David Bowie passed away yesterday, aged 69.
The larger-than-life performer was known for his musical talent, flamboyant stage presence and a creative approach to style and reinvention. He embodied each alter ego he portrayed with unique individualism, becoming a source of inspiration for the music and fashion industries alike.
Bowie was the subject of a recent Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition, David Bowie is, which celebrated his unique style throughout an impressive three-decade career. He was cast in a Louis Vuitton campaign in 2013 and named the best dressed Brit ever by BBC History Magazine in the same year. He has been cited as an influence by designers such as Gucci’s Frida Giannini and has been the subject of many fashion portrait by the likes of Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts.
A statement posted on Bowie’s social media accounts said: “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”
Tributes poured in for the from music and fashion contemporaries, with Mick Jagger stating: “David was always an inspiration to me and a true original. He was wonderfully shameless in his work.” Marc Jacobs, Chloe’s Clare Waight Keller, Carine Roitfeld and Emilia Wickstead were some of the first fashion names to share their shock and grief on social media.
On his 69th birthday on January 8, Bowie released his 25th album, Blackstar. He is survived by his wife Iman and children Duncan and Alexandria.
