Belstaff: The must-have jacket for McQueen fans

Belstaff, the Italian-based but originally English designer of upscale rugged wear and motorcycle garb, outfitted Steve McQueen back in the day in its Trialmaster jacket. Toughies Marlon Brando and James Dean were fans too.

Since then, everyone from Tom Cruise (in the "Mission Impossible" movies) to Will Smith (in "I Am Legend:) has donned the sturdy, retro leather or nylon jackets to assume tough guy status. The designer's push in Hollywood has been more aggressive than a bully in a schoolyard. Nicole Kidman wore one in 'The Interpretor'; Scarlett Johansson sported one in 'Match Point.'

Not only are these jackets mighty cool, but they have a patented PCM or "phase change" fabric that adjusts with your body temperature.  I dig the Trialmaster Excelsior jacket (right, about $500) in nylon. The retro touches like a belted waist and Nehru-like collar make it stand out.  Plus, I, too, want to look Steve McQueen.

photo credits: McQueen, McQueen's Machines; The Great Escape, Columbia; Belstaff

Comments

[Pecos 45]

Now if I could only ride a motorcycle like Steve McQueen and get a chick like Ali McGraw.

[Dmitri]

He was so cool it is unbelievable.
He smoked 50 a day you know.
He had such clout he even made the director of the great escape add the chase scene to the movie at the end.

[Pablo]

The Jacket that Steve McQueen wears in the photo is not a Belstaff, but a Barbour International model. Barbour was the official supplier of the Six Days of Scotland race.
The Barbour International Jacket is still produced and under my point of view is more authentic than Belstaff Trialmaster.

[ZED]

I CAN SEE WHY THE COOLEST MUTHAFUKERS IN THE WORLD WORE BELSTAFF AND BARBOUR JACKETS, I JUST BOUGHT ONE AND ITS LIKE A SHIRT COMFORTABLE, IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE NO JACKET ON. I HATE THOSE BIG CLUMPY JACKETS THAT YOU CAN HARDLY MOVE IN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CAR WHEN YOU DRIVING ITS SO HARD TO KEEP IT ON WHILE DRIVING AND THEN CARRYING IT AROUND WITH YOU ALL OVER.

[Art Stevens]

It actually was a Belstaff and not a Barbour he wore. He designed the Belstaff himself,slanting the pocket. Belstaff has brought back the jacket as a commemorative product. Very expensive...about $1200 American dollars. More than the equivalent non commemorative Belstaff Trailmaster or equivalent Barbour, but very cool. It has a little American Flag on it, and the Mcqueen signature inside discussing his input.

[TQ]

Its a Barbour. It has the slanting pocket.

FACT!

[john]

the photo shows a barbour international jacket, not a belstaff.

[beefeater]

its deffinatly a barbour international, i think he wears a barbour in the cincinatti kid too. steve mcqueen is cooler than chuck norris.