Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!In today's video, we'll discuss the legendary style of actor Steve McQueenand how you can emulate it for yourself.
Today's video is another installment ofour how to dress like series where profile icons in the history of menswear.
Now youcan view our playlist here and see other articles of Gentleman of Style on ourwebsite here.
Now, before we dive into the classic style of Mr.
McQueen, let's takea moment and look at what helped shape him in his early years before theHollywood success.
Now, many people remember Steve McQueen as the epitome ofclassic cool in the 60s and 70s and his time in Hollywood, however, his life priorto gracing the silver screen did not always reflect what he would laterbecome.
Steve McQueen was actually born Terrence Stephen McQueen in 1930, justaround the time of the Great Depression.
Sadly, young Steve was actually abandonedby his mother to be raised by his grandparents and an uncle on a farm inrural Missouri.
Now, Steve's uncle was one of the few people in his life of whom hehad a fond memory during his childhood.
Steve later began living with his motherand two different stepfathers, unfortunately, these men were also veryabusive to him in his youth.
Steve also faced additional challenges whilegrowing up, a little-known fact is that he also battled dyslexia and deafness inone ear.
It's fascinating to see how much he accomplished in his life in spite ofwhat he could have seen as a roadblock.
Now, once Steve reached his teen years, hefound himself dabbling in petty crime and rebelliousness.
His living situationcontinued to bounce around from his mother's home to his uncle's farm evenonto the streets.
McQueen was eventually sent to a boy's home in Californiacalled the Junior Boy Republic until the age of 16.
Now, the boy's home left avery lasting and positive impression on Steve, so much so that he continues tosupport the Junior Boys Republic the rest of his life.
Steve went on to servein the Marines for four years and similar to his upbringing, his time underauthority was met with much resistance.
Steve faced demotions within the Marinesand even spent one whole month in the brig.
In spite of this, Steve washonorably discharged and left with very fond memories of his time with the marines.
Now in 1952, Steve decided to use his GI Bill funds to pursue acting.
Steve foundextra income by finding success in racing motorcycles.
McQueen eventuallymoved to Hollywood in 1955, he found consistent work in television in the1950s.
The successful TV show Wanted: Dead or Alive featured Steve as a bountyhunter.
Steve's big break actually came when hewas discovered by Frank Sinatra in the 1960s and placed in a film, Never So Few.
Steve was cast in the Magnificent Seven and in 1963, The Great Escape, and fornearly two decades Steve maintained a very rich career inHollywood that spanned multiple genres.
True to his youth, Steve maintained arebellious and competitive nature throughout his life.
Steve became known as anantagonist with his co-stars and directors.
Steve actually considered PaulNewman to be a rival within the world of Hollywood.
In 1974, Steve was thehighest-paid actor in the world, quite a shift from humble beginnings.
Steve wasnominated for a series of Awards throughout his career including anAcademy Award and numerous Golden Globes.
Did you know that in spite of howtalented Steve was, he actually missed out on some great films like Breakfastat Tiffany's and Ocean's Eleven and part due to scheduling conflicts but alsobecause of his personal whims.
It's interesting to think about how addinghis dynamic presence to those films would have changed the way we rememberthem.
He also missed out on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid because heand Paul Newman couldn't agree on who would receive top billing.
Steve's relational problems didn't just end with his peers in the entertainmentindustry, Steve was involved with domestic abuse with his second wife, AliMacGraw.
After all the success Steve found throughout his time inHollywood, there are a few films that he's known for quite well.
The first filmbeing at The Great Escape filmed in 1963.
This film being about several prisonersof war assisting 250 people escape from a German camp in World War 2.
The secondbeing The Sand Pebbles filmed in 1966, a U.
S.
naval engineer is assigned to agunboat in 1962 on a rescue mission in China.
The third film being the ThomasCrown Affair filmed in 1968 where Steve plays a suave bank executive whobelieves he has pulled off the the bank heist only to run into a femaleinsurance investigator who will stop at nothing to find her man.
Now, the fourthfilm being Bullitt filmed in 1968 where Steve plays a San Fransisco cop who wasdetermined to find the kingpin who killed the witness in his protection.
Afun fact, Steve tried desperately to purchase the 1968 390 v8 Ford Mustang GTFastback he drove in the Bullitt film but did not succeed.
Also, in January of2020, that car sold at auction for nearly four million dollars.
He was marriedthree different times; his second wife, Ella McGrath, was whopeople thought Steve actually was truly in love with in life.
McQueen had twochildren with his first wife but was known to be connected with many otherwomen and actresses throughout his career.
Smoking, drinking, and drug usewere not foreign to Steve.
Steve's passion for racing never ceasedand he always welcomed the opportunity to film his own stunts.
