As one of the leaders of the glam rock movement in the early/mid seventies, Bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy Stardust popularized androgyny and paved the way for “guyliner.” Ziggy’s elaborate costumes were created by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto.
Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" (how fabulous is this jacket?)
A more soulful and less flamboyant Bowie emerged in 1975 with the release of the album Young Americans on which Luther Vandross sang backup.
a dapper David Bowie with Art Garfunkel, 1975
In 1980, the hit “Ashes to Ashes” reached number one and Bowie was embracing the New Romantic style (a huge influence on me as a young girl interested in fashion!). Bowie seemed to play with many looks in the eighties. I mostly remember him in wide-shouldered, brightly colored suits with a cool “Greaseresque” coiffure. canary yellow suit, 1983
wearing the original puffy shirt in the film Labyrinth, 1986
1987 - too cool
The nineties marked yet another transition as Bowie explored electronica, alternative rock and even hip-hop. In 1996, David Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bowie’s Supermodel wife Iman gave birth to their daughter Lexi in August 2000. These days, Bowie looks pretty much like a regular guy strolling around Manhattan. He was one of the twentieth century's greatest contributors of style, vision and creativity and I don't think he's finished yet.
My adoration of Bowie is legendary in my peer group. To say I LOVE him is the understatement. I still thought he was smoking hot until he underwent that heart surgery. That aged him, sad to say. None the less, he vies (vyes?) for arbiter of cool with Mr. Leonard Cohen. Whom you still see walking around Mtl. (I know, I've seen him when I'm there!)
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for Kansai Yamamoto stuff on eBay! http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2009/02/ebay-picks-of-day-kansai-yamamoto/
ReplyDeleteHe's held up pretty well considering he's in his 60s...
ReplyDeleteYes, he was smoking hot and I agree w/ VE... he has held up pretty well! Oh, and don't even get me started about the ultimate king of cool, Mr. Leonard Cohen! Wendy...I love your Kansai post -- I would have linked it had I known :(
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