Michael Jackson: Style

by Stacey Appel

Here is a dazzling style exploration of the King of Pop. Every visual aspect of Michael Jackson is shown. The result is a stunning photographic feast spanning nearly half a century. This fabulous book covers his style metamorphoses from his makeover as a little boy in the Jackson 5 at Motown, his early TV appearances and Saturday morning cartoon to worldwide superstardom. It features his album images from Off the Wall to Thriller to Invincible and the outfits from all his record breaking World tours and explores the origins of the crystal glove and the white socks. It explores his work with stylist Rushka Bergman and designers Andre Kim and Andre van Pier as well as Balmain and Givenchy.   It looks at how his dancing and clothing style has influenced other artists including Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and many more.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[NON · Rating 5 out of 5]

When ‘Got to be There’ became a hit in 1972, Michael wanted to perform the song while wearing the applejack hat pictured on the cover of the album. He knew the audience would go bananas seeing him in that familiar cap, but his idea was rejected. When Donny Osmond imitated the style and started sporting a similar chapeau, the concert crowds went predictably crazy, Michael knew to always trust his instincts and it was a lesson he never forgot. Later in his career, he almost always wore variations of the white pinstripes suit when performing ‘Smooth Criminal’ and was never without a red zipper jacket if he was singing ‘Beat It’. Even years after these songs disappeared from the charts. The clothes remain inextricably linked to the lyrics and Michael made sure no one forgot them (as if we ever could). He loved his fans like few artists do and pleasing us was of utmost importance. And if sweating beneath a wolf mask during ‘Thriller’ was going to be met with jubilant enthusiasm, then he was all for it. Screams from the audience were like currency to him and in that respect, he was the wealthiest man who ever lived. -Stacey Appel

Michael Jackson: Style by Stacey Appel is glamorous. I'm impressed by how light Appel's writing is, and her reliability with information. Also, the fact that this volume is innocuous to Michael's legacy is a huge bonus for us MJ fans. However, the most dazzling feature of this book is the splendid (colored) photographic fiesta that covers his style (and his major achievements) starting from his early career to This Is It.

I can understand why any one would think that Appel's Michael Jackson: Style appropriates Bush's
The King of Style, and would choose the latter when torn between which one to purchase. However, they are quite distinct from one another; Appel's can be read as an exploration of his exception style while Bush's King of Style is a firsthand information coming from the designer vast experience (25 years) as Michael Jackson exclusive designer and fitter. Also, it is notable that Appel focuses lavishly on the pre-Bad era (specifically the Jackson 5), while Bush focuses on the fashion they created for Michael starting from the Bad era. Appel does not limit the iconic outfits exploration to the ones were created by Tompkins & Bush, she expands the information to include as many designers as possible. Perhaps, it's best if we regarded Michael Jackson: Style as a companion read to The King of Style to further our knowledge of Michael Jackson's fashion.

There are other great features to this book such as shedding a light on Michael Jackson's Ghosts, when experts choose often to overlook it. Also, how Appel dedicated space to discuss the photo-shoots for Ebony & L'Omo Vogue magazines, and Michael's connection with Balmain in 2009.

However, I have one complaint, which is that I hoped the author dedicated the same amount of space and photographs for his adult career as she did with his early career.

All in all, Appel with her proficiency enfolds aspects of Michael Jackson's caliber with ingenuity and valuable insights which makes it a worthy addition to anyone's book collection.

NOTE: I advise readers to grab the physical edition of this book because the electronic one is uneasy to read as one cannot adjust the font's size.

[Harry Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

As mostly a history of everythinhg Michael wore in his showbiz career and also history of what was happening with him during that period it seems a very comprehensive volume with as many facts that anyone would require. A very enjoyable read. From Jackson 5 to his History period.

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In what seems an obvious attempt to steal a march on Michael Bush's book King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson, the Omnibus Press publication Michael Jackson Style, by Stacey Appel, covers the full range of costumes from Michael's childhood days as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 right up to the rehearsals for This Is It and planned concert outfits by Zaldy and Tompkins/Bush.

The text is lightweight and reasonably accurate, inoffensive (to us die-hard MJ fans) and even informative of some details I personally wasn't aware of. Either way, whether you know all this stuff already or not, this is a nice way of having it all together in one volume, illustrated with full colour photographs.

My only reservations are with the amount of space given to the childhood and formative years of his adult career. My own interest in MJ really took off when I saw the Australian premier screening of his Bad film on TV. Michael might have been in his late twenties when he made it, but at the time to me it seemed he had finally grown up, and become very, very sexy!

All that follows on from the Bad era being what most interests me (those HIStory tour Gold Pants especially) it was disappointing to have to wait until page 102 for 'the good stuff' to really kick in, with a chapter appropriately titled "My friends you have seen nothing yet".

However, I was thrilled to discover some pages devoted to the "Michael Jackson's Ghosts" project, a personal favourite, and one too often overlooked by non MJ experts. More photos from the film or on the set would have been great, though.

The bonus with this book is that it is not limited to the wonderfully iconic outfits designed by Michael's long time costumers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. In the final pages we see him in outfits designed by Cavalli, Givenchy and Valentino, though again, more photographs would have been nice.

The fashion photo shoots for L'Omo Vogue and Ebony magazines are discussed, as is the Balmain connection of the 2009 season. Michael Jackson is revealed as someone who wasn't bothered about fashion trends so much as what he liked... and inevitably what he liked and what he wore BECAME fashionable.

And finally we have the aftermath: MJ's style legacy, with fans and fellow artists paying tribute to the Maestro by wearing the iconic looks that sprang from the creative genius of Michael Jackson and were crafted for him by some of the best costumers in the business.

As a broadly encompassing look at the subject, accompanied by hundreds of photographs, Michael Jackson Style is a worthy addition to any MJ fan's book collection.

Kerry Hennigan
6 November 2012.