David Bowie is a pioneering artist known for radical innovations across music, theatre, fashion and style, with a career that’s spanned almost 50 years. His work has continuously exemplified that he is a creative force ahead of his time. He first burst onto the scene with his début Space Oddity that coincided with the first-ever moon landing, and throughout his career he’s managed to achieve a persistent changing style and sustained reinvention, which has rendered him a cultural icon.
Now, 10 years since he last released any music, he’s back on the scene — and with a comeback to beat all comebacks, his new album has gone straight in at number one! Plus, London’s legendary Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum is holding a special exhibition, David Bowie is in his honour, which has experienced the fastest selling tickets in the museum’s history.
It’s the first time that anybody has been given unprecedented access to the David Bowie archive, which includes his famous stage costumes and even hand written diary and song lyrics. The entire exhibition has been curated solely by the V&A, which has chosen the focal points to guide visitors through their interpretation of the icon’s career. In what’s being dubbed as an anti PR move surrounding Bowie’s album, he didn’t attend the preview launch… but we did! The exhibition isn’t open to the public until this Saturday, so until then, take a look at the legend’s most memorable costumes that we photographed at the launch.
Images: Samantha Robinson
Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
The Pierrot or Blue Clown costume created by Natasha Korniloff for the Ashes to Ashes video, which represented the alter ego of the artist.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
The Alexander McQueen tyre print suit that Bowie wore to promote his album Outside in 1995.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
A previously unseen behind the scenes look at a photo shoot with Herb Ritts in 1989, with the photos being used to promote his 1990 Sound + Vision tour.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
The Freddie Burretti pale blue suit with polka dot jumper from the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour, which many teenage fans made copies of.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
The Willy Brown pink trench jumpsuit and vintage trench coat from the 1979 Dj video.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Costume for the Thin White Duke, station to station tour, 1976 by Ola Hudson.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Cobweb costume with fake hands, Natasha Korniloff, 1973.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Platform heels 1973. Bowie is never afraid to blur the boundaries of masculine fashion, and often creates androgynous stage ensembles.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Union Jack coat from the Earthing tour 1997 by Alexander McQueen and David Bowie. It encompasses classic British tailoring with a punk aesthetic. Bowie's inspiration came from Pete Townshend from The Who’s Union Jack coat, and Gavin Turk’s painting of a draped Union Jack flag.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Short bodysuit with rabbit design for the Ziggy Stardust tour, Kansai Yamamoto, 1972.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Starman, Top of the Pops, 1972. At this point in time, Bowie’s ‘alien appearance’ either outraged or enthralled viewers and has gone down as a pivotal moment in British musical history.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Tokyo Pop bodysuit, Aladdin Sane tour, Kansai Yamamoto, 1973. Yamamoto loved to design for David as he truly embraced Japanese culture and the conventions of Kabuki theatre.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Life on Mars, 1973.
Image: Samantha Robinson
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Inside the V&A's David Bowie is Launch
Striped asymmetric catsuit, Aladdin Sane tour, Kansai Yamamoto, 1973. Sewing patterns were published so that fans could copy the look.
Image: Samantha Robinson
