JANUARY 14, 2016
RACHEL EVANS
David Bowie - The Man Who Fell To Earth
This week the world sadly lost one of music's all time greats, David Bowie. This was a man who not only influenced the music industry, but also left his unique mark on the fashion world. A style chameleon and an artist in every sense of the word, Bowie continually reinvented himself and in doing so he influenced generations to come. He disregarded gender stereotypes and was one of music's most adored stars, lusted after by both men and women. His avant-garde fashion choices and ever changing persona's such as Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke became iconic in pop culture. Here we take a look back at some of Bowie's most memorable looks throughout his career and how they influenced the fashion industry then, now and no doubt forever.
During the 1960s, a fresh faced David Bowie came onto the scene with a mod look of shirts, smart suits and a sharp haircut to match. His style was similar to that of the Beatles who of course were dominating the world at this time. His style later turned bohemian at the end of the decade where he grew out his hair and favoured bell bottom trousers and paisley shirts characteristic of the hippy generation. In 1971 he released his fourth album Hunky Dory and this time period remembers him with long hair and wide, oversized slacks. Bowie always dressed well, and these were definitely his more modest years before he really began to experiment with creativity. Bowie was a firm believer in self expression and his ever evolving style shows how the cogs were constantly turning in that brilliant mind of his.​
The early 1970s saw the birth of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie's most recognisable persona and a poster boy for the glam rock era. Ziggy was the alien rockstar character from Bowie's 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The album made him an international star and this is when he really began to indulge his experimental side. With his flame red mullet and theatrical makeup, Ziggy became one of Bowie's most identifiable alter egos. He pushed the boundaries of fashion and blurred the gender divide, often performing on stage in leotards, asymmetric cat suits and platform boots. This eccentric character influenced the runway looks of countless designers. Jean Paul Gaultier dedicated his SS13 show to his pop heroes with one model walking the runway in a star print cat suit, bright blue eyeshadow and red Ziggy mullet, almost identical to one of Bowie's stage looks. Balmain designer Christophe Decarnin featured glittery catsuits in his AW11 show and Miuccia Prada used the music video for Life on Mars as inspiration for her AW12 Miu Miu collection. Her models stormed the runway in colourful suits with wide lapels and clashing printed blouses. Even their makeup mirrored the blue eyeshadow and chiselled cheek bones seen on Bowie.
David Bowie
David Bowie
The follow up to Ziggy was Aladdin Sane, the character featured on his 1973 album cover. This new persona presented one of Bowie's most iconic looks of all time, the red and blue lightening bolt. This image was replicated by Kate Moss for the cover of British Vogue in May 2003. Kate also channelled Ziggy Stardust on the cover of French Vogue. Not to mention the countless other fashion editorials that paid homage to Bowie, proving his significance stretched far beyond the music industry. For his SS10 Givenchy collection, Riccardo Tisci replicated a striking monochrome stripe jacket that Bowie wore in 1973.
David Bowie
Influenced by Davie Bowie - Vogue Cover
David Bowie
During the late 1970s, Bowie switched his style up once again, taking on his new persona the Thin White Duke. Reddish blonde hair combed back, white shirts and waistcoats were the focus for this androgynous look. Add the wide brimmed fedora to this and he emulated the Rat Pack or a slick 1940's gangster. Look all around you and you'll see how this classic look is mirrored in high fashion. This sharp, androdgenous tailoring has been seen at Saint Laurent and Givenchy repeatedly. Dries Van Noten emulated the Thin White Duke in his AW11 menswear collection, with the models sporting slicked back hair, double breasted jackets and wide leg suit trousers which mirrored the outfits worn by The Thin White Duke during his Station to Station tour. He also referenced Bowie in his womenswear collection. Bowie claims the Thin White Duke was his "ogre" as it was a time during his career that he was plagued by drug addiction. The resulting weight loss somewhat added to the severity of this particular look.
During the 1980's Bowie softened his style a little but kept it smart in slick suits and colourful jackets. His hair was more relaxed with a soft quiff typical of the time. For the rest of his career he settled into this signature guise but would update it every so often with a different hair style. Short and spiky in the 90s, shoulder length in the noughties. In 2013 the V&A museum paid tribute to him with the retrospective David Bowie Is which explored the creative processes of Bowie as innovator of music and pop culture icon. Many of his costumes were on display including the iconic striped black bodysuit designed by Kansai Yamamoto which he wore on the Aladdin Sane tour. Right up until the end he remained an unwitting style icon. In promotional photos released just days before he death, he is pictured posing in a smart grey suit and black fedora reminiscent of his 70s style.
His fans are now in mourning of this otherworldly superstar who pushed the boundaries of music, fashion and sexuality. Ziggy has sadly gone back home. But as so many people have said, "David Jones has died. David Bowie will live forever."
