Wednesday 12 December 2012 7:41 pm | Updated: Thursday 30 May 2019 6:50 am

Channel your inner James Bond with help from Apsley

For CHRISTMAS this year, I want to look like James Bond. And I don’t mean Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan – I want to look like Daniel Craig. Can Santa make that happen?

The answer is: yes, kind of. You can, at least, dress like him. The most memorable sartorial choice in the latest 007 movie, Skyfall, was a beautiful deep blue Tom Ford dinner suit with a shawl collar and satin lapel, which Bond wore to a floating Casino in Macau. It was subtle enough so as not to be showy yet distinct enough to set you apart.

A dinner suit is an excellent idea for a gift. It’s an extravagance, something you will probably wear only a handful of times a year; something that demands quality and that should make you feel like… well, James Bond.

The tailors at Apsley, which has been around since 1889, agreed to recreate the famous suit for my less than Bondian frame, to show off the quality of its tailoring. Its corporate service sees a tailor travel to your office – first for the initial fitting, then again to make the alterations and a third time for the final adjustments. If you are buying the suit as a gift, the recipient need not even know what it is he is being made until the final product arrives.

After your measurements are taken, the shell is brought to your office – your desk, if you like, although getting changed might be a bit odd – for a full fitting. A couple of weeks later, the suit arrives and any last minute alterations noted. The entire process takes a little over a month, from measurements to final product. And what a product.

Like a lot of men, I spend more money on suits that I care to think about, and I’ve had a few tailor made but this is the best I’ve seen. It smacks of class – from the immaculate fit down to the satin detailing over the pockets. Distinctive yet understated. Just like Bond.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the man who has almost everything, this is sure to hit the spot. Order soon and it’ll be ready in time for the Oscars – then you really can pretend to be a film star.

An Apsley dinner jacket suit costs from £880. Bespoke suits cost from £750. Log on toapsleytailors.com or call 020 7925 2238 for more information.

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