The kiss of death
Licensed to thrill
From her belted trench to her lipstick pistol - the female spy slays at the style stakes, thanks to a killer wardrobe and the coolest gadgets.
Close your eyes and imagine a female spy. What do you see? Dark Ray-Bans, a belted trench and killer stilettos? A slash of red lipstick, a pair of black gloves? One thing is certain, the stereotypical female spy is an ageless style icon, giving even sharp-dressed James Bond a run for his money.
Sure, the 'she-intelligencer' stole some secret-agent classics from the boys. The black turtleneck, for example. Sleek, stylish and oh so secretive. Nobody made it look as sexy as Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond, accessorized with a sexy shoulder holster. Nobody, except Jennifer Lawrence who slayed the look in 'Red Sparrow' as a Russian ballerina spy, rocking a tight turtleneck underneath a dapper camel coat. And let's not forget about the fedora, that old-school detective favorite. Wearing hers tilted for extra mysterious flair, actress and wartime spy Marlene Dietrich was the one to give the hat real espionage elan.
Most iconic she-spy styles are unapologetically feminine, however. Take the slinky leather catsuit, immortalized by Emma Peel, the karate-chopping 'lady spy adventurer' of the British TV series 'The Avengers'. More recently, in 'Atomic Blonde', Charlize Theron redefined fierce femininity in the role of an undercover M16 agent, kicking ass in thigh-high boots and Thierry Mugler bodycon dresses. Undercover? Ehm, quite the opposite.
Because here's the thing: these spectacular looks would be spectacularly dangerous for a real-life spy. The idea is to blend in, get the intel, and get the hell out. If you can spy a spy, she failed her mission. The dress code for an actual secret agent is really quite simple: anything that helps her blend in with her environment, like a boring business suit or a dorky tourist outfit. Yet there is one secret weapon that has saved the lives of many spies, real or fictional: clever gadgets.
From poison-tipped umbrellas to coat button cameras - crafty devices have been used in espionage to steal intelligence, escape imprisonment or inflict harm. And the female spy has always had a few tricks up her sleeve - quite literally! Women have been hiding weapons in their sleeves, shoe soles and even garter belts, like superspy Christine Granville who wore a commando knife strapped to her thigh in a leather garter. In 1985, four female Stasi operatives developed a 'wonder bra' that contained a mini camera, controlled by a remote.
Even an innocent-looking keychain carabiner, clipped to your handbag, can be used to hook yourself onto a rope and climb your way out of a sticky situation à la Spider-Woman. (Check our 'Spymistress' Couture set for a fashionable interpretation of this concept!). But the most iconic tool for the stylish she-spy is undoubtedly the lipstick pistol, a one-shot weapon that used to be carried by female KGB agents. Nickname: The Kiss of Death. Is it a coincidence that it became a symbol for women's emancipation in another incarnation: the lipstick vibrator? We don't think so. After all, as any female spy can tell you: sexual confidence is one of woman's most lethal weapons.
