You may or may not be a fan of old movies, but if you’re a fan of fashion through the ages, then you are almost certainly an admirer of Steve McQueen’s effortlessly cool style. His appearances in a wide range of films in the ’60s and ’70s have made him an icon of that era for both his talent and his style.
Table of Contents
Hollywood Film Career
McQueen’s Notable Films
Steve McQueen’s Signature Style
Conclusion
Outfit Rundown
Today, we take a closer look at the career, legacy, and style of one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
Steve McQueen’s Early Years
Despite his rugged good looks, cool guy reputation and Hollywood success later in life, Steve McQueen’s youth and early years were punctuated with struggle. The actor known as Steve McQueen was not, in fact, a “Steve” by birth. Born Terence Steven McQueen in 1930 at the dawn of the Depression, he was abandoned by his mother to be raised until age 8 by his grandparents and an uncle on a farm in rural Missouri. His uncle was one of the few adults in his childhood of whom he had fond memories. He would go on to live with his mother and two successive stepfathers, both of whom were physically abusive.
Dyslexia and partial deafness in one ear were also little-known disadvantages of his youth. In his teenage years, McQueen bounced back and forth between living on the streets, his mother’s home, and his uncle’s farm. His life was one of beatings, rebelliousness, and petty crime, and he was eventually sent to a boy’s home, the California Junior Boys Republic, where he stayed until the age of 16. The institution left a profound mark on McQueen, and he would go on to support the institution for the rest of his life. McQueen eventually landed in the Marine Corps, a 4-year experience which was not surprisingly riddled with resistance to authority. After numerous scrapes, demotions, and even a month-long stay in the brig, McQueen committed to the discipline of the Marines and was eventually honorably discharged with positive memories of his time with the service.
Hollywood Film Career
By 1952, McQueen decided to use his GI Bill funds to study acting. He supplemented his earnings by racing motorcycles, and even in his early days of driving, he was often successful. In 1955 he moved to Hollywood, where he landed bit parts in film and TV.
McQueen’s Notable Films
The Great Escape (1963)
Steve McQueen’s role as Captain Virgil Hilts in The Great Escape cemented his stardom in Hollywood. Considered the most important performance of the film, McQueen’s costars included Richard Attenborough and James Garner, who were already movie stars in their own right. The film follows the escape attempt of Allied prisoners of war in a POW camp in what is now Poland. An international ensemble cast plots to dig three tunnels, named Tom, Dick, and Harry, and each character is given a task and a nickname. Though the film is based on real events, the story was heavily adapted for the screen to heighten the drama and the suspense of the escape. In one famous scene, McQueen’s character jumps a high fence on a motorcycle; the stunt, which did not occur in real life, was requested by McQueen purely because he was an avid motorcyclist.
The film was a commercial and critical success, and today it is still considered a film classic.
The Sand Pebbles – nominated for an Academy Award (1966)
The Sand Pebbles, a lesser-known film from Steve McQueen’s body of work, is notable in that it was the only role that netted McQueen an Academy Award nomination. The fictional story is centered around a rebellious Navy machinist’s mate aboard a navy vessel nicknamed the Sand Pebble in 1920s China as the ship patrols the Yangtze river. China is in the midst of a revolution, and the ship and the crew must navigate a tense, evolving political situation and personal entanglements in which it is almost impossible to remain neutral. The drawn-out filming was fraught with bad weather, local government conflicts, illness, and equipment issues, and McQueen was heard to have said that he had paid for the sins in his life during the filming.
There are some that consider the 1968 version of The Thomas Crown Affair to be the most stylish film ever made. Bored millionaire Thomas Crown, played superbly by Steve McQueen, entertains himself by organizing the “perfect” bank heist. An insurance investigator played by Faye Dunaway is sent to investigate the robbery, and she immediately suspects that he is the responsible party. A game of cat and mouse then ensues, and McQueen and Dunaway’s characters become romantically entangled despite their opposing goals.
Originally the part was offered to Sean Connery, but Steve McQueen’s smug confidence and dapper style (as well as the memorable score) made the film a cinematic triumph.
