Long before Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was David Bowie
As news spread around about the shocking death of David Bowie, mourners were aplenty. Everyone gave their own tribute to the music and fashion legend sharing his pictures online and on social media. The interesting though was how no two of those images were alike. It's safe to say then that he wasn't a man to be remembered for looking just one particular way. He was Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and The Thin White Duke, and amidst all this he was David Bowie. And how awesome was all of it.
You can't be a fashion icon without making your clothes your mode of self expression. Whether it finds approval with other people isn't and shouldn't be your concern. You just need to go ahead and be yourself, or be the many versions of yourself as you deem necessary. David Bowie was a true blue fashionista for the same reason - he raised eyebrows, switched between characters and didn't care about either.
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The fact that is impact on fashion, whether back in his heyday or as seen even today, is unmistakable would be stating the obvious. From space-age like metallics to floral prints, edgy bodysuits to spiked colored hairdos, there's a bit of Bowie everyone, on ramps, collections and trends. He's also the one, way before the likes of Madonna and Lady Gaga arrived with their alter egos in tow, to have multiple personas in public, often breaking the societal barriers of gender, age and convention.
He was an original and that too many times over. Yes, he went relatively sober towards the onset of the new millennium before diving into hibernation, barring the occasional appearances alongside but that was also his fashion masterstroke - he no longer needed to do what he did best for there were many others doing his thing.
His rule was simple: once people make peace with the way you look, change it around completely. Reinvent, step out of your comfort and go back and forth - isn't that what's the fashion of today all about, really? Thank you Bowie for showing us how it's done!
Though it's tough to reduce his various avatars into some sort of a trend list, here's our take on some of the best things to have happened to fashion, the way Bowie would have liked them.
Coloured Hair
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Ziggy Stardust's red puffed up hair is what's etched into everyone's memory. At a time when blonde or black hair was ruling the roost, Bowie's blazing red certainly shocked everyone. Interesting how years later, it's red that's the trendiest shade for hair colour.
Make-up
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From heavily made up eyes to painted faces, Bowie's extravagance when using make-up was at its peak during the Ziggy Stardust face. The result was so fierce that till date, it's the most often used reference look every time a designer presents a edgy collection at fashion weeks.
Glitter
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Think sequins, shiny fabrics and heavy use of both gold and silver, his on-stage attires were loud and eye catching. The impact was such that no closet is ever complete without a sequined dress, metallic jacket and shiny outfits.
Edgy costumes
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Pointed shoulders, striped attires, mishmash of prints and lace-up boots, there was nothing regular about Bowie's style. It was punk with a space-age twist meant to shock even the most daring of fashion followers of his time.
Bare-dare fashion
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Never structured in either fit or cut, Bowie's clothes were always different from the elegant and proper clothing styles. From thigh-high slits to sheer and lace panels, his idea of fashion far ahead of his time. How all those things fit into the present times is a sheer stroke of genius.
Monochromatic look
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From Thin White Duke's white avatars to a more subtle, white shirt and black trousers combination, monochrome was Bowie's chicest ace ever
Androgyny
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Gender blending in fashion is the current, most talked about trend everywhere. It's always been easier for women to embrace masculine tailoring; it's Bowie, as Ziggy Stardust, who first paved the way for men to call out to their feminine side.
Skeletal men
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The lean men seen on the fashion ramps are a break away from their muscular on-screen counterparts. While you may have your own preference in terms of body type, there's no denying Bowie's influence on making skinny desirable, especially in the case of men.
Summer scarves
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Tightly worn around the neck, Bowie's scarves, whether as Thin White Duke or before that avatar were always his way to endorse effortless style. It's till date the only way most men add a certain sense of panache to their dressing.
Double-breasted suits
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When he went the classic way, Bowie was a complete knockout in black or coloured double-breasted suits. It's a trend that's always made its way back into mainstream fashion and no one but him has been its unofficial ambassador.