This a red lurex open weave tweed over-coat from the collection of Boy George. This costume piece was designed by costume designer Bobby Pearce for the Broadway production of the musical Taboo in 2003, also worn on July 30th, 2022, for the 20th anniversary show. The jacket was worn by Boy George as Leigh Bowery in the musical. 

This a structural design made to mirror Leigh Bowery's designs from the 1980s. The design features padded shoulders, Nehru collar, yellow jacquard polka-dot ruffled trim, embellished rhinestone yoke, tailored waist, with peplum A-line skirt to the coat. The interior is fully lined with a silk-blend red and white polka-dot lining. The hem of the coat has crinoline in order to create the volume and shape of the coat's skirt. There is a Taboo label sewn on the on the interior neckline along with “Mr. O'Dowd” typed onto the label. 

Taboo the Musical celebrates the vibrant 1980s London New Romantic scene, following the lives of musician Boy George and performance artist Leigh Bowery. Set in the legendary Taboo nightclub, the show blends music, fashion, and storytelling to capture a world of creativity, fame, and daring self-expression. With music and lyrics by Boy George himself, Taboo brings the energy and style of the era to life. 

Echoing his own words in an Interview Magazine interview, “The Taboo crowd was happy to end up in a pile of vomit and booze at the end of the night. It was antifashion, in a sense. They were just as obsessive as the New Romantics, but they acted like they didn’t care."

Leigh Bowery was an Australian artist and performer, known for his exhibitionist style and attire from the 1980s, his designs were outrageous and celebrated within the club culture of the time. His style has influenced designer Alexander McQueen whose fall 2009 Horn of Plenty designs paid homage to Bowery from the dramatic structural proportions to the make-up. 

Provenance: From the Collection of Boy George

A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit MusiCares.

This lot/property comes with a printed photo.

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