Bullitt (1968)
Bullitt was one of McQueen’s best-known films in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success. The film spoke to his love of cars and driving. The plot begins with McQueen’s maverick police sergeant character Frank Bullitt being assigned to protect a mob defector, Johnny Ross, from retribution before he can be called as a star witness in a hearing on organized crime. An assassination attempt is made, and through a series of aliases, cover-ups, and other twists and turns, the viewer is led to a dramatic conclusion. The film is noted for filming extensively on location and capturing realistic depictions of police procedural detail at the time.
That being said, the most memorable scene in Bullitt is the car chase, in which Bullitt (in a Ford Mustang) chases two hitmen (in a Dodge Charger) through the streets of San Francisco. The scene is considered to be one of film’s best classic car chases and took nearly 3 weeks to film on location. At the time, it was certainly it’s ground-breaking even though it might seem slow compared to modern-day car chases. McQueen tried in vain for years to buy the 1968 390 V8 Ford Mustang GT fastback he drove in the film, but he never succeeded. Nevertheless, Bullitt is certainly one of Steve McQueen’s most iconic works.
Steve McQueen’s Signature Style
Steve McQueen could not have been nicknamed the “King of Cool” without the requisite wardrobe. Steve McQueen could pull off casual workwear, western attire, and 3-piece suits while looking equally authentic in them all – not many men have that kind of range. He rocked a certain nonchalant confidence that is the envy of every man who has perused a style gallery of his most famous looks. He was one of the lucky few men that simply looked good in everything he put on.
Here is the best part about Steve McQueen’s style: virtually any of his looks would pass for stylish right now, so you can draw inspiration from his aesthetic without looking the slightest concern of looking dated.
Why Steve McQueen’s Style Worked For Him
Here are some of the many reasons that Steve McQueen’s style just worked, and will work on you as well:
He kept his look classic and simple. Very rarely do you see Steve McQueen wearing more than one accessory or pattern; he stuck with well-combined solids in classic cuts that didn’t chase the trends of the time. His film career peaked in the 60’s and 70’s, but he didn’t embrace the trends of the time such as boldly printed jackets or bell-bottom pants. As a result, he looks timeless, and not dated, in photos. McQueen also selected his accessories carefully, and his Rolex Explorer II Ref 1655 or Submariner Ref 5512 watches or a single signet ring were often his only accessories.
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His fit was spot-on.Though clearly not one for fussy tailoring, whatever McQueen put on fit him well. Shirts were fitted but no too tight; pants are straight, slim but not too tight, and tailored with little or nobreak.
He mastered layers.McQueen was a big fan of jackets, and he used classics such asHarrington,bomber, and motorcycle jacketsto great effect. He wore them over slim-fitsweaters, and ultimately they became one of his most identifiable style staples.
He knew what looked good on him.His rebellious nature might have played a role in rejecting the trends of the time, but when McQueen found something that looked good on him, such as tear-shapedsunglasseslike Persols andAviators, he stuck with them.
How to Get Steve McQueen’s Signature Look
To replicate the key elements of Steve McQueen’s effortless cool-guy look, do the following:
Keep it casual, but not too casual. Steve McQueen was not a dandy by nature, but he also was never a slob. In the 60’s and 70’s, khakis were casual, and unless he was filming, you’d never see Steve McQueen in gym clothes. Keep your clothing choices well-fitting, simple, and casual to emulate his style.
If you wear a suit, make it count. Even though Steve McQueen’s core style is more casual when he did wear a suit he took it seriously. His suits are tailored, well-fitting, and he clearly considered all the details.
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Layer jackets over simple layers.Jackets over thin sweaters are a quintessential McQueen choice, and the combination looks great on most men.
Find a signature pair of shades.They may not be Persols, but never hesitate to keep wearing a classic frame if it looks good on you.
Stock up on sweaters and khakis.Sweaters andchinosare the backbones of a great casual wardrobe, and in classic cuts, they will look good for years to come.
