If there’s one thing Daniel Craig knows how to do—besides saving the world in tailored suits, of course—it’s to surprise us with his fashion trajectory. The man went from a sweaty early-2000s vibe to embodying James Bond in icy-blue perfection, and then catapulted himself into the realm of high-fashion chaos. Buckle up, because this sartorial roller coaster is worth every cringeworthy button-down and oversized scarf moment.
The Year 2000: A Sweaty Start
Ah, the turn of the millennium. Y2K panic, frosted tips, and Daniel Craig with a complexion that screams, “Where’s the blotting paper?” Back then, Craig was a theater darling and “that guy from Our Friends in the North.” A few movie roles later, including a supporting part in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and voilà—Craig is wearing suits! Sort of. The fit is questionable, and let’s not talk about that tie buttoning. James Bond would clutch his martini glass in horror.
Still, we give him credit for the effort. Baby steps, Daniel.
2002: Converse and The Strokes Starter Pack
Picture it: Venice Film Festival, 2002. Craig is there to promote Road to Perdition and accidentally cosplays every indie band frontman of the early aughts. The outfit? Faded jeans, a white V-neck T-shirt, and a blazer that looks like it’s seen one too many cigarette breaks. Oh, and Converse. Because nothing screams “serious actor” like a pair of Chuck Taylors.
Was it fashionable? No. Was it relatable? Yes. He looked like your ex who listened to The Strokes once and decided that would be his entire personality.
2006: Bonded for Life
Casino Royale dropped, and Daniel Craig became James Bond. With it came the kind of glow-up that makes everyone else feel like they’ve been doing life wrong. Craig in Bond mode was a revelation: tailored suits so sharp they could cut you, an icy-blue stare that made you forget his sweaty Y2K days, and ties that actually obeyed the laws of proportion. Even the silk handkerchiefs matched his jackets like they were destined by fate.
Bond wasn’t just a role—it was his style baptism. And let’s be real: Eva Green standing next to him didn’t hurt.
2007: Goldenbear Era
Hold the martini—Daniel Craig has a beard! While filming The Golden Compass, Craig traded his razor for some scruff, and fans were…confused. A bearded Bond? Sacrilege! Forums lit up with debates, and one Bond obsessive (probably wearing a tuxedo at home) coined the nickname “Goldenbear.” It was a choice, but let’s not forget that The Golden Compass flopped harder than a Bond villain in a shark tank. The beard wasn’t the problem, though. The problem was everything else.
2015: The Tuxedo Renaissance
By 2015, Craig was deep into his Bond tenure. He’d even parachuted into the London Olympics alongside the actual Queen (yes, THAT Queen). On the Spectre red carpet, he looked like he’d stepped out of a Savile Row fever dream. The tux wasn’t just fitted—it was molded to him. If anyone dared to critique it, the suit itself would defend its honor.
But this wasn’t just fashion—it was a trap. Craig’s perfect Bond persona became the very thing he wanted to escape. His clothing started whispering, “You’re more than this. Be free.” And boy, would he listen.
2017: Blonde, Bleached, and Logan Lucky
Here’s where things started to unravel—intentionally. Craig showed up to film Logan Lucky with bleached hair, a leather jacket, and jeans. The blonde hair drew comparisons to From Russia with Love villain Donald Grant, but let’s not kid ourselves: This was Bond’s rebellious cousin Carl, who listens to Lynyrd Skynyrd and loves NASCAR.
He was trying to shed his Bond identity, sure, but did he need to do it by turning into Florida Man? The fans were conflicted, but Craig DGAF. He was having fun, and that’s what matters…right?
2019: Artfully Disheveled
Promoting Logan Lucky post-bleach job, Craig leaned into a deliberately chaotic look. A partially unbuttoned shirt, a cardigan slightly askew, and shoes that openly defied Bond’s “never brown in town” rule. It was like he opened a fashion magazine, closed his eyes, and pointed at random. A bold move.
Was it chic? Maybe. Was it a cry for help? Probably.
The Pink Velvet Tuxedo
Fast forward to the No Time to Die premiere. It’s Craig’s swan song as 007, and he made sure to go out with a bang—a double-breasted pink velvet tuxedo by Anderson & Sheppard. The internet collectively gasped. Was it bold? Yes. Divisive? Absolutely. But it cemented one thing: Craig was no longer playing by anyone’s rules. Not Bond’s, not yours, not even gravity’s.
The velvet tux said, “I’m hot, I know it, and I’ll wear pink if I want to.”
Post-Bond Liberation: Loewe Chaos
Post-Bond Daniel Craig is a different beast. In 2023, he signed on as the face of Loewe, a Spanish luxury fashion house that specializes in “high-fashion chaos.” His first major post-Bond outing? A custom cream suit that looked like it was designed by a very wealthy ghost. Paired with tortoiseshell aviators, it screamed “rich recluse with secrets.”
Then, things took a wild turn. Craig showed up at Loewe’s fashion show in Paris wearing oversized combat trousers, a trippy sweater, and yellow-tinted glasses. Somewhere, James Bond wept into a martini glass. But Craig didn’t care—he was living his best life. High-fashion chaos suits him. Who knew?
2024: The Tweed Avalanche
And now we arrive at the Queer London gala screening. Gone is the pink velvet; gone are the days of Bond tuxedos. Instead, we get Daniel Craig in a baggy Armani suit, a massive tweed overcoat, and a scarf so large it could double as a parachute. The yellow glasses make another appearance, now a signature item in his post-Bond wardrobe.
The vibe? Distinguished yet unhinged. He’s a little William Burroughs, a little Paddington Bear, and a lot IDGAF. This is peak Craig: liberated, chaotic, and utterly captivating.
The Verdict
Daniel Craig’s style evolution isn’t just a journey—it’s a saga. He started as a sweaty indie boy, ascended to Bondian perfection, and is now basking in a post-Bond renaissance filled with oversized coats and avant-garde chaos. Along the way, he’s broken fashion rules, Bond stereotypes, and probably a few mirrors during those Logan Lucky bleach days.
So what have we learned? Fashion, like life, is a journey. And if you’re Daniel Craig, it’s a journey that involves Converse, velvet tuxedos, and sweaters that look like acid trips. The man’s 56 and living his best life. As he famously said: “What are you fucking saying? That I’m too old?” Perish the thought.
Carry on, Craig. Keep serving chaos. We’re here for it.