There was one period when my favorite fabric was flesh. Human flesh. I didn’t wear any clothes for a while.
– Leigh Bowery (1961-1994), Australian-born fashion designer, London 80s club kid.
I recently watched the documentary The Legend of Leigh Bowery and although Mr. Bowery’s style is not at all my cup of tea, I appreciate his creativity and individuality. A friend of Boy George and model for artist Lucian Freud, Mr. Bowery was part of the New Romantics, a fashion and music sub-culture in 1980s London.
The getups Mr. Bowery put together were elaborate, grotesque, and monster-like in size. He topped off each creation with clown makeup or a head mask. Strutting, posing, and flirting Mr. Bowery moved about as a performance piece making quite an impact on the scene at the time.
Mr. Bowery showed at both London and Tokyo Fashion Week, but the industry was an issue for him because he really was only interested in designing for himself, not wanting to be copied. However, he did make couture pieces for entertainer friends including experimental dance choreographer Michael Clark. He’s also credited with having influenced the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.
I wonder how Mr. Bowery would dress himself today had he lived. Would age make any difference? Would he eventually have become bored with his own creations?
OverDressed for Life 
You’ve got to appreciate that sense of humor!
This is interesting. I wasn’t familiar with Mr. Bowery.
Freaky and fun!
I see the sculptural similarities to his design and Ms Kawakubo’s although Rei Kawakubo’s is highly sophisticated fashion while Leigh Bowery’s seems more to be theater.