Steve McQueen: Gentleman of Style

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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.

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.

Steve McQueen sunglasses were one of his defining accessories
Steve McQueen: sunglasses were one of his defining accessories

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.

on set
Steve McQueen on set

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.

Steve McQueen mugshot
Steve McQueen mugshot from a DWI arrest in Alask
Steve McQueen Motorcycle Enthusiast
Steve McQueen, Motorcycle Enthusias

McQueen’s Notable Films

A scene from the Great Escape
A scene from The Great Escape

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.

Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles
Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles

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.

Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway on the set of The Thomas Crown Affair
Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway on the set of The Thomas Crown Affair

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

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.

Steve McQueen with Bullitt's famous Mustang Fastback
Steve McQueen with Bullitt’s famous Mustang Fastback

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.

McQueen wearing a monochrome turtleneck with his jacket, a style that is popular again right now
McQueen wearing a monochrome turtleneck with his jacket, a style that is popular again right now

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.

Steve McQueen Casual Style
Steve McQueen’s Casual Style: 3-roll-2 sport coat, sweater, chinos, and chukka boots

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.

Steve McQueen in navy Harrington Jacket
Steve McQueen in navy Harrington Jacket

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.
Raphael Malachite Pinky Ring & Cufflinks
Not only can a ring (like the malachite pinky ring pictured here) make a statement, but it can also be paired with cufflinks–in this case, eagle claw cufflinks from Fort Belvedere also featuring malalchite
Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Malachite Balls - 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Malachite Balls – 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated – Fort Belvedere

  • 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 no break.
  • He mastered layers. McQueen was a big fan of jackets, and he used classics such as Harringtonbomber, 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. 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-shaped sunglasses like Persols and Aviators, 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.
Sven Raphael Schneider in Three Piece Suit with double breasted waistcoat
Sven Raphael Schneider in Three Piece Suit with double breasted waistcoat
Edelweiss Boutonniere on a white background

Fort Belvedere

Edelweiss Boutonniere Buttonhole Flower Fort Belvedere

Madder Print Silk Tie in Red with Buff Micropattern Medium Size - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Madder Silk Tie in Red with Buff Micropattern – Fort Belvedere

  • 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 and chinos are 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 to Rolexes and Tag Heuer watches, and they paired well with his style. Find a great watch that suits your aesthetic and it will be a worthwhile investment.
McQueen in a classic white t-shirt
McQueen in a classic white crew neck t-shirt with short sleeves

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.

Kyle in a casual Steve McQueen-inspired ensemble
Kyle in a casual Steve McQueen-inspired ensemble

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.

Reader Comments

  1. I was in college in the early sixties and McQueen’s style of dress was the norm for the kids who were conscious of what they wore. We didn’t trace it to McQueen specifically, if I remember. It was simply ‘in the air.’ However, his hair style was unique for the times and we all tried to copy that.

    1. Greetings this was a very good article and thank you for the good content that you put out it seems now days men in general not all have given up on being the best they can be and dress is one of them like i said this was a great article thank you and appreciate all you do.

  2. Thomas Crown Affair should be mandatory watching…style wit and suspense.

  3. The the car chase in Bullitt was Steve McQueen’s character, Frank Bullitt, driving a Ford Mustang, chasing 2 unnamed mob hit men, in a black Dodge Charger, who were trying to kill Johnny Ross. Bullitt was not chasing Johnny Ross in the car chase sequence. He did chase Ross much later in the movie, when Ross tried to escape by flying to London, but is stopped by Bullitt, who chases him from the airplane, through the airport, and finally kills him in a shoot-out in the terminal. Bullitt looked great doing that in a sweater, sport coat combination.