Invest in a classic watch.McQueen was partial toRolexesand Tag Heuer watches, and they paired well with his style.Find a great watchthat suits your aestheticand it will be a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion
While there are certainly aspects of Steve McQueen’s personal and professional life that would not necessarily be considered “gentlemanly,” his memorable performances on film. and his undeniable command of a cool and effortless style, mean that his influence in both of these areas is one that won’t soon be forgotten.
What do you think of Steve McQueen’s legacy and style? What would you replicate from his wardrobe? Let us know in the comments!
Outfit Rundown
I’m wearing a light pair of beige Chino pants and a pair of sand-colored suede chukka boots which happen to both be from J.Crew. I’m also wearing a navy crewneck lightweight cotton sweater which I picked out from Banana Republic. I’m also wearing a green military inspired jacket which I also picked up from J.Crew which has a really unique hidden hood which kind of forms into a nice stand-up collar as well.
Now this is me utilizing the aspects of Steve McQueen of having something that’s both timeless, a little bit rugged but also quite comfortable and casual as well. Now outside the studio, if it happens to be quite sunny, I would love to pair this entire outfit with a pair of my classic aviators that I picked up from Ray Ban.
In terms of accessories, there’s some great socks that I would love to be able to pair with my chukka boots found on the Fort Belvedere shop. In addition to this, I love the different pocket squares, collar pins, gloves, and a host of other great accessory options. You can also find all of those here.
He was a classically styled gentleman with a penchant for casual attire and rarely went with the trends, choosing almost always, the classic pieces. Rugged and self-assured, McQueen was a lovable rogue who's laidback style still endure to this day with his timeless, casual wardrobe.
The &Sons Virgil Chinos Review. Our review of the &Sons Virgil Chinos, inspired by the classic trousers Steve McQueen wore as Capt. Vigil Hilts in The Great Escape.
McQueen was a big fan of jackets, and he used classics such as Harrington, bomber, and motorcycle jackets to great effect. He wore them over slim-fit sweaters, and ultimately they became one of his most identifiable style staples. He knew what looked good on him.
Steve McQueen, a.k.a. the King of Cool, wore a Rolex Submariner 5512. While it's pretty hard to compete with the man who starred in The Great Escape (1963), Bullitt (1968), and Le Mans (1971), the vintage Submariner 5512 boasts its own swagger too.
However, it was eventually revealed that the actual boots Steve McQueen wore for Bullitt and in his own personal life were the “Playboy” chukka boots, a design that is still made to this day by British shoemakers, Sanders & Sanders.
Steve McQueen's established uniform as Ralph Thorson in The Hunter is an olive nylon MA-1 bomber jacket, Lee jeans, big gold belt buckle, Rolex Submariner, and tan JOX sneakers.
This feud steadily intensified on set, with Newman being deeply unhappy with the Bullitt star for counting his lines and demanding an equal share of screentime. In the book Paul and Me, penned by A.E.
Sadly, McQueen's acting career was cut short by an unexpected pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. It is believed that McQueen was exposed to asbestos while serving in the United States Marine Corps in the late 1940s. In 1980, McQueen died of mesothelioma at the age of 50.
McQueen was promoting his award-winning movie when he talked for the first time about his learning struggles. He shared that he has dyslexia — and had hidden it for years out of shame. “I thought it meant I was stupid,” McQueen explained. His success spotlights how wrong he was.
Don Gordon (born Donald Walter Guadagno; November 13, 1926 – April 24, 2017) was an American film and television actor. His most notable film roles were those in which he appeared alongside his friend Steve McQueen: Bullitt (1968), Papillon (1973) and The Towering Inferno (1974).
Shortly after, McQueen disconnected from Hollywood in search of a life away from the drugs, the drinking and the fame. He became a born-again Christian late in life after the influence of his flying instructor Sammy Mason, his pastor Leonard DeWitt and his third wife Barbara Minty McQueen.
How To Ask For It. It's a good, technical haircut, cut a little shorter at the parting before being layered through. But you don't need to ask for that: just ask for a Steve McQueen. If your barber doesn't know what a Steve McQueen is, get out of the chair and leave the shop immediately.
