Michael Jackson’s most iconic outfits – and what some of them fetched at auction
Regardless of how the #MeToo allegations against the late pop star unfold, his style is likely to inspire for decades
Michael Jackson epitomised pop culture for decades, inspiring creative souls with his music as well as his style, until his death on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.
Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter 2019 menswear collection by creative director Virgil Abloh pays homage to Jackson, as do outfits from Balmain and Givenchy. Beyoncé brought a little bit of him to her 2016 Superbowl performance, and Rihanna has referenced his wide-shoulder military jacket on several occasions.
Jackson’s favourite outfits – usually sparkly – included a military-style jacket, cropped trousers, a fedora, antigravity shoes or cowboy boots, white socks and a sequinned white glove.
Here are some of the pop star’s most iconic styles.
The military jacket is the most recognisable outfit that costume designer Michael Bush conceived for Jackson. Crafted with exaggerated shoulders and embellished with emblems and embroidery, it commands attention and delivers an authoritative look.
The sparkly white glove from Jackson’s 1983 performance of Billie Jean for the Motown 25 television special, where he performed the Moonwalk, is his signature fashion item.
Hong Kong businessman Hoffman Ma paid US$350,000 at a 2009 auction to acquire the glove, dubbed “the holy grail of Michael Jackson”.