Remember When James Bond Was an Adidas Guy?

Skyfall was famous for its suits, but the thing we’re still looking for 007’s 2011 sneakers.Collage: GQThe search for the next James Bond continues. Over the weekend, Deadline reported that Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult had also screen-tested for the role, in addition to Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O'Connor. But once we've worked out who's getting the tux, there's another question: What sneakers is he going to wear?As it turns out, their predecessor Daniel Craig got that bit right, too. In 2012's Skyfall, 007 turns up for his MI6 fitness tests in a navy SIS tracksuit and Adidas Gazelle IIs. In the scene, Bond's trying to prove he's fit enough to get back to work, and it's not going particularly well. As a viewer, you'd be forgiven for missing the shoes.Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall (2012). Sony PicturesBut take another look. These were off-the-shelf Gazelles from Adidas's spring 2011 line, the sort that anyone could have picked up the year before the film came out. Bond is a guy whose wardrobe gets examined down to the last cufflink, and there he was in a regular pair of Adidas. His pair came in “dark indigo” suede with “Argentina blue” stripes, white rubber soles, and gold Gazelle lettering along the sides.(There's a slight difference between the shoes a civilian could buy and the ones in the movie, though. The retail pair had a light blue heel tab, while Bond's appears darker. The fan website Bond Lifestyle suggests the costume department may have changed it, although that hasn't been officially confirmed.)The Gazelle launched in 1966 as a multipurpose training shoe, and was the German sportswear giant's first-ever sneaker made from suede. The choice to put Bond in the shoe felt notable in more ways than one: In the training scene, the slim sole kept things nice and light underfoot, and the color combo went perfectly with his trackies. But there's also the Gazelle's place in British culture, from the football terraces in the ’80s to the Britpop crowd in the ’90s. So, it makes sense for a Gen-X British spy.By 2021, Adidas had an official collab to go with No Time to Die. The collection featured all Ultraboost running shoes, with slight nods to Bond's tuxedos and Safin's porcelain mask. The “Q Branch” edition even had a hidden compartment in the lacing cage, handy if your gym shorts don't have pockets.For a pair that came from a regular ol' Adidas collection, Bond's OG Gazelles are surprisingly difficult to find now. But if you fancy something similar without spending the next six months refreshing eBay, you can start with these.A version of this story originally appeared in British GQ.Sign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit.Adam Cheung is a writer who specialises in sneakers and streetwear. Over the past few years, he's curated features and guides for everyone from Burberry to Nike. Often travelling between the UK and Hong Kong, don't be too surprised if you find Adam anywhere else around the world taking street ... Read More