    1. The chase on foot at the end of the film is a classic, ducking under planes as he chased Johnny Ross over the airport. As an aside, none of the airlines that were in that shot are in business today

      1. I like your article on Steve McQueen.s life and wardrobe.I would probably adopt his entire collection,save sweaters and jackets to a minimum since I live in Las Vegas and temperatures have been hitting 116 and 117 F recently,and even though it’s june, the winters are very mild here. I enjoy your views on so many different things for men, and wish I was more affluent to enjoy most of them. Thankyou for sharing so many varied topics. :)

  4. In high school and college (late Fifties, early to mid-Sixties) we usually wore windbreakers and sweaters, button downs or polos and chinos, and often desert boots. This wasn’t de rigueur, just “just clothes.”
    The windbreakers included Harrington style, but MacGregor was the usual label. The style still survives among many of us, though we never knew it was McQueen’s as well.

  5. Dear Raphael ,
    Steve McQueen was a fine actor with very wide scope ; one of his best films was The Cincinnati Kid also a Norman Jewison film . Set in the ’30s he played opposite Edward G. Robinson ( Emanual Goldenberg ) one of the most stylish of all actors . It is a ripping good yarn of young learning from the old .
    The Great Escape and Thomas Crown Affair , superb.

  6. Great article. Steve McQueen certainly lent his hand in personifying effortless cool when I was a kid.

  7. Steve McQueen participated in the film “Le Mans” and in the first “On Any Sunday”.
    Both films showcased his skills.
    Both films provided enjoyment to this spectator.

  8. On a different note, when McQueen was filming “Bullitt” in San Francisco, a friend of mine who worked for a local TV station was “loaned” to the film crew as a set advisor. He says McQueen was extremely friendly and outgoing to the various offstage workers, and spent considerable time with them during the shooting. He seemed as interested in them as they were in him.

  9. Steve McQueen loved his Persol 649s and 714s, his Baracuta G9 “Harrington” jackets, and his Sanders “Playboy” snuff suede chukka boots. He wore them in his movies and his personal life. I have several Baracuta G9 jackets and one of them, the official name of the color was McQueen stone fro the archive collection.

  10. Steve McQueen is a legend. He was not only known for his acting but also for the sense of style. His choice of motorcycles to clothes everything is classic.

    1. He was cool in his own way.he never had to try to be the way he wanted to be.never HD to work at it.he wanted to be himself.to bad he wanted to act n a movie (great excape) which was an all Canadian thing that no America was involved in. Still a great movie

  11. Actually McQueen, (and yes he was a LT.) was chasing Ross, who was running from the mob. To throw The Mob off the hunt, Ross has a man named Al Renick killed. Renick is a Ross look alike and car salesman from Chicago, where the movie begins. Ross then uses Renick’s passport to fly to London on Pan AM. And the chase begins. Also, McQueen’s first credited film role was in the “Blob” in 1958. He was nominated for an Academy Award(and a Golden Globe) for the “Sand Pebbles, and three other Golden Globes. One of McQueen’s earlier TV roles was a guest shot on “Track Down” with Robert Culp, playing bounty Hunter Josh Randall. That led to his series “Bounty Hunter” that lasted 93 episodes. a trivia question: What is the name of the restaurant McQueen takes Jacqueline Bisset in “Bullitt? answer: The Coffee Cantata. I have no life.

    1. Actually, Steve’s character on: TrackDown, was: a double role; a, pair of identical twin brothers, one bad, one good, one criminal, one bounty hunter. The amazingly grippimg performance caught producer’s eyes; &, lead to the offer to star, in his own series, which he accepted; called: “Wanted: Dead; or, Alive”. If, distributed; or, re-packaged, for: re-sale in: other, Non-U.S. markets; or, as an illegal bootleg,or, as, an oddly, non licensed remarket, in an unusual lesser known compilation without official authority; or, on some smaller, local station runs; or, non broadcast, networks, like pay for play, cable, internet, subscription; satellite; or: niche market media providing distributors; it however, MAY, have, been: given, dometime; somewhere; in error; &, usually without official sanction; or, copyright permissions; another title; that, you associated with it. It Never was, though; here, in America; with usual American First Run Broadcasting; &, subsequent American syndication runs; called: “Bounty Hunter”; to my own knowledge.

  12. I wasn’t much of a Steve McQueen fan. However, I enjoyed his old films and fact that he used to be a US Marine. Simpre Fi!

