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Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
As far as fashion icons go, it’s tough to compete with Steve McQueen. The late movie star, known the world over for his anti-hero character portrayal and permanent association behind the wheel of a race car or riding a motorcycle, was also synonymous with style. Take his role in the Thomas Crown Affair, generally acknowledged to be one of the best fashion films of all time. The film set the standard for cinematic sophistication and style when it came out, and all these years later, is a perennial vision-board placement.
It just so happens that among the suiting classics in which McQueen appears during the film, he’s also seen wearing a pair of pilot shades to complement. McQueen’s Thomas Crown has a personal style sensibility that could be described throughout the film as classic, sleek, and unobtrusive. It should be no wonder then, that the suits, shoes, and yes, sunglasses he sports in the film have stood the test of time.
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Known today as the Steve McQueen Persol 714, the pilot frame is a compact, folding version of the original 649—and the very first pair of folding sunglasses created. They’re made by hand, with crystal lenses for a piece of eyewear that is as technically functional as it is beautiful. I’d also note, that over 50 years later, they are as stylish as ever.
Photography by Florence Sullivan (Photography by Florence Sullivan)
While all of the men in my family own a pair (the folding style is extra convenient for those on-the-go), I would argue that this is a pair of sunglasses that is both timeless and unisex. As many a designer trotted out pilot and aviator frames for the summer season, I couldn’t help but think of the Persol classic as the pair that is better than the rest. An essential for the man or woman of style and taste—as dictated by the King of Cool.
Photography by Florence Sullivan.
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