29 June,2009 08:53 AM IST | | Shweta Shiware
If he gave the moonwalk to dance, he gifted cropped-at-the-ankle pants to fashion, dragging your gaze to his dizzying footwork, says Shweta Shiware. Accused of addiction to bling and overdosing on rouge, but India's runway jury declares Michael Joseph Jackson not guilty
We wonder if Billie Jean could have stamped our memories with an impression on the merit of words and melody alone, without that vivid image of Michael Jackson in a blush pink shirt fastened at the collar by a red bow, sliced with collapsed jacket sleeves, his cropped skinny pants letting the trademark white socks and loafers hog a chunk of the limelight. The first video by the black artist to air on MTV in 1982, was packed with countless fashion moments, say leading Indian fashion designers. "MJ was to music what Gandhi was to politics. Elvis Presley gave the fashion world, high collars. MJ's greatest contribution was his off-the-ankle pants with peeping white socks," says Mumbai designer Narendra Kumar.u00a0u00a0
While the legend will stay put in the music memory of millions, his iconic fashion pieces will keep rotating on the runway orbit. During their Spring 2009 presentation, French luxury brand Balmain sent models in Jackson-inspired military jackets (instantly picked up by trendsetting singing stars Rihanna and Beyoncu00e9 Knowles) down the runway teamed with slashed, stonewashed jeans. The casual swagger by male models during menswear Spring 2010 shows in Paris and Milan two weeks ago, particularly by established designers Dries Van Noten and Dolce & Gabbana, were courtesy the tapered cropped pants worn with loafers and moccasins. MJ's foot-tapping numbers including Thriller and Can't stop till you get enough, are undisputed favourites with fashion ramp DJs.
Aki Narula admits to having used the latter twice in his shows. "Who can forget the blazing red jacket accentuated with shoulder pads and bold zipper details paired with skin-tight leather pants in Thriller?" asks Aki, who recounts saving pocket money for months before he could get his hands on the double jacket Thriller album. MJ of the 70s with his Afro hair, bell bottom pants, fringed shirts and platform shoes gave way to a sleeker pop star of the 80s, with Off the Wall album. Sophisticated tuxedo jackets (with folded sleeves), pegged pants and black shoes, rebelled with stark white socks and kohl eyes, and powered the beginning of an unapologetic fashion idol, emulated by his wide-eyed followers. "Every song inspired our generation, often influencing my designing style. He told a design story with every song. Smooth Criminal for example, introduced androgyny. Bad took sexuality to another level," feels Delhi designer
Arjun Saluja. MJ fashioned his wardrobe with responsibility. The potent black and white combination he often chose, reflected the racial divide, making the cause behind gut-wrenching numbers like Heal the world, We are the world and Gone too soon, piercingly irresistible. According to fashion website WWD, the singer was a huge fashion spender. In the 90s, he reportedly spent an average of $35 million a year, and in 2005, he blew through $150,000 at Harrods in just 30 minutes. In 2006, he went on an impromptu midnight shopping spree at Topshop's Oxford Street flagship store in London.
Michael Joseph Jackson will be remembered as THE entertainer of all time, but his enigma wouldn't have been half as omnipresent without his calculated-made-to-seem-casual sense of style.
Arjun Saluja Iconic fashion element: He mixed influences to create his own style whether it was the raw appeal of the carefully torn tee, or the sense of grandeur he evoked with beaded jumpsuits or uniforms complete with lapels and epaulettes. He also took S&M to another level with his
dance moves.u00a0u00a0u00a0
Favourite MJ songs: Smooth Criminal from Bad album and Don't stop till you get enough from Off the Wall album
Aki Narula Iconic fashion element: Skin tight leather pants, fedora hat, shoulder pads, glove on right hand u2014 all put together brilliantly, yet individually, each element had a heartbeat of its own.
Favourite MJ song: Thriller
Kallol Datta Iconic fashion element: Bondage inspired grunge-meets-punk look. The pop icon single-handedly added flavour to the otherwise bland American music industry.
Favourite MJ song: Man in the Mirror from Bad album
James Ferreira Iconic fashion element: The cropped pants teamed with white socks playing peek-a-boo and patent black shoes.
Favourite MJ song: Billy Jean from The Thriller album
Want to know the mystery behind his moves in Smooth Criminal? In 1992, Michael Jackson along with Michael L Bush and Dennis Tompkins patented the shoe that allows the wearer to lean 45 degrees forward beyond the centre of gravity.
From the legend's style book
S&M: The King of Pop juxtaposed military austerity with cheeky S&M when he combined jackets with lapels and epaulettes with leather bondage and belts
with rivets.
Androgyny: The track Smooth Criminal ushered in an androgynous Michael Jackson, with women co-dancers dressed in spiffy suits and skinny ties (seen in the background).
The glove: Only Michael Jackson could carry off a beaded jacket with a sequined glove, teamed with US police uniform trousers and a badge for a buckle.
Incidentally, this glove worn by Jackson during his 1984-85 Victory tour, and again when he picked up eight Grammys for his album Thriller, fetched $99,100 (Rs 5 lakh approx.) on an eBay auction.
Jerry curls: Jerry curls peeking from underneath the fedora hat, kohl eyes resting behind mirrored aviator sunglasses, a smack of lip gloss and some rouge, will eternally define his personality. Pics/AFP Photo
