Most iconic Bond girl looks of all time

8^th April 2015

Emma Pugh

Emma Pugh

8 April 2015

With the release of a teaser trailer for Spectre, one of this year’s hotly anticipated films, the whirlwind surrounding James Bond is starting to gain momentum. One of the essential aspects of the Bond franchise, now in its 52^nd year, is the Bond girl: the epitome of on-screen glamour, whether as a femme fatale, or damsel in distress. Léa Seydoux and Monica Belluci have been named for Spectre, alongside Naomie Harris reprising her Skyfall role as the brilliantly updated, smart, stylish version of Miss Moneypenny – a girl crush for us all.

Over fifty years of film-making there have been 23 movies, averaging two a year, equalling a lot of Bond girls: 75 according to 007james.com! Here are some of the best and most memorable from every decade, each with a style of her own.

1960s – Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder (Dr No, 1962)

Starring opposite Sean Connery as Honey Ryder in the first Bond film Dr No, Swiss actress Ursula Andress introduced audiences to the Bond girl. Her first appearance sees her emerging from the Caribbean in a white bikini (often named as iconic in cinematography and fashion), which sold for £35,000 in 2001. The fact that she was the first makes her for many the original and best Bond girl of the franchise. Aside from the James Bond connection, it was a significant point in the history of the bikini not only as a fashion piece, with sales rocketing as a result of the film, but represented as a symbol of the sexual revolution for women.

1970s – Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977)

The 1970s saw disco, maxi dresses and long hair: Barbara Bach’s Russian spy was flawless and polished, regardless of the situation. Amidst her gorgeous wardrobe for the film, the standout piece was a timeless black, spaghetti-strap evening dress echoing the glam look of the era, as though she’d stepped straight from Studio 54 onto the film set. The middle-parted hair, smoky eye make-up and glossy look has carried through effortlessly to autumn/winter 2015 looks, with ASOS identifying them as “holiday goals”.

1980s – Grace Jones as May Day (A View to a Kill, 1985)

Representing the powerful, statuesque female fashion trends of the 80s with geometric shapes, a sharp haircut and the iconic hooded jumpsuit, Grace Jones’ May Day character was anything but a damsel in distress. Originally girlfriend and “henchwoman” to bad guy Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), May Day turned good when she realised she’d been used, and it was she, not James Bond, who ultimately saved the day by sacrificing herself. Fierce and Amazonian, Grace was already an icon before her Bond girl role, having been a model and singer, and appearing in Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. Q magazine honoured her in 2008 with an Idol Award: Grace Jones is an icon simply by being herself, and she made this character entirely her own, nobody else could’ve done it better, or showcased 80s style in any other way.

1990s – Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova (Goldeneye, 1995)

Polish/Swedish actress and model Izabella Scorupco appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye, as computer programmer Natalya Simonova. She was quickly taken into the affections of Bond fans and is a stand-out Bond girl of the decade. Rated at number 9 in the top 10 Bond girls on fansite 007james.com, Scorupco is described as intelligent and cute – typifying the 90s look, her short bobbed hairstyle and natural make-up held up nicely against some of the more glamorous (but dangerous) girls.

2000s – Eva Green as Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale, 2006)

Taking the Bond franchise in a new direction with 2006’s Casino Royale, there was a new James Bond in Daniel Craig, and a different type of Bond girl to match him. Vesper Lynd, played by the delicious Eva Green was intelligent and sharp, challenging Bond’s ego rather than fawning to it. Vesper wasn’t a new addition to the Bond story; her character was the first female to be introduced in the novels by Ian Fleming. In 2006, her character was stylish, with show-stopping dresses made by Versace and Roberto Cavalli enhancing costume design intended to be ultra-feminine, timeless and sophisticated.

Emma Pugh