{

Ziggy

Stardust

Shannon Lewis

Ziggy Stardust is David Bowie‟s most famous

invented character. Even though he didn‟t appear

on the cover of the album that shows his name,

there was an extremely long world tour (from

January 1972 to July 1973).

Chalk drawing of

the album cover

outside the V&A

when we visited the

museum

Ziggy had become so powerful in the music

world, that it lead his creator (David Bowie)

into a fragile psychological state, worsen by

cocaine, that was near to schizophrenia.

Ziggy Stardust‟s flamboyant, Japanese style make-up,

spikey, red mullet hair and crazy, futuristic costumes

designed by Kansai Yamamoto, managed to turn David

Bowie alien and future-like.

Bowie also decided to take Ziggy‟s gender to another

level, where he was a mixture of both. Then being very

interested in Asian culture, he made Ziggy an odd

combination of samurai warrior and kabuki onnagata –

In traditional Japanese theatre, male actors played

female roles.

Onnagataman

Short bodysuit with rabbit design

Ziggy Stardust Tour

Kansai Yamamoto

1972

David Bowie: “impossibly silly „bunny‟

costume”

This outfit is decorated with Japanese

style rabbits, relating to Ziggy being

created under David Bowie‟s interest with

Asian culture. The costume seems to be

rather feminine because of the „bunnies‟

and the shape of the garment; it shows a

lot of leg and a little torso than a more

masculine outfit. This refers to how Ziggy

doesn‟t show a specific gender.

„Ice Blue‟ suit

„Life on Mars?‟

Freddie Burretti

1972

Description in V&A: „Eye popping colours

of this ensemble were matched by

Japanese eye shadows‟

This Ziggy Stardust outfit has a rather

sophisticated appearance to it, compared

to the rabbit jumpsuit which is more

playful. However the bright blue is eye

catching and clean, suggesting how Ziggy

is futuristic and alien-like. The makeup he

wears shows a strong link to how he was

inspired by onnagata, as it‟s highly

feminine which contrasts against the suit

which symbolises to be more masculine.