If 007 could fight in one, surely guys can suit up for a Zoom call BYWENDY RIGG

All dressed up with nowhere to go as style historians voice fears for the suit

But it’s not just the pandemic that has impacted the fashion industry. As well as the sudden worldwide slowdown, growing environmental concerns and a shift towards sustainability, accelerated by our new appreciation for small local businesses, could also have long-term consequences for the fashion industry.

“For the most part, fashion is inextricably linked with society and political change,” said Georgina. “And of course,

Model at Paul Smith show in Paris last month sports a suit with a twist and a more casual look, while Primal Scream rocker Bobby Gillespie is still a fan of sharp tailoring

they’re shown on the catwalk, aren’t aligned with when we actually wear clothing. There’s been a lot of chatter around that, and it almost felt that change needed to happen and it’s been accelerated by the pandemic.”

So, as life slowly returns to normal, will we see leggings and sportswear continue to be the look du jour? Or will everyday fashion revert to fitted waistlines and structured shirts? Georgina isn’t sure.

“There is a temptation to say the pandemic is going to change the way that we see fashion – that we’re going to dress more casually going forward,” she explained. “I think there will be an element of that, certainly, at least for a while. However, if you consider the roaring ’20s – the original, the current one is certainly not roaring – they followed a period of austerity.

“So, there is an argument that, if you look back at what happened in fashion previously, when life settles down, we might actually have a return to glamour. It will be really interesting to see which way it will go.”

Dr Tuckett added: “There’s always shifts happening in fashion but what will make this one interesting is to see how long it will last.

“Once we go back to normal, are we going maintain this casual, comfortable look? Or are we going to want to wear smarter things? I’m not sure. But you do hear a lot of people admitting they miss wearing their smart clothes, and I know personally I’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes that I haven’t worn since March.”

If lockdown has finally consigned the suit to the wardrobe of history as men move towards a kind of perma-casualwear, it’ll be a tragedy.

If James Bond can keep his suit jacket on for a fight, I see no reason why men should not retain a sense of style through a pandemic.

The hoodie and trackpant combo is fine for exercise or for working on a building site, but let’s not have chaps looking like this all the time. I know it’s comfortable and that women are getting away with “luxe loungewear” that could sometimes be mistaken for an outfit suitable for operating a cement mixer in…but, come on lads, let’s not let standards slip.

May I suggest that re-watching Bond films with an eye on the sartorial details is a fine activity for now? Start with Sean Connery who set the style for future Bonds.

James Bond star Sean Connery suits up in Goldfinger

Terence Young, the director of

Dr No, From Russia With Love and Thunderball is said to have told Connery to sleep in his suits so that he would feel comfortable in them.

That’s a stretch too far for most men but a well-cut suit will flatter your physique like nothing else. The perfect-fit jacket should not be too relaxed, nor should it be so tight you couldn’t conceal a shoulder holster with a gun. Trousers should give you enough room to sit down or perform other Bond-like movements without splitting them. I’m sure getting up from the sofa to go to the fridge would be possible, for example.

Bond never follows trends, preferring classic traditional style. The single-breasted, two-button jacket is generally what he goes for, worn with flat or pleat front trousers, in muted colours. For evening it’s always a tuxedo, in black or midnight and occasionally ivory, with bow tie.

Basically, you can’t go wrong with these looks. So why not give it a try? Next time you pop to the shop for the Sunday papers, don your finest suit.

As the tailors in The Fast Show would say, “Oooh, suit you, sir.”