In Moonraker, Bond wears a black half-zip shirt during his stealthy nighttime escapades (you can read a detailed description of the original shirt over at Bond Suits.) Orlebar Brown released their interpretation of the shirt—the Moonraker Knitted Half Zip—with the 007 Heritage Collection they released in the summer of 2020.
The Moonraker Knitted Half Zip is made from Italian-made Merino wool. Its defining feature is the nickel-plated half-zip placket that stands out against the black wool. The shirt also has a ribbed collar and ribbing along the cuffs and hem. Unlike many pieces from the 007 Heritage Collection, the Moonraker Knitted Half Zip is still available from the Orlebar Brown website for $445.
If you’ve been looking for a less expensive way to get the same look, keep reading for my budget-friendly alternative that comes in under $50!
Express
Rayon Stretch Zip Polo Sweater
This Express polo sweater hits just about all of the style notes from as the Orlebar Brown shirt, although the point collar on the Express sweater is a little smaller than the Orlebar Brown collar. The Express zipper is also advertised as a quarter zip instead of a half zip, but the two zippers look about the same length when you compare them side by side.
There are two big differences between the two shirts—the hem and the materials. While the Orlebar Brown shirt has a full hem, the Express sweater has a split hem to prevent the shirt from bunching. The Express shirt is also made from a rayon/polyester/spandex blend instead of Merino wool, although the synthetic blend will give the shirt the same kind of warmth, stretch, and softness you’d get from the wool. Overall, I think this is a great option.
There you have it—my budget-friendly alternative for the Orlebar Brown Moonraker Half Zip. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below or over on Instagram (@bondonabudget). Happy shopping!
Bond on a Budget 