{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1775362"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1775362/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF8336/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF8336/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PF8336","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1618","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1617","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1616","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1615","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC1614","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1775362","accessionNumber":"S.597-2024","objectType":"Jumper","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Crew neck fine-knit jumper, with slight balloon sleeves. The jumper is cream at the top and neckline, with a horizontal black stripe pattern beginning around the shoulders. There is a large skull design created on the front of the jumper through displaced stripes. \r\nThe left shoulder of the jumper has an open section which fastens with 4 brass buttons. These buttons are engraved with skulls and text. There is a cream silk label sewn into the inner neckline of the jumper, embroidered with cream text. There is a white fabric label sewn into the inner left hem of the jumper, printed with black text.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Alexander McQueen","id":"AUTH319262"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"wool","id":"x40131"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"thread","id":"AAT14250"}],"techniques":[{"text":"machine knitting","id":"AAT252068"},{"text":"machine sewing","id":"AAT257463"},{"text":"embroidery","id":"x40351"},{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Machine knitted and sewn wool, with engraved metal buttons. Embroidered and printed labels. \r\n","categories":[{"text":"David Bowie Archive","id":"THES394093"},{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2025PF8336","2025PC1613","2025PC1618","2025PC1617","2025PC1616","2025PC1615","2025PC1614"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342930"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"sweaters","id":"AAT209900"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2015","earliest":"2015-01-01","latest":"2015-12-31"},"association":{"text":"worn","id":"x34724"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"DBA/5/50/3","id":"ARC258566"},"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":"70","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"43.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"shoulder to shoulder","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"63.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"sleeve length","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Size Medium","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"ALEXANDER MCQUEEN ALEXANDER MCQUEEN","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Engraved on the metal buttons, along with an image of a skull. "},{"content":"ALEXANDER MCQUEEN \r\nMADE IN ITALY","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Embroidered in cream text on the cream silk label sewn into the inner neckline of the sweater."},{"content":"M\r\nALEXANDER MCQUEEN\r\n100% LANA/WOOL/LAINE\r\nMADE IN ITALY - FABRQUE EN ITALIE\r\nPRODOTTO IN ITALIA\r\n\r\nPROFESSIONAL DRY CLEAN ONLY,\r\nDELICATE CYCLE.\r\nIRON AT LOW TEMPERATURE.\r\n\r\nNETTOYAGE A SEC PAR UN PROFESSIONNEL\r\nSUELEMENT, CYCLE DELICAT.\r\nREPASSER A TEMPERATURE BASSE.\r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in black text on the white label sewn into the inner left hem of the sweater. "}],"objectHistory":"David Bowie and Alexander McQueen met in 1996, and McQueen went on to design some of Bowie's most iconic stage costumes of the late 1990s and early 2000's including the famous union jack frockcoat. McQueen died by suicide in 2010, and his fashion house was continued under the direction of Sarah Burton. \r\n\r\nIn late 2015, Bowie was photographed by Jimmy King in a promotional photosession for the release of his upcoming, and final, album <i>Blackstar</i> (2016). Bowie chose to wear a range of Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear pieces for this shoot, including this jumper with McQueen's classic skull motif. McQueen was known for his fascination with skull and bone related designs, exploring the fragile and fleeting nature of the cycle of life. Similarly, <i>Blackstar</i>explored themes of life, death, the afterlife, spirituality and legacy, and is seen by many as a piece that is reflective of David Bowie facing terminal illness. \r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Jumper by Alexander McQueen, worn by David Bowie for <i>Blackstar</i> promo photo shoot with Jimmy King, 2015","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Album: Blackstar (2016)","id":"AUTH401629"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.597-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"597","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"David Bowie Archive Number","id":"THES394108"},"number":"2016.2042.0008"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2024-03-19","availableToBook":false}}