81 / 298
Michael. Eventually achieving the task,
Bush reveals the secret, “We invented a
device that was installed inside the shoe
that hooked into a bolt on the floor and
allowed Michael to create the ‘lean’ move
live.”
Throughout the book, we learn about
Michael’s all-time favourite piece of
clothing - a milky white military jacket
adorned with pearls and cream-coloured
glass bugle beads - which derived from
his fascination with British heredity and
military history, his prankster humour and
his frequent cryptic riddles that carried a
hidden message in what he wanted the
two designers to create for him. When
Bush first met and dressed the singer on
the set of the film ‘Captain EO,’ Michael’s
playful nature cemented their working
relationship. “If you couldn’t have fun or
didn’t want to, then Michael didn’t want
you around him. He tested me for a
sense of humour and I passed.” Through
working with Michael, Bush andTompkins
learned what made him tick, how to get
inside his creative mind and how to push
the boundaries of his wardrobe right
to the edge. A perfectionist who was a
leader rather than a follower of fashion,
the two designers had to ensure that
Michael Jackson’s costumes worked for
him and not the other way round.As John
Franca said in his foreword, “He pushed
the boundaries of conceptual fashion…”
From creating a dinner jacket with
metal utensils and shortening his pants
to reveal white socks when dancing,
to causing media frenzy with his
famous white leather glove with crystal
rhinestones, to his iconic white Smooth
Criminal hat and Florsheim shoes, the
magic of Michael Jackson is revealed in
this book. Michael was a man who always
wanted to be several steps ahead of the
game and create magical moments to
keep people in awe of his performance.
He used influences such as the Queen’s
imperial state crown, a fencer’s uniform, a
baseball catcher’s leg guard, a gorgerine
L
JACKSON
life, Bush tells it all. He says, “His clothes
was both a reflection of and companion
to his lyrics, music, short films, special
effects, and tours; it contributed to a
greater whole.” An example of this
statement is the story of the Lean Shoes
which Michael performed in his ‘Smooth
Criminal’ music video where he leans
forward at a 45-degree angle. He wanted
to re-enact this live on stage which
was a great challenge for Dennis and
(metal discs worn across the chest worn
by ancient Egyptian Pharaohs), a space
outfit for his HIStory tour and sabaton
boots (part of a knight’s armour) to
create iconic costumes that were new,
unique and grabbed people’s attention.
Always the entertainer, he thrived on the
reaction from people, and was a humble
man who appreciated Bush andTompkins’
dedication to him in many ways. There
was once a tender moment after a long
rehearsal for the ‘This Is It’ tour where
Bush says to Michael, “My fourth tour
with you, Michael.Thank you for changing
my life again.” After giving Bush a bear
hug, Michael replies, “No Bush.You have
changed my life.Thank you.”
In the afterword, Bush describes his
reaction to the sudden death of Michael
Jackson in June 2009, “I sat silently,
suddenly feeling alone. He was gone…To
me, a friend, a person had died. Michael
had died, and the curtain had literally
come down.” He was then asked by the
Jackson family to choose the outfit for
Michael to be laid to rest in.“Twenty-five
years of working with Michael played like
a projector in our minds – the magic, the
mystique, the chase, the next – they all
flashed before us and inspired our last
and most important riddle: What was
Michael’s favourite piece? What details
must be included?” Choosing the ultimate
outfit, Michael Jackson was finally laid to
rest in his all-time favourite pearl military
jacket.
www.insighteditions.comThe King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson by Michael Bush is
published by Insight Editions and is available now.