digging this new Daniel Craig era,’ menswear and fragrance editor, Nick Carvell told The Telegraph.
‘As an actor who was so tied to his role as James Bond – a character who has a very strong visual identity when it comes to fashion – I’m enjoying the fact that over the past few years, Craig has really tried to get as far away from that personally as possible.
‘To really separate himself from that role through his fashion choices, his grooming and his accessories – more louche, more laid-back, more fun.’