    1. Spelling Correction: Semper Fi. Which is Latin; &, spelled, according, to: the ancient rules, of The Roman native language of their times & Empire.

  13. McQueen was born a Hoosier (as was I) in Beech Grove, Ind. Perhaps that explains the unattractive combination of a navy blue turtleneck sweater worn with a brown tweed sport coat in Bullitt.

    1. Well, in my own opinion, that clothing combination , looks: SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

  14. Too often we confuse what you wear instead of how you wear it. McQueen was cool. Anyone who tries to emulate him would be a dismal failure. In his case the man made the clothes not the other way around.

  15. McQueen had the attitude and the body to carry off most any look. His clothes fit. His jacket collars hugged his neck regardless of activity. His sweater sleeves and pant length were perfect. This tells me that his clothes were not all “off the rack”. However, he knew what he like to wear that suited his personality and his personal relaxed style. Fashion met nothing to him. He liked what he liked and that was it. His attitude about life and his self-esteem grew from a hard and physically tough life growing up. He learned what he needed to do to get through those times. He was an independent thinker focused on outcomes not what pleased others. I know a driver that raced with him and was on the set of the movie Le Mans which by the way put him into bankruptcy. Steve was prolific with women. He would leave the house after dinner and be with three or four women. Arriving on the set at sunrise. He was a unique and endearing person.

    1. On the contrary, as a man of many contradictions, fashion meant both nothing; &, everything, to: him!!!.

  16. I’ll never understand the short shrift given to “The Sand Pebbles”. It’s a classic on so many levels and then there’s Steve McQueen! A maiden grand aunt gave me fifty cents to see the movie at the Tiffin Theatre in Chicago-only after consulting the movie guide in Chicago Archdiocese weekly. I was in fourth grade yet I realized what an incredible movie it is. Oh, and a young Candace Bergen to boot!

    1. Tooo uncomfortably political for most people; &, required understanding & study of international history which for most films goers,,especially American ones, was a no go. Then like now, they want no effort, no brain usage required,,pure entertainment, of the vegetating, mindkess,,dumbed down category: blood,,gore, guts, sex, vice, carnal, drugs, booze, violence; cartoons, action, death, blood, guns, money, on the lowest, easiest, no thought required level. No mental effort, no discernment, no logic, no mental faculties needed nor asked for. Thus, a, thought provoking film like Pebbles, was bound to flop. Only elements like Steve kept it somewhat afloat.

  17. I was a child at the SFO airport when they were filming the last few scenes of Bullitt. A relative was coming in from a late flight, so we had to hang around for hours waiting. I saw Steve away from everyone in an off camera moment with one of his pals. He laughed as he beeped the horn of an electric baggage car, and I heard him joke that it would be fun to take it out on the dunes. He looked casual and happy.

    But my fondest memory of that night was accidentally bumping into Robert Vaughn’s knees. He was quietly mixing in the crowd while in character, impeccably wearing his black trench coat, and he looked down at me with the perfect officious stare. I looked up open mouthed … as I recognized The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. I thought that Mr. Vaughn was the height of cool.

      1. Yes, I can see that now …
        They both managed to project a perfectly cast yin-yang dynamic for Bullitt.
        That’s why it worked so well on screen.
        Even down to the dark and light colors they each wore.
        Of course it got taken down a notch in the Magnificent Seven, but was still there.

  18. Definitely agree with “tim’s reply”. That the Man makes the cloths. Not the other way around. Whatever you wear make sure it fits and looks good on you and wear it with confidence! When you do that people will notice you, and may even admire your style. That is. the little known fact that most men do not know. Wearing just “fashion” just for the sake of fashion with out knowing how it looks on you is not the right thing to do. If.it looks good on you, wear it
    If it doesn”t, don’t. Thats what i have always done and still do.

  19. An excellent article that I very much enjoyed. Thanks.

    However, the name of the China gunboat in “The Sand Pebbles” was the USS San Pablo. The crew called themselves the Sand Pebbles as an anglicization of the gunboat’s name (she was ex-Spanish Navy). I recall reading that McQueen lobbied very hard for the role of Jake Holman, who he saw as very much like himself.

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