Introducing Bogner’s official 007 skiwear collection
Inspired by James Bond’s many adventures on the slopes, the German brand has previously dressed George Lazenby and Roger Moore for the franchise
Words: Jonathan Wells
It has been 25 years since Pierce Brosnan’s 007 skied down the side of the Caucasus Mountains in The World Is Not Enough. Strangely, the scene wasn’t actually filmed in Azerbaijan, rather in Chamonix. Stranger still, it was also the last time we saw James Bond on skis.
And that’s odd, because Bond has historically always been very at home on the slopes. Sean Connery’s 007 may never have strapped on his skis, but Roger Moore’s superspy could hardly be kept away from them. And, every time he ventured out into the snow, Bond relied on the same skiwear brand to keep himself warm: Bogner.
“Bogner and 007 have been in partnership for over 50 years,” Bogner chief product officer, Barbara Holzer tells Gentleman’s Journal, “and many of the outfits worn in the Bond films are from Bogner. Willy Bogner Jr. actually began his career as a skier and a filmmaker. He was dubbed ‘the fastest cameraman in the world’ and filmed some of the more iconic skiing scenes for four Bond films, including On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”
After that George Lazenby-starring film celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, Bogner and EON Productions re-established its partnership, and began working on a number of collaborative collections, the first of which launched in 2021. Among the items that have been produced so far are branded ‘Bogner x 007’ ski gloves, a tactical backpack cut from technical Cordura fabric and a limited edition set of skis and poles fitted with iSKI tracking chips.
This winter, Bogner is back on the slopes with Bond — and has dropped a brand new capsule of high-performance apparel. Among the highlights are the ‘Bond1’ ski trousers with bonded seams and a snow guard, the ‘Bond3’ ski jacket, which features a detachable hood, and the ‘Bond5’ first layer, with discreet printed logos and a short zip. The men’s collection, which also includes a hoodie and a hybrid jacket, are all offered in a simple black colour — perhaps a nod to Daniel Craig’s monochrome alpine look in Spectre?
“Our all-black men’s ensemble wasn’t directly inspired by Daniel Craig in Spectre,” says Holzer. “Rather, it was inspired by the more general character of undercover agents. Throughout the films, 007 is often seen in sleek black outfits that mimic his fearless, mysterious and distinguished character. Therefore, we wanted to create a timeless outfit that truly encompasses undercover agents, and that can easily be worn by fans.”
A particular highlight of the latest collection is the brand’s ‘Helsinki 007’ boot. “These boots offer warmth, versatility and stability in snowy conditions,” says Holzer. “And that’s thanks to the integrated reversible spike grips at the bottom of the shoes, which make them perfect for 007. Bogner artfully finds the balance between high functionality and style, which reflects the sophisticated flare of James Bond, and they come in black leather, which is also understated and sleek — a necessity for any international agent!”
Of the women’s offerings, a bold red ‘Bond12’ ski suit was reportedly inspired by Lynn-Holly Johnson’s Bond girl, Bibi Dahl, from 1981’s For Your Eyes Only. But Bogner’s design team appears to be saving any other direct references for future collaborative collections.
Thankfully, there are plenty of references to choose from. Roger Moore wore a blue belted Bogner ski jacket opposite Dahl in For Your Eyes Only, but also a white parka in A View To A Kill and, perhaps most famously, a bright yellow ski suit during the opening sequence of The Spy Who Loved Me. But, while Bogner is keen to honour the franchise, Holzer reveals there are no plans for direct facsimiles just yet.
“We’re just so excited and proud to continue with our 007 partnership!” She says. “Our design team is constantly evolving with their designs and testing out new silhouettes for each new collection. Of course, they do consider the iconic pieces from the films and use them as their inspiration, but they also use their own creative freedom to create our pieces.
“We will, however, definitely be taking special occasions, such as upcoming anniversaries of the Bond films, into special consideration for the future.”
With fifty years of The Spy Who Loved Me (in 2027) perhaps the next big anniversary to come barreling down the slopes, Bogner has plenty of time to get Moore’s bright red beanie and backpack just right. The only question remains; will they team up with Scott Sports to recreate Bond’s huge, matching, yellow-rimmed ski goggles? We can only hope.
Want more 007-inspired style? Check out every pair of shoes Daniel Craig laced up in No Time To Die
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.