We don’t need to tell you that David Bowie is a style legend—the man has been the coolest guy in the room for the better part of a century. And, sure, he had his signature style moves for every iteration of his public persona—unbuttoned shirts, billowing pants, eye patches—but his impact on fashion is so much greater than just those individual elements. The ultimate swagger he brought to everything he put on (talk about living your best life) and his unwavering gentlemanliness (see: his mugshot) is what made him a one of a kind artist. Here’s what Bowie taught us about style that we’ll never forget.
While most people default to dressing down whenever they can, Bowie was always the first guy to reach for a proper shirt and jacket. He wore hats, ties, and nice shoes—always.
Instead of trying to play down the things that made him different—like his rail-thin frame and high cheekbones—Bowie used his style to exaggerate them.
But unlike other style legends who shall remain nameless, Bowie could chill out when it was time to chill out. In fact, he’s always had the best normcore game in town.
Bowie used his alter-egos, Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke, to take his style to new, insanely dope places. Because it’s just not that serious.
Bowie never retired from being cool, even as he settled and slowed down. He adjusted to the times, as one should, but he was always still himself. It made him ageless.