Hollywood Cool For Summer—Steve McQueen's Iconic Persol 714 Is Back

Forbes

3 days ago

The actor Steve McQueen — the King of Cool - in a pair of Italian brand Persol's iconic 714 sunglasses.
Persol- Mptvimages
In 1968, Hollywood actor Steve McQueen stepped onto the set of The Thomas Crown Affair and, with a single accessory, changed the course of eyewear history — a pair of Persol 714 sunglasses. With their foldable design, Light Havana acetate frames, and blue crystal lenses, the glasses weren't just stylish — they became instantly iconic.
Founded in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti in Turin, Italy, Persol — short for per il sole, meaning 'for the sun' — quickly became a respected name across Europe, particularly among aviators, race car drivers, and adventurers. The brand's iconic 649 model , originally introduced in 1957 for Turin tram operators, gained cult status when Marcello Mastroianni wore it in the 1961 film Divorce Italian Style.
Building on the 649's success, Persol debuted the 714 in 1960 — the world's first folding sunglasses. Retaining the signature Meflecto temples (engineered for a flexible, comfortable fit) and the distinctive Supreme Arrow hinge (inspired by ancient swords), the 714 could collapse into the size of a single lens, and making it a favorite among style-conscious travelers.
The latest iteration of Persol's 714: A leather foldable case, a leather cord with matching pouch and a vintage-style envelope filled with rare archival materials.
Persol
And then came McQueen. In The Thomas Crown Affair, he played a billionaire playboy orchestrating a daring heist — but it was his Persol 714 sunglasses that stole every scene. Whether racing dune buggies along the Massachusetts coast, piloting a yellow sailplane, or sharing a silent chess match with Faye Dunaway, his shades were always front and center. McQueen wore the 714s in Bullitt (1968), famous for its iconic car chase, Le Mans (1971), a tribute to the 24-hour motor race, and The Getaway (1972), a high-stakes crime thriller.
Actor James Franco at the Cannes Film Festival in Steve McQueen's 714 model of Persols.
Persol
This spring, Persol released its latest edition of the 714 Steve McQueen model — unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival at Casa Persol, the brand's private terrace at La Terrasse by Albane at the JW Marriott. Staying true to its heritage, this special edition features a folding premium acetate pilot frame, Barberini mineral glass lenses, and four bold colorways. A discreet plaque inside the temple bears the year '1968,' honoring McQueen's role in The Thomas Crown Affair.
The latest edition preserves Persol's signature elements: a folding pilot frame crafted in premium acetate, Barberini mineral glass lenses, four colorways, and on the inner temple of the limited editions, a discreet plaque bearing the year '1968.'
Persol
The new minamalist collector's box contains a foldable leather case and a matching leather cord with its own pouch—embossed with the Steve McQueen logo, alongside a vintage-style envelope filled with rare archival treasures honoring the actor's legacy. Over the decades, Persol has graced the faces of cinema royalty including Greta Garbo, Daniel Craig (Casino Royale), George Clooney (Ocean's Thirteen), and Tom Cruise. These days, new-generation icons like James Franco and Australian actor Jacob Elordi — a self-declared McQueen fan — show Persol's staying power. Some accessories fade. Some stay in fashion.