{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1775048"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1775048/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FT4105/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FT4105/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FT4105","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT4106","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT4107","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FN5051","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FN5052","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FN5053","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT4108","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PD3385","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1493","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1494","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1495","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PB2116","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PB2117","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PB2118","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PB2119","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NW7053","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NY9074","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NY9073","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1775048","accessionNumber":"S.283:1 to 8-2024","objectType":"Suit","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Suit designed by Freddie Burretti for David Bowie in the 'Life on Mars?' music video, 1972. A three-piece single breasted suit with wide lapels in turquoise blue. Pinstripe navy and white shirt with white collar. Two turquoise blue waistcoats - one with a pink and blue sequin lightning bolt, and the other with purple, white and turquoise hounds tooth print on reverse and cream fastening. Pale gold tie with red velvet and white stripes and turquoise polka dots. Brown and cream leather platform laced shoes with wooden platform and heel.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Freddie Burretti","id":"AUTH401726"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Peter Brown of Oxford Street","id":"AUTH402399"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x28674"},"note":"Shirt"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"sequin","id":"AAT183896"},{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"},{"text":"satin","id":"AAT132902"},{"text":"wool","id":"x40131"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"lame","id":"AAT249446"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"polyester","id":"AAT14546"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"rubber","id":"AAT12941"}],"techniques":[{"text":"machine sewing","id":"AAT257463"},{"text":"hand sewing","id":"AAT257459"},{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"},{"text":"nailing","id":"AAT53017"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Machine and hand-sewn wool and satin\r\nMachine-sewn leather","categories":[{"text":"David Bowie Archive","id":"THES394093"},{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2012FT4105","2012FT4106","2012FT4107","2012FN5051","2012FN5052","2012FN5053","2012FT4108","2025PD3385","2025PC1493","2025PC1494","2025PC1495","2024PB2116","2024PB2117","2024PB2118","2024PB2119","2024NW7053","2024NY9074","2024NY9073"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES310068"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES310068"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Q","id":"THES296998"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"jacket","id":"x40630"}],[{"text":"shirt","id":"AAT212499"}],[{"text":"waistcoat","id":"AAT216053"}],[{"text":"waistcoat","id":"AAT216053"}],[{"text":"trousers","id":"AAT209935"}],[{"text":"tie","id":"x40991"}],[{"text":"shoes","id":"AAT46065"}],[{"text":"shoes","id":"AAT46065"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1972","earliest":"1972-01-01","latest":"1972-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"NCOL.451-2025","id":"O1808324"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Purchase funded by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"82","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Jacket","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"44","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Shoulder to shoulder","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Jacket","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"62.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Sleeve length","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Jacket","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"73.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Shirt","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Shoulder to shoulder","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Shirt","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"59.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Sleeve length","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Shirt","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"58.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Waistcoat (lightning bolt)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"31.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Shoulder to shoulder","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Waistcoat (lightning bolt)","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"59.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Waistcoat (plain)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"30.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Shoulder to shoulder","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Waistcoat (plain)","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"109.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Trousers","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Waist","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Trousers","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"170","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Tie","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"15.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Tallest point","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Left shoe","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Left shoe","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Left shoe","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"15.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Tallest point","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Right shoe","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"26.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Right shoe","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Widest point","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Right shoe","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"7-","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Underside of both shoes"}],"objectHistory":"Freddie Burretti was a Hackney-born designer and tailor who was a close friend and collaborator of David Bowie from the late 1960s through until the mid 1970s. Burretti designed many of the earliest and most recognisable Ziggy Stardust outfits worn both on and off stage, and worked closely with Bowie to establish the overall Ziggy “look”. Burretti also designed many of the two-piece suits worn by Bowie throughout the <i>Diamond Dogs</i> tour in 1974. Burretti’s tailoring is often recognisable by its use of women’s silhouettes, wide lapels and collars and narrow nipped-in waists, as well as by his use of brightly coloured fabrics and textiles, often purchased from Liberty in London or from the fashionable boutiques on Kensington Church Street. \n\nThis striking teal suit was designed by Freddie Burretti to be worn by Bowie during the ‘Life On Mars?’ music video, shot in June 1973 for the retrospective release of the song as a promotional single. The suit is characteristic of Burretti’s tailoring, with a sharp exaggerated shoulder line, wide lapel and narrow waist, and the jacket is crafted from a lightweight synthetic textile purchased in Southall, West London. \r\n\r\nThe tailoring of the suit takes inspiration from popular womenswear silhouettes at the time, most notably Yves Saint Laurent’s ‘The Scandal Collection’ (1971), which was inspired by the wartime fashion of occupied 1940s Paris and included platform shoes, padded shoulders and heavy makeup, all of which can be seen in Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars?’ video look. \r\n\r\nBowie later a version of this suit at the Ziggy Stardust retirement party at the Café Royal on 4th July 1973, wearing one of the teal waistcoats and a matching shirt made of purple and green satin houndstooth fabric. In May 2003, Kate Moss was photographed by Nick Knight wearing elements of the suit for British Vogue.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Suit designed by Freddie Burretti for David Bowie in the 'Life on Mars?' music video, 1972","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oriole Cullen, 'Changes: Bowie's Life Story' in Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh (ed.), <i>David Bowie Is</i> (Great Britain, 2013)"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Album: Hunky Dory (1971)","id":"AUTH401591"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.283:1-2024","S.283:2-2024","S.283:3-2024","S.283:4-2024","S.283:5-2024","S.283:6-2024","S.283:7-2024","S.283:8-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"283","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"David Bowie Archive Number","id":"THES394108"},"number":"1972.2001.0005"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-22","recordCreationDate":"2024-03-19","availableToBook":false}}