100116 – Bowie/Yamamoto

The 1970s was a shameful period in recent British history, a combination of huge national debt, over powerful unions, outdated industries and a people that had lost all self belief created the toxic times of the three day week, the IRA, constant power cuts, garbage stacked high on every street and mass unemployment. Against this backdrop of no self hope and no self worth emerged the escapist music of David Bowie and we all rushed in so as to leave the turmoil of the real world behind. Bowie’s characters drew upon many references and among them were the exotic and the oriental, historically a recurring theme for British escapism. Bowie worked with Kansai Yamamoto through the early 1970’s producing some of the most iconic stage costumes of the time that influenced pop culture for generations to come. Here are a few examples. Bowie RIP.