We’re heading full speed into autumn so I’m back this week with another sweater alternative—this time it’s the iconic Tom Ford shawl-collar cardigan from Quantum of Solace. I think it’s safe to say this is one of the film’s most popular looks. It’s definitely one of my favorites because it’s one of the first times we see Craig’s Bond in an outfit that is both casual and sophisticated.
The sweater, like most of Craig’s wardrobe in the film, was made by Tom Ford. It’s a black ribbed sweater with a shawl collar, two patch pockets, and five leather buttons. Craig wears the cuffs turned back, but I don’t know if that’s his own style choice or how the sweater was designed.
In the past it’s been a lot easier to find navy or charcoal cardigans than black, but this year seems to be the exception because I’ve already found a number of black ones and I’m sure more will be released as we head closer to winter.
If you’re looking for your own black shawl-collar cardigan, here are a couple of solid options.
Goodthreads (from Amazon)
This option from Amazon isn’t exactly ribbed, but the knit is big enough to give the sweater a nice texture. This 100% cotton sweater features a shawl collar, welt pockets, five buttons, and ribbed cuffs—the cuffs might be long enough that you can turn them back if you want to, but it’s hard to know for sure from the product photos. It doesn’t check all the boxes but it’s a pretty good option if you want a sharp-looking cardigan that’s “close enough.”
H2H (from Amazon)
Casual Premium Knitted Jackets
From just looking at it, this sweater looks like a pretty good match although it has four buttons instead of five and welt pockets instead of patch pockets. Still, it has a lot going for it. I particularly like the clearly defined shawl which gives the collar a very structured look. That said, this particular sweater comes with some caveats. First, it’s 100% polyester—that’s not uncommon in budget sweaters but it can bother some people. The main thing you want to be careful about is the sizing. H2H is a Korean brand, which usually means the sizing is most likely going to run small. If you go for this sweater, make sure you check their size chart and your measurements so you get the right size.
I hope this list of budget-friendly alternatives has been helpful. Like I said before, this isn’t an easy piece to find so I’ll keep updating this list if more options become available. As always, let me know what you think about my picks in the comments below or over on Instagram (@bondonabudget). Happy shopping!
Bond on a Budget 
Found a great alternative from Abercrombie & Fitch. Nice ribbed texture and definitely hefty enough to be a good sweater.
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Can’t tell if this is true black or really dark gray, it also has no pockets, but the ribbing looks pretty good to me, just thought I’d pass it along
https://www.zara.com/us/en/shawl-collar-cardigan-p00693309.html?v1=79375532
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I found this one that looks to tick all but the button box
Amazon Essentials Men’s Long-Sleeve Soft Touch Shawl Collar Cardigan
More information: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TVKPYC7/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_CFMFRN9R8TGSQSXR89YC
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