David Bowie's Iconic Style
Fashion! So glamorous, so decadent; all those skinny models in impractical clothing, stomping down the runway like a fierce flock of rare birds. At least that’s what most people think of when someone says FASHION to them. For me, personally, I have always used my clothes as a form of self expression. What you wear tells others who you are, how you feel and what you like without having to say or do anything - way better than actually having to talk to people, how exhausting!
A lot of people forget that fashion is an art form whether you find it on the run way or on the high street, it’s all walking, talking, splatters on a canvas. We have been spoiled for inspiration over the last century (and 21 years), and there have been so many monumental fashion moments, iconic trend setters and mind blowing stylistic creativity.
I know what you’re all wondering - what makes the ultimate style icon? Luckily for you I’m a real fashionista (and by that, I mean I own a lot of clothes), so here are the essential qualities and traits that the most iconic icon of all time must possess! Firstly, they should be a bit of a chameleon. Not literally of course, but someone who is able to change their style against the backdrop of any era. Secondly, they have got to go big or go home! Muted tones and plain fabrics are not going to stand out in the history books, so bring in the clowns! Finally, they should boldly express their individuality no matter how much controversy or backlash they receive.
Taking all of the above criteria into consideration, I knew there was only one choice. Stunning and shocking before Gaga even had the thought, ‘I could really do with some meat made garments!’. Changing up their style more times than Madonna ever has, which is quite an impressive feat. Being more iconic than…. well anybody I can think of! It has to be our beloved David Bowie. That’s right David Bowie with his jumpsuits, mad hair and various musical personas - he really has done it all.
A few years ago, I went to the V & A in London for the ‘Bowie Is...’ exhibition with my good friend and fellow Bowie enthusiast Nicky. From the minute we stepped inside I was mesmerised, shuffling along and drinking in the incredible artefacts and personal items that had been collected for our prying eyes. The whole process took over three hours, and to be honest with you, it was the best exhibition I had ever laid my eyes on. I would have gone round again, but the staff said we weren’t allowed and sent us straight to the gift shop...
The highlight of the entire exhibition was the array of amazing costumes and outfits worn by Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke themselves. By the end of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about how incredibly avant garde and breathtaking some of those items were, and what an innovator Bowie was in his approach to fashion. He didn’t just waltz over to his wardrobe, pick something out and say, ‘these joggers will do - comfort comes first!’ No, this man created characters and concepts to compliment every album, every tour and every evolutionary step of his career. Now for those of you who are not die hard Bowie fans firstly, what on earth is wrong with you? Secondly, I am going to talk about some of my personal favourite moments from Bowie’s catalogue of creations and why we are still obsessed with them to this day.
How could I mention Bowie without referencing Ziggy Stardust, the persona and album that launched him to stardom. Although ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ was Bowie’s fifth studio album, this was the moment when he strutted away from the chorus line of glam rock stars and high-kicked his way into the spotlight. He chiselled a fully realised character that he not only sang about on the album, but brought to life onstage.
Fiery red mullet, blusher up to his ears and sequinned, shiny jumpsuits akimbo - it was unlike anything anyone had seen before. It goes without saying that these were bold choices, not just because it was loud and outrageous but because he was also challenging ideas surrounding gender and sexuality. Until I saw the photographs I never thought a grown man could pull off a multi coloured romper suit - Bowie proved me wrong!
The Ziggy Stardust era was important because he represented bright colours, fluid sexuality and uncensored self expression during a time that will forever be synonymous with the colour brown. This man from space came down to save us all with his spangely clothes, wild style and excellent tunes. He also started a conversation about gender fluidity, which is a topic that we as a society are only starting to seriously tackle now! He played guitar and rocked out on stage yet he wore makeup, and not just a bit of eye liner but the full shebang!
His long, lean figure gave him a poise and sophistication that was almost effeminate, and the glitter….so much glitter! At that time there were a lot of bands that classed themselves as glam rock; sure, they wore funky jumpsuits and platforms too but David Bowie elevated himself to a whole other level. As Ziggy Stardust, so many people who felt outcast or abnormal found a kindred spirit, who was brave enough to let all his colours shine through and be as flamboyant as he wanted to be. Bowie continued to toy with this androgyny throughout the rest of his career, which made him a huge inspiration and role model to so many people from the LGBTQIA + community.
Next we move onto an image of Bowie that can only be described as iconic. ‘Aladdin Sane’ was David Bowie’s next album, which was a product of mass touring across the U.S ….and perhaps a rather large amount of cocaine. Bowie himself described this persona as ‘Ziggy Stardust goes to America’, still acknowledging the previous album’s influence whilst using the name as a pun for ‘A Lad Insane’, which represented his conflicting feelings about fame and touring at that time. You know the artwork for this album, even if you’ve never listened to it, it’s on so many t-shirts and badges and tea towels that a lightning bolt is now synonymous with the Bowie franchise. Picture Bowie’s beautiful, boney mug and his statement red hair, with a huge lightning bolt painted across his face. The bolt was intended to display the turmoil that he felt at that time about his trajectory to superstar status, and the pitfalls that come with it. This image alone was a work of art and a stroke of genius, but this was where we start to see Bowie’s inner editorial fashion freak come out to play.
Through his new found fame and endless touring, he managed to cultivate more connections with designers and other artists, and was therefore able to have items designed especially for him. Some of those looks were epic, especially the Tokyo Pop jumpsuit designed by Kansai Yamamoto, which takes Bowie’s wild style and cranks it up to 20! Who doesn’t want clothing that can double up as a blackout blind for your bedroom?
I could bang on about Bowie’s style forever, and if you are unfamiliar with his work - both musical and fashion related - please, go deep sea diving into the strange and unusual! The Thin White Duke, The Goblin King, his collaboration with Alexander McQueen… just go look it up, I only have 1,500 words to work with here! However, my ultimate Bowie fashion moment has to be his Pierrot inspired outfit from the ‘Ashes to Ashes’ music video. Part flamboyant tin man, part sad Parisian clown, this look was everything to me. It told a story, it was weird and wonderful and seemed like a whole lifetime away from Bowie’s psychedelic beginnings.
As a matter of fact, after being told I couldn’t go back into the V & A exhibit and sulking around the gift shop, I noticed a pin badge of Bowie’s head as this clown character. I snapped it up and immediately put it on (after paying of course), and it has stayed on my coat ever since. Whenever I gaze down on it I smile, and it reminds me that you can be a clown and a genius, a man who wears makeup and hot pants, a rock star and a spaceman.
If you look back over the latter decades of the 20th Century, I think you will find that Bowie’s iconic style inspired numerous style trends and generated controversy when the world needed some Glam Dram (‘glamorous drama’). For that reason, he is the king of forward-thinking fashion and I’m sure he is watching over us, wearing something effortlessly cool, delighted that after all these years he is still blowing our minds from somewhere in the sky
Written by Katie McFaul
After travelling from place to place (much like Madonna in ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’), Katie finally settled in Bristol and spends her time helping animals in need, eating biscuits and constantly being late for everything. Her likes include vegan cuisine, movies of any description and writing god awful poetry. Her dislikes include slow walkers, narrowmindedness and talking about herself in the third person.
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