McQueen was an avid fan of European sports cars. Ferraris, Porsches and Lotus models were never far away from his garage. Even by his standards, though, this 275 GTB/4 was special.
So when the world learned in January 2017 that the car, which had vanished from existence decades ago, had survived McQueen, who died in 1980, heartbreak turned into astonishment. The Kiernan family, the car's owner since 1974, had safely tucked it away in a Kentucky barn, far from prying eyes.
An eternal icon up for any challenge, actor Steve McQueen was a motor racing aficionado and a big thrill lover, famously sporting a TAG Heuer Monaco in the legendary film Le Mans.
Denim was a favorite of McQueen's, and at times it was literally all he wore. For bottoms in particular, the actor frequently donned slim-fit selvedge jeans to pair with a collared shirt, t-shirt, or… nothing at all.
Though Steve McQueen was once the highest paid actor in the world, it was his piercing blue eyes, enviably golden glow, and unwavering confidence that instantly turned heads.
For Italian brand Persol, which is owned by eyewear megalith Luxottica, the fact that Steve McQueen - the petrolhead movie star with a wardrobe to make all men (and most women) jealous and more sex appeal than he knew what to do with - chose to wear its frames (he famously wore a pair of 714s on the set of The Thomas ...
Left: Paul Newman wearing a pair of plimsolls, 1965. Plimsolls were called such as the sides of the sneakers resembled the Plimsoll line on a ship's hull.
Alexander McQueen fashions, shoes and accessories have a signature style that is eclectic. The brand borrows elements from the Roman, Gothic and Victorian eras and frequently incorporates dark colors, heavy fabrics and romantic embellishments like lace.
McQueen's work was admired for its highly original blend of subversion and tradition, evident from the outset in his 'Bumster' trousers, sharp frock coats, corroded fabrics, slashed leather and shredded, flesh-revealing lace. You've got to know the rules to break them.
The tongue of McQueen sneakers is usually a little stiff, and might rub into your ankle. We advise “breaking them in” by wearing them with a pair of thick socks. All the designer's shoes follow EU sizing – however, on the brand's website, you can find a helpful size chart.
VERDICT. The King of Cool might dominate sartorially and with his epic car collection, but his horsepower is lacking everywhere else. Newman was a better driver, better actor and has the most sought-after watch in history to his name. He even won (in his class) at Le Mans – you know, the real one.
What was Paul Newman's favorite car? Well, for a car enthusiast and racer like Paul Newman, it would have been tough to pick a favorite. However, one of the famous cars that his fans remembered him driving was the Hawai'i Tropic sponsored Porsche 935.
' In 1951 Dean went to New York and eventually landed a part in Broadway's See the Jaguar. Two years later he was back on the Great White Way in The Immoralist, forming a professional if oddly tactile friendship with the young Steve McQueen, who in those freewheeling Village days could be as camp as a row of tents.
Death Although diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1979, McQueen had been ill for some time but always refused conventional medical treatment. He died on 7 November 1980,in Mexico. His last words were in Spanish. 'Lo hice,' he said.
McQueen was dissolved on March 14, 1972, and his two children, Terry Leslie McQueen and Chadwick Steven McQueen, would inherit his household furnishings, personal effects, and other tangible personal property.
The WWII Jeep not only remained in his garage until his death, but its original California license plates were renewed on October 31, 1980, just one week before McQueen passed away.
Famous actors like Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom all have dyslexia. Pablo Picasso's teachers described him as “having difficulty differentiating the orientation of letters”. And he painted his subjects as he saw them.
Chick "Thunder" Hicks is the main antagonist of Pixar's 7th full-length animated feature film Cars and a minor antagonist in its 2017 threequel Cars 3. He is a green race car who appears as the arch-nemesis of Lightning McQueen and Strip Weathers and one of the rivals of McQueen.
