The working style of the late-great rock star had much in common with fashion’s brightest talent.
On Monday the shadow of David Bowie’s shock death hung heavy over the last day of London Collections Men (LCM).
Despite the darkness, it prompted a startling burst of colour in the media as websites and social media were showered with fabulous and arresting images of the Jean Genie at his peak. A noticeable diversion from the expected path of LCM catwalk shots and Instagrams of backstage parties.
Burberry, Monday’s LCM hot ticket, provided a welcome nod to star who, over a glittering career (literally so, at some points) had done so much to push the boundaries of fashion and style. Models walked the runway with glitter on their faces and some had Bowie’s name written on their hands.
This was a literal homage, but in some ways, the whole of LCM provided the best eulogy to the starman. Bowie was the master of invention; the style magpie with an enviable eye for a new look, an unusual silhouette or a surprising contrast. The last three days were packed full of that.
Ivo van Hove, director of the new New York stage musical Lazarus for which Bowie provided the music, told the BBC on Monday that the star had an ability to draw the best out of his collaborators. He wasn’t a micromanager in the studio, but he was a perfectionist, encouraging musicians to bring something original to his ideas. To make them better. To surprise him. Bowie understood that by collaborating, it upped everyone’s game – especially his.
This is the same skill required by all great fashion designers. You only need to think of Raf Simons, undeniably brilliant, working with the Dior atelier – some of the best artisans in the industry – as captured in the 2015 film ‘Dior and I’. Together they pulled together Raf’s first collection for the legendary couture house in just eight weeks. Raf – already a skilled collaborator and leader – learnt quickly how to harness the atelier’s expertise to create something bigger and grander than anything he (and a sowing machine) could have created on his own.
Perhaps collaborations are the great unspoken driver behind all great artistic creations?
ZEFFADELICA 