This is a custom-made headdress by Stephen Jones and a metallic thread two-tone brocade mid-length cape from the collection of Boy George. Boy George wore the headdress while performing at Wembley Arena on December 17, 1984, and both the cape and headdress for an appearance on The David Letterman Show, November 14, 1984. Both the head piece and cape were worn in the music video “The War Song,” and on-stage during Culture Club's third tour Waking Up With The House On Fire, named after their third album.

The cape features silk black frog closures, black silver brocade mantle trimmed with rhinestones going into a rose petal pink silver brocade that starts below the shoulders to the hem, lined with a red silk-blend lining. The cape is a paired with a headdress composed of wax mesh trimmed with red grosgrain ribbon, embellished with clear and red facetted gemstones with raffia fringe at the back, a Stephen Jones label is sewn on the interior of the headdress. 

Stephen Jones told Vogue in 2007 when he lived with Boy George in squat on Warren Street from 1979 to 1981, which he credits to his Bohemian lifestyle of the time. Jones and Boy George were often seen frequenting the famous 80s London Club Blitz, which Jones told Vogue reminiscing. “I’d find people at The Blitz who were possible only in my imagination. But they were real.” 

In an interview with Julien's Boy George remembers going into Stephen Jones workroom, saying, “Christine Bateman, who does my makeup, worked on those hats before we started working together. ‘She goes, oh, I remember working on those hats. And she said, the only two people that ever came into the workroom and said, thank you was you and Lady Diana. ’ And obviously I was really fascinated to see how the hats were being made, not just to see the hat.”

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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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