Steve McQueen wore a Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph for the filming of Le Mans
Today would have been Steve McQueen’s 79th birthday. OK, he is not with us any more so there is no new gossip, but Steve McQueen still attracts huge attention for his super cool style – 29 years after he died. The main popular memories of this actor centre on his action sequences and his sense of fashion. His motorbike chase in The Great Escape and the legendary car chase in Bullitt make him a favourite with men and women. He was bankable in his lifetime and even now – nearly thirty years later. How many celebrities have been immortalised by the naming of a Rolex watch (The Rolex Explorer II, officially known as the ‘McQueen Rolex’. In reality Steve wore a classic Rolex Submariner, which was a similar design to the Explorer – you can buy the Rolex Explorer now.
He was filmed wearing his own Rolex Submariner in “The Hunter” (released in 1980 just before his death).
Later on, Rolex realised the publicity advantages of associating the brand with the iconic celebrity and both watches are still highly sought after.
Steve was also the first man featured on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar women’s fashion mag? Ford’s ad for the Puma mixed shots of McQueen driving in Bullitt with present day film to give the impression that Steve was driving Ford’s latest car.
Anything Steve McQueen wore or used stood a good chance of becoming high fashion – for example, the Tag Heuer Monaco chronograph wristwatch that he wore in the film, 24 Hours of Le Mans (released in 1971), was re-released in the 1990s due to popular demand. Buy the Tag Heuer Monaco here.
The Barracuta G9 jacket, also known as a Harrington jacket, owes some of its status to McQueen as well. Although Elvis favoured the Barracuta for his film, Kid Creole, in 1954, it was Steve McQueen who brought the style to the widest audience so far.
McQueen chose to wear his own Barracuta in the photoshoot for his appearance on the cover of Life Magazine. I would just mention that two more of my heartthrobs, Thierry Henry and Daniel Craig, are still big fans of the Barracuta brand.
But back to Steve – all his cars are covetable too, and his timeless 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta was sold at auction for $2.3 million in 2007. here is a great picture of the car, regrettably without McQueen. These are just some of the style legacies left to us by Steve McQueen, Happy Birthday.
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