The style evolution of Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Hollywood’s chicest couple

Jan MastersFri, August 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC

0

Last weekend, Pierce Brosnan, 73, and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, 62, went sightseeing in Sydney, having just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Their relationship has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most enduring and life-affirming love stories.

They met in 1994 when she was a journalist, two and a half years after Pierce lost his first wife, Cassandra Harris, to ovarian cancer (tragically, Cassandra’s daughter Charlotte, who he adopted, died from the same disease). Pierce and Keely married in 2001 at the historic Ballintubber Abbey in Ireland and have been inseparable ever since.

The couple in Sydney last weekend having just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary - Splash News

In a 2018 interview with Closer, Pierce said: “I had a great marriage which sadly had its own ending, and I was lucky enough to find love again. We were meant to find each other. I thank God for her every day.” Continuing, “I found a great woman in Keely. Not if I searched a million times over would I find one as good.” Keely is equally and openly devoted, posting heartfelt messages on social media every anniversary.

In archive pictures, a natural-not-theatrical closeness was always in evidence. They were sartorially in sync too. Still are. For a Sydney harbour boat trip and dinner, they mirrored a vibe of “quiet luxury”, he in a smart jacket with black jeans and a dapper cravat, she in elegant head-to-toe beige. In short, they sport what’s called “couple’s style”.

The pair at the Academy Awards in Hollywood, 2005 - Jeffrey Mayer

“What the heck is that?” you might ask. Well, we’re not talking the matchy-matchy, nay identical jumpers of Howard and Hilda in the classic sitcom, Ever Decreasing Circles. It’s more about harmonising wardrobes, a direction lots of high-profile couples follow for events or when being photographed. Sometimes it’s subtle. The Prince and Princess of Wales use colour, with William coordinating his tie, shirt or sweater to the shade of his wife’s outfit. Sometimes it pivots on a mutual love-in with labels, à la Rhianna and A$AP Rocky.

The pair at a charity event in Los Angeles in 1995, a year after they met - Ron Galella Collection

What’s interesting about Pierce and Keely is that they don’t dress the same, but they always look like they belong in the same photograph. Sure, they have physically changed along the way – who hasn’t in more than a quarter of a century? But what’s striking is they’re comfortable in their own skin and confident in their style, which allows their chemistry to shine through, a characteristic that’s refreshing and relatable. Negative comments about Keely’s fluctuating weight have not only been unkind and unnecessary, they totally miss the point that here are two people who enjoy fashion on their own terms. In short, their style, like their union, has aged beautifully.

The Bond effect

Channelling old-school glamour at an awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, in 1996 - Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

This is the era when the pair channelled old-school, movie-star glamour, reimagined through a Nineties’ lens. “Their relationship was born into that pre-defined style of the mid-Nineties,” says creative director and stylist Sascha Lilic, nodding to a time of clean lines and pared-down opulence.

Advertisement

“When the Bond role came along, Pierce appreciated sharp tailoring [it was all about the Brioni suits] and as Keely stood at her man’s side, the public saw her not only as his partner but in some ways, the ultimate Bond girl. She rose to this role in the most glamorous of ways,” he recalls. Case in point; at the Golden Eye London Premiere, she wore a strapless scarlet dress with corseted bodice. Another favourite look was a minimalist black gown, the perfect partner to Pierce’s refined tuxedos.

Relaxed attitude

The couple opt for a relaxed look on the beach in Sydney, 1995 - Peter Carrette Archive

When he wasn’t suited and booted for Bond, Pierce showed he had a fun, eclectic side to his style, going for big collars, leather jackets, lots of denim, loose shirts and slightly wacky ties. So when the couple were pictured together, they often struck a similar chord, whether preppy or in relaxed tailoring that was easy-going for day and seductive for night. But no matter what they wore, their signature moves included choosing beautiful, quality fabrics and little visible branding, making the looks their own.

Goodbye Mrs Bond

Styling everyday earthy tones for an environmental benefit event in Los Angeles, 2003 - Gregg DeGuire

In the Noughties, Pierce sipped his last martini and segued into films such as The Matador and Mamma Mia. Keely frequently joined him on the press circuit, while balancing being a mother to their two sons and working as a journalist, TV host and environmental campaigner.

This is when they entered a fashion comfort zone, making casual instantly cool. They also let clothes speak for their shared beliefs, for example when they wore everyday earthy tones for an environmental benefit event in 2003 that didn’t overshadow the message. True to their philosophy on life, for the Academy Awards in 2005, Keely looked voluptuous in a stunning red and gold fitted gown, telling Vogue a year later that she never shied away from her curves nor hid behind baggy clothing. Her husband voiced his unwavering support.

Mature flamboyance

At the 2023 Met Gala, Keely paired a glittery cape with a black sequin gown, while Pierce complimented her in black tie - Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)

“While she’s always by his side, she also has a public profile in her own right and their styles anchor each other. They somehow always look a pair,” says Lilic. Latterly they’ve been revisiting experimental style. In Cannes in 2018, she had flirty fun in a long floral dress, her shoulders swathed in a sheer shawl trimmed with feathers, while at the 2023 Met Gala, she swept into the event with a glittery cape over a black figure-hugging sequin gown, suggesting an almost Super Heroine aura.

They know when to dial it up – Pierce donned a fuchsia suit for a special screening of Black Adam in 2022 – and when to dial it down – at the Oscar Wilde Awards, they stood side by side in sleek black suits.

“I think his style has developed in interesting ways as he’s grown older, reflecting more of his intellectual and artistic sides, especially as he’s an accomplished and exhibited painter,” concludes Lilic. “Similarly, Keely’s career has been multi-faceted, which she expresses through her clothes. In their case, age, which can be something we fail to embrace authentically, has been very good for them.” Hear hear.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”