This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 22, 2015.

JAMES Bond has always been the epitome of style and class — from the character played by the iconic Sean Connery with his brooding Scottish accent to the suave Pierce Brosnan and the tough hands-on fighter, Daniel Craig. Charmed by a seemingly never-ending line of beautiful, seductive women sporting questionable names like Pussy Galore, Honey Ryder, Money Penny and Kissy Suzuki, Bond always seems to be swarmed by both evil and good women at the same time. The one thing that they all have in common, though, is that they are all undeniably beautiful.

With what is purportedly Craig’s final appearance as James Bond in the latest instalment, Spectre, fans’ hopes are undoubtedly high, as it is really anyone’s guess as to whether or not the next actor to play the character will succeed or fail in capturing the hearts of millions. The film is set to hit the big screens coming Monday, and fans are eager to learn what happens to MI6 after M’s death.

Spectre—the sinister organisation from which the movie got its name—sees Bond come face to face with the new villain, Franz Oberhauser, played by the much-loved Christoph Waltz, whose recent meteoric rise to stardom in the anglophone world with movies like Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained has made him a household name. The movie also features Lea Seydoux as Dr Madeleine Swann, Ben Whishaw as Q and Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny. Monica Bellucci, who plays Lucia Sciarra at the age of 50, is the oldest actor to ever be cast as a Bond girl.

The last time the Spectre organisation was featured in a Bond movie was in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, so seeing them in action again will be a brand new experience for a good majority of moviegoers. Spectre takes place in Mexico, Italy, Austria and Morocco — three continents covered in just one movie. After receiving a cryptic message from the past, Bond goes on a rogue mission around the world, infiltrating a secret meeting and uncovering the existence of Spectre.

While the world prepares to be enthralled by Spectre, Gillette has embarked on a global mission to celebrate every man’s “Bond moments” — the precious instances where he feels the most confident and in control. This mission, organised in partnership between Gillette’s latest innovation, the Fusion ProGlide razor with Flexball Technology and Spectre, reinforces the message that Bond moments don’t just happen — they come with precise preparation.

Gillette’s association with the James Bond franchise started with the third film, Goldfinger in 1964. In one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, James Bond was seen using the Gillette slim handle adjustable razor to both shave and store a tracking device. Fifty years on, Gillette has joined the 007 Gadgets Hall of Fame in the franchise’s latest iteration.

The Gillette-Spectre partnership in Malaysia was marked by a roadshow at the KLCC concourse area from last week and featured a celebrity panel discussion on the evolution of the Bond character and persona as well as about men’s fashion throughout the decades. The panellists comprising model Deborah Henry, Bernie Chan and Soo Kui Jien (TV personalities), fitness expert Jordan Yeoh as well as Nicolas de la Giroday, country chief executive officer of P&G Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei provided style tips and lifehacks to help men everywhere feel confident and look their best.

“There is no doubt that the James Bond persona and fashion have evolved over the past five decades. What has remained timeless, however, is Bond’s appeal and iconic representation of what women desire and what men aspire towards,” said Giroday. “Beyond being the shaving tool of choice for James Bond, Gillette has always been at the forefront of innovation to empower men around the world to achieve their best look.”

With some of the most sophisticated shaving labs in the world, Gillette’s Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall technology features a 3D motion ball which enables incredible contact over contours of the face to get every hair, addressing a challenge faced by shaving men all over the world.

To celebrate the partnership between Gillette and Spectre, a Fusion ProGlide gift pack will hit the stores starting next month. It’s the perfect gift for men during the holiday season. Gillette will also be running a nationwide promotion offering free Spectre movie tickets for every purchase of RM30 worth of Gillette products. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/gillettemalaysia.