How to wear all white like Steve McQueen
From the perfect plain T-shirts to a wardrobe full of bright, light trousers…
Usually, when we discuss the ‘shades’ of Steve McQueen, we’re talking about his iconic Persol sunglasses. But there was more to the famed actor’s signature style than a pair of frames. From three-piece suits to denim jeans (or ‘Steve McQueens’, as they’re rightfully known as in rhyming slang), the King of Cool blazed a trail for hard-wearing, no-frills fashion.
And, whether he was wearing swim shorts or racing suits, showing off the cuffs of his sweatshirts or the soles of his sneakers, he did so a lot of the time in one simple shade: white. Why McQueen felt such an affinity for the light, bright tone we’ll never know, especially as it’s a tricky look to pull off. But, if you’re aiming to change up your threads and emulate this one-colour ensemble, who better to educate us than the man himself?
Begin by mastering the notoriously tricky white trousers
Few men can pull off bright-white trousers. And yet McQueen — someone seemingly slathered in motor oil half the time — managed to maintain several pristine pairs by having a few on rotate.
First up were his jeans, something slim and durable, like Loro Piana’s hard-wearing, fresh-looking option. You can also recreate the look with Hackett, whose piece is the ideal off-duty item in which to skim through your own copy of Motor Racing at the weekend. And, finally, for a touch of formality (we’ve all got film premieres to attend now and then), you won’t find a trimmer pair than MR MARVIS’s The Longs.
Use a plain white T-shirt to form the foundation of any look
Like James Dean and Marlon Brando, McQueen mastered the insouciant cool of the plain white T-shirt. In fact, the actor went one step further, by managing to make logo tees, from motoring manufacturers, look inexplicably elegant. You likely don’t race at Sebring during your downtime, so we’d suggest steering clear of items like McQueen’s Triumph design, as seen above.
Instead, stick to the basics. Loro Piana’s linen-jersey option is lightweight and lustrous to the touch. From Pal Zileri is a slimmer, more tapered take. And just as covetable is this other unembellished design, courtesy of Uniform Standard, whose slightly roomier fit is perfect for long, sunny afternoons with your arms outstretched to a pair of handlebars.
Take your sweatshirt-styling cues from the laid-back actor
Being a loungewear essential, it’s no surprise that many of McQueen’s favourite at-ease looks featured a sweatshirt. And, as with the rest of the actor’s white-skewed wardrobe, he preferred these practical pieces in a lighter hue.
Though a popular move among the masses, wearing a sweatshirt doesn’t mean sacrificing on luxury, as Sunspel’s loopback creation and Charles Tyrwhitt’s merino option can attest to (and both come in a slightly creamier look). For those days when the weather takes a turn for the worse, look to this fisherman’s jumper, by Brunello Cucinelli.
Lace up a pair of staple sneakers
McQueen’s choice of footwear continues to influence menswear to this day. His Sanders chukka boots, in particular, have been ripped-off and replicated by myriad brands, many of which attempt to lace up some of that signature leading-man charm. But it’s the actor’s sneakers, in all their unspoiled glory, we’re most taken by.
Simple, stripped back and with a practical low-top construction, McQueen’s kicks were no-nonsense. It’s an effective approach worked to similar success with Allbirds’s contemporary classic. North 89 has added a touch of texture with perforated detailing, meanwhile Paul Smith’s Bassos have a chunky sole for a modern touch.
Looking for more style inspiration? From Mr. Blonde to Rick Dalton, these are the best-dressed Quentin Tarantino characters…
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