Persol and Steve McQueen celebrate their everlasting solidarity

Persol celebrates the historical eyewear by re-launching one of its iconic models in the famous version worn by Steve McQueen.

It was in 1968 when the already famous and intriguing Steve McQueen™ appeared for the first time on a movie set wearing Persol PO 714. The movie was “The Thomas Crown Affair” directed by Norman Jewison and it made a legend out of Steve McQueen™, the antihero by vocation, and his sunglasses. They were his inseparable companions in adventures on the set – he wore them in “The Getaway” in 1972 (directed by Sam Peckinpah) – and in his private life; McQueen™ was enthusiastic about the brand and the model and had an entire collection. In 2006, one of the pairs was sold at auction for about 70,000 dollars.

Over forty years later and for the anniversary of Steve McQueen’s death, Persol is celebrating the actor by re-launching his favorite model in a limited edition of only 10,000 traditionally handmade pairs that will be sold worldwide.

Compared to the original version, the new PO 714 has a series of small, but important details:
• the return of blue lenses – preferred by Steve McQueen™;
• the folding temple end – no longer from top to bottom but from the outside to the inside;
• the supreme arrow, Persol’s distinctive symbol and the element that encloses the hinges. In this case, it is on the temple and front piece – like the classic model – as well as on the folding hinge and in the center of the temple, a total of four arrows. A choice that strongly emphasizes the identity of a model that is already an icon;
• the name Steve McQueen™ on the inside of the temple and on the elegant leather case.

Showing the Hollywood legend in various moments of his life, the five visuals are by photographer William Claxton, the actor’s friend who immortalized him in all his metamorphoses from intrepid motorcyclist to Hollywood star, from Don Juan to family man, and contributed to giving a realistic image of the man and the actor. They also tell the story of Persol, a retro but highly contemporary style and the eternal elegance of a model that wants to continue to pay homage to one of the movie world’s best-loved personalities for over 50 years. Three of the photographs taken in 1962 will be the subjects of the Persol 2011 advertising campaign. The first shows the actor behind the wheel of his Jaguar XKSS on Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, California; in the second, he is standing in front of his greatest passion: motorbikes. The last one shows him in a moment of relaxation. In all three shots, the actor is wearing his inseparable PO 714.
The re-edition of the model will be announced officially with an event at the Sunglass Hut flagship store on 5th Avenue, New York City.