Stepping into Bond's shoes
The fashion shoot marked not only this week's launch of the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, but also Austin Reed's relocation to the Exchange Arcade after eight years at House of Fraser.
The gentlemen's outfitters now has a store downstairs from Country Casuals.
And, if you're looking for the perfect 007 ensemble, it's an excellent place to start.
"Mr Bond always wears a fine, British-cut tailored suit, normally from Savile Row where we actually have a branch of Austin Reed," said Austin Chatterie, the assistant manager of Austin Reed. "There aren't that many outlets in Nottingham that can offer British tailoring. It's quite specialist."
He added that high-quality tailoring always undergoes something of a revival whenever a Bond film hits the screen.
"We're seeing a surge of interest in that classic look," he says.
"And the Christmas party season gives people that opportunity to dress up anyway."
For Austin, the perfect Bond will always be Sean Connery.
Austin's not keen on the rougher-cut image of Daniel Craig. "He's not as smooth as Sean or Roger Moore," he says.
Debonair Connery and his array of dinner suits best epitomises the Austin Reed look.
"Having said that, Bond doesn't always wear a dinner jacket," said Austin. "If he's on board an expensive yacht or on a mission, it can be a finely tailored suit."
Since we were taking our model Kristijonas to Alea Casino, in Upper Parliament Street, we thought he should take the dinner jacket option.
Already a member at the casino Kristijonas, who lives in the city centre, often dresses up and goes there for a value meal – although he admits it's been some time since he's donned a dinner jacket.
Kristijonas started his day at Sutherland and Barnett hairdressers on Fletcher Gate where partner Craig Barnett gave him a cut, then slicked his hair to one side, securing it with a Bed Head gel and a shine spray. The cut and styling would cost around £28 at the salon.
"It's actually the sort of look you could wear every day," said Craig. "That kind of classic styling is very in at the moment."
Kristijonas then donned a pure wool dinner jacket, £250, and pure wool trousers, £100, with a pure cotton shirt with black ribbon detailing, £60, and a £25 ready-tied bow tie, all from Austin Reed.
His shoes were £110 pointed patent Poste Apron Lace from Office.
Kristijonas, who joined the student agency Model Students when he moved to Nottingham to take an economics degree last year, has done both catwalk and studio modelling in his career.
However, as a Bond fan, he really enjoyed getting to stride around in the style of his hero.
He too prefers Connery to Craig.
"I'm sure the girls think Daniel Craig's hot," he said. "But being James Bond is not just about being cool-looking. It's about being a yardstick by which all other heroes can be judged."
Bond's quintessential Englishness is something that has worldwide appeal – although Kristijonas is discovering the English stereotype may bear little relation to reality.
"Having grown up in Lithuania, I had a mental image of Englishmen as being very correct and proper. I haven't met many people like that here!" he said. "I think England is much more multicultural now which is one of the reasons I admire it. But, at the same time, perhaps it has lost part of its identity."
So how does Kristijonas feel about his day of classic English styling?
"I find it so charming," he said, of the finished look. "The suit is extremely nice. I love the shirt the most, especially that vertical black stripe, which really finishes the whole look."
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