' Leonard replied, 'Yes, Steve, that's all that really matters to me. ' And then Steve said, 'Yes. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when you asked everyone to bow their heads and accept Jesus Christ? Well, I closed my eyes and did that.”
Jackman was raised Christian, attending multiple revivals during his childhood. In a 2015 interview, he identified as Christian but says his version of faith differs from his father's. "He takes his religion very seriously and would prefer I go to church," "We've had discussions about our separate beliefs.
Steve McQueen's death 25 years ago this month ended a bizarre drama in which he surreptitiously traveled to Mexico for an unorthodox cancer treatment. The medical profession largely derided McQueen as a victim of fraud, but to some people with cancer, his pursuit of an alternative treatment seemed heroic.
Let's take a look at some of the main “Cars 2” characters and the real-world stats of the vehicles they represent. First up is the movie's hero, Lightning McQueen, who packs a 750-horsepower V-8 and can reach 60 mph in 3.2 seconds on his way to a 200-mph top speed.
Tow Mater (Sir Tow Mater), or simply Mater, is a fictional character in the Cars media franchise produced by Pixar. Mater debuted as a major character in the film Cars as the local tow truck in Radiator Springs, eventually becoming the best friend of series protagonist Lightning McQueen.
Throughout Stranger Things, actor Joe Keery's character of Steve Harrington wears a combination of Levi's 516 Straight Jeans and brown Brooks Brothers khakis.
McQueen was particularly inspired by the 19th century, drawing frequently on Victorian Gothic. Radical re-presentations of historical narratives continued throughout his career.
The predecessor of the chino was developed by Sir Harry Lumsden in 1848 while stationed in India to camouflage his white uniform. He mixed a combination of coffee, curry and mulberries for dye, and this new shade, dubbed khaki (the Hindi word for “dust”), blended into the arid setting.
However, it was eventually revealed that the actual boots Steve McQueen wore for Bullitt and in his own personal life were the “Playboy” chukka boots, a design that is still made to this day by British shoemakers, Sanders & Sanders.
Generally, Mark Zuckerberg prefers brands like Brunello Cuccinelli. Zuckerberg has never disclosed what brand of exact denim brand he prefers, but any pair of slim-fitting black or blue denim jeans will do. Mark Zuckerberg has never shifted his most popular choice Grey T-shirt and Blue Denim Jeans.
Given a choice of about seven great denim brands to choose from, Reynolds immediately gravitated to a slim pair of Michael Kors jeans. He's worn the brand before and he knows their fit works with his narrow waist and muscular legs. “For me, it starts from the pants,” Reynolds says.
McQueen's notorious "Highland Rape" show featured models in torn, disheveled outfits festooned with what appeared to be feminine hygiene paraphenalia. Under critical attack, McQueen revealed that the clothes symbolized the "rape" of Scotland by the British.
Absolutely. And the good news is that, if you shop italist.com, you can save up to 40% on the full retail price! Discover our wide selection of Alexander McQueen sneakers for men, women, and kids.
Chinos are a great choice for any man wanting to look stylish, yet remain as comfortable as possible. Whether you're wearing chinos to work or on a casual night out, they are a versatile and timeless piece of clothing that every man should have in his wardrobe.
While many manufacturers today will use the terms “chino” and “khakis” interchangeably, the notable differences are that chinos are an offshoot of the original “khaki” pants and tend to have lighter fabrics, a cleaner line and a dressier look while khakis are more utilitarian.
So when the world learned in January 2017 that the car, which had vanished from existence decades ago, had survived McQueen, who died in 1980, heartbreak turned into astonishment. The Kiernan family, the car's owner since 1974, had safely tucked it away in a Kentucky barn, far from prying eyes.
Denim was a favorite of McQueen's, and at times it was literally all he wore. For bottoms in particular, the actor frequently donned slim-fit selvedge jeans to pair with a collared shirt, t-shirt, or… nothing at all.
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the legendary chase scene in the movie “Bullitt” sold on Friday for $3.74 million. “It's a record auction price for any Mustang ever sold,” said Dana Mecum, the principal of the auction house, Mecum Auctions, that sold the car.
Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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