Steve eventually amassed a collection of 130 motorcycles.
McQueen followed a two-hour daily workout regimen that included weightlifting, atone point, also running five miles every day.
Steve also practiced Tang Soo Do, a type of martial arts and in 1980, SteveMcQueen passed away at the age of 50 years old from pleural mesothelioma.
Thisis a type of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.
Steve believed thathis time with the Marines was where this exposure took place.
Now that we'vegotten his biography out of the way, now, let's take a look at how you can dresslike Steve McQueen.
Now the first thing Steve was often known for was his choiceof jackets.
Three styles Steve was often seen wearing was the Harrington, theBomber, and the Motorcycle jacket.
The Harrington, which is also known as a G9or Baracuta jacket, is usually made from cotton, wool, suede, or even polyester andoften has a fraser tartan lining and for more information on the Harringtonjacket, you can take a look at our video here.
The next jacket Steve would oftenwear being the bomber originates from military clothing that kept soldierswarm, it's lightweight and quite functional.
Now, we've also done anarticle on the bomber jacket which you can read here.
Steve also would wearmotorcycle jackets, these are made from durable leather that will cover theupper body down to the waist.
These are often worn as fashion statements with avariety of more casual styles.
An example being the Belstaff Trialmaster leatherjacket which you can find in our video here.
Thesecond thing Steve would often be wearing was khakis.
The khakis were quitethe go to for Steve because they were casual yet very functional, as well.
Nowin terms of accessories, Steve could often be seen wearing hisRolex explorer 2 Reference 1655.
Also, the Submariner Reference 551.
Now, it'simportant to invest on a good classic watch.
Steve enjoyed Rolex and also TagHeuer.
Finding a good classic watch that is timeless and fits well into yourstyle is always worth the investment.
He also wore a signet ring, investing in asubtle but distinctive piece of jewelry like this is a great choice if it fitsyour aesthetic.
Steve clearly operated with the less is moremindset.
He also found that he really enjoyed tear shaped sunglasses likePersols and Aviators.
Now, it may not be Persols but don't be afraid to find aclassic style that works for you and stick with it.
Now, the fifth reallyimportant component to being able to dress like Steve McQueen is payingattention to fit.
Steve truly mastered the importance of fit when dressinghimself.
Steve's shirts fit properly withoutbeing too tight and his pants were trim without being too tight and he alwayshad them tailored with little to no break and once you find what fit looksbest on you, then you know what to purchase and where to purchase from.
Now, the sixth major component to being able to dress like Mr.
McQueen is payingattention to layers.
Looking at photos of Mr.
McQueen, we see that he was a big fanof jackets and he would wear them as layers as well.
Steve would often wearjackets over slim fitted sweaters and this would soon become one of his mostidentifiable styles.
Fortunately, this combination is able to look great onmany men.
Be sure to stock up on various types of sweaters and also khakis andchinos as that kind of combination can be the backbone of a great timelesswardrobe.
Now that we've gone over some different components on how you can bestdress like Steve McQueen, now, let's evaluate why Steve's style works.
Now, remember, Steve was given the nickname of the King of Cool.
Steve was known as theperson who could competently and effortlessly pull off a Western wear, athree-piece suit, casual work wear, and have it always look authentic.
The bestpart of Steve's style is that it's timeless.
Nearly any of his outfits could be seenas in style today.
Steve kept his style classic and simple.
We don't ever reallysee him wearing more than one accessory or pattern.
McQueen would wear classic cuts and did not chase trends.
Although popular styles of the 60s and 70s are bell-bottom pants and bull printedtops, Steve did not follow these trends.
It was also important to realize thatSteve was aware and confident with what looked best on him.
Perhaps, hisrebellious nature of his youth played a role in him projecting current trends ofthe times.
Steve certainly had many moments thatwere not of great gentleman like character, but his notable film creditsand legendary style gives us a lot to remember.
Now today, I'm wearing a lightpair of beige Chino pants and a pair of sand colored suede chukka boots whichhappen to both be from J.
Crew.
I'm also wearing a navy crewneck lightweightcotton sweater which I picked out from Banana Republic.
I'm also wearing a greenmilitary inspired jacket which I also picked up from J.
Crew which has a reallyunique hidden hood which kind of forms into a nice stand-up collar as well.
Nowthis is me utilizing the aspects of Steve McQueenof having something that's both timeless, a little bit rugged but also quitecomfortable and casual as well.
Now outside the studio, if it happens to bequite sunny, I would love to pair this entire outfit with a pair of my classicaviators that I picked up from Ray Ban.
In terms of accessories, there's somegreat socks that I would love to be able to pair with my chukka boots found onthe 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 alsofind all of those here.
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