Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Celebrating the King of Style


Michael Jackson was born August 29, 1958. Today, we celebrate his life with a feature about our upcoming book, The King of Style, a fascinating look at the intersection of music and fashion, as well as an homage to Michael Jackson, whose brilliant fusing of costume, personality, and performance created the iconic image. 

The King of Pop needs little introduction. Arguably the most successful entertainer of all time, Michael Jackson owes his luminous legacy not only to his inspiring music, but also to his iconic fashion sense. In the 1980s, the formative era of music videos, Michael’s dazzling visual presentations impacted the world unlike any performer, before or since.

Through his music, dance, and fashion, Michael Jackson created a mystique that was unique to him and recognized as such throughout the world. For five decades he mesmerized audiences—and for twenty-five of those years Michael Bush was there as Jackson’s designer, stylist, and friend, accompanying the King of Pop on his journey to becoming the King of Style.Michael Bush and his partner, Dennis Tompkins, joined Jackson during the making of Bad, and the duo quickly became central in developing the looks that made him a style sensation. As their professional relationship developed, so did their friendship. Bush was there before and after every performance, and his personal stories reveal the man behind the public persona. Before there was “Billie Jean,” there was the child star of the Jackson Five, setting rhinestones in his show-clothes by hand. Jackson grew up to become a master of fusing fashion and performance, inspiring his collaborators with intriguing riddles and unrelenting confidence.

While paying homage to the original Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller looks that put Jackson on the fashion map,
The King of Style also traces their evolution over several decades. Jackson’s penchant for the military silhouette is explored in detail, along with the trade secrets behind the sequined glove and the fencing uniform that he, Bush, and Tompkins reinvented to make stage magic. It was Michael Bush who dressed Jackson for the final time, before he was buried. Dozens of garments were left unfinished by his shocking death.

The legacy of Michael Jackson lives on. An artist like none other, he transformed everything he touched—from the fabric of his clothes to his legions of fans around the world. 


The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson
by Michael Bush

Available for pre-order, in stores in October

Michael Bush worked personally with Michael Jackson for twenty-five years to create some of the most original and indelible clothing ever worn by a musical performer. Using his professional background in theatrical costume construction and dance, Bush and his partner, Dennis Tompkins, created thousands of custom artistic pieces that captured the essence of a one-of-a-kind pop star. He lives in Hollywood, CA.

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