The fashion world owes him. Big time.
Let’s take a quick scan of the catwalks, shall we? How many of the below outfits just scream David Bowie to you?
Yes, these are all recent runway looks, and from huge fashion players like Dior, Rodarte, Gucci and Jean Paul Gaultier, too. But really they could have come straight out of Ziggy Stardust’s 1972 wardrobe, don’t cha think?
So why is Bowie still one of the most referenced fashion muses today? Why do his style trademarks – the psychedelic body stockings, the true power suits, the out-of-this-world print clashes – all feel as fresh and boundary-pushing now as they did when he first debuted them in the 70s?
Bowie's wardrobe represented an exotic glamour unlike anything else of its time. Androgynous and flamboyant, he dared to be different and therefore everything he wore caused shock and awe. So futuristic were his ideas, that the fashion world simply still hasn't caught up yet. That's all.
These are the looks that have gone down in history and will continue to inspire designers for generations to come. Pinterest boards at the ready...
David Bowie in concert, 1973
David Bowie, 1960s
David Bowie performing at the Dutch Edison awards after winning best album for The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust, 1974
David Bowie on tour as Ziggy Stardust, 1972
David Bowie in concert, 1973
David Bowie, 1973
With the next round of fashion shows due in just a few weeks time, we wonder how many more sartorial tributes to Bowie we’ll suddenly spot…