On this week’s Focus on Style- Talk, hosting duo Sharon Haver & Brad Boles talk about the style icons of the 80’s Leigh Bowery, Klaus Nomi, Boy George, Annie Lenox, Grace Jones, Club Kids, and their influence over the late great designer Alexander McQueen and fashion as a whole
These provocative visual images were born out of the underground and performance art movements between London, New York and Berlin club scenes. Music and MTV changed an entire generation and how they saw style.
Listen to this episode with Sharon & Brad, LIVE, uncensored and off the cuff!
Young designers, Lady Gaga and TV shows like Project Runway contestants pull so much influence from that generation, and the Studio 54 days that preceded it. As Brad says, “We were there and lived through it, so let’s share!“
Brad says…
Brad & Sharon On the Air on Focus on Style-Talk
Brad’s dishing about his time as the make-up artist for Grace Jones on her “I’m Not perfect, But I’m Perfect For You” video, naked Prince concerts and the organic nature of how the style developed from early Boy George and Madonna costumes that came from thrift shops.
He recalls how his friend Sue Tilly, the author of the book about Leigh Bowery, and his enormous influence on today’s designers, like Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh.
Sharon says…
From Sharon’s downtown club days she believes that you should respect your past because from history comes the future.
Both come from a generation that isn’t obsessed with celebrity but obsesses with creativity.
You need to open up and inspire and not be afraid to do what is natural to you whether it be avant garde like Leigh Bowery or classical as in the perfect LBD.
>> More Radio
…and don’t forget your crib notes for this broadcast:
Sorry, I’m not in NY to pull more photos, but here is a blast from our past that I dug up for the piece about Miss J: Clockwise from the top, we have Brad in his famous brunette, curly wig, Alexander Jenkins (Miss J / J. Alexander), Michael Stein, and myself.
Clubs:
From the Studio 54 celebrity and closeness to fame that gave way to the more avant garde to Area where every month was a different art installation
Iconic Performers:
- Grace Jones
- Leigh Bowery
- Klaus Nomi
- Boy George
The New Garde in Surrealist Dressing:
- Roisin Murphy
- Paloma Faith
- Theo Adams
- Scottee
- and, the obvious Lady Gaga
The modern designers:
- The late Alexander McQueen
- Gareth Pugh
- The influence of Leigh Bowery
Graffiti from then to now:
- Keith Haring
- Jean Michel Basquiat
- Banksy
- Mr. Brainwash
- Go see “Basquiat: Radiant Child” and “Exit Through the Gift Shop”
We want you to listen to the show!
Leigh Bowery photo via lutefiskmagazine