Voting has finished for BBC History Magazine’s search for the Best Dressed Briton Of All Time, and David Bowie has comfortably come out on top.
Nominated for the public’s consideration by fashion guru Wayne Hemingway, Bowie collected 48.5% of the vote, well ahead of Queen Elizabeth I, who placed second with 13.6%, and the former 18th/19th century Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Cavendish.
“Bowie had to overcome a king, two queens and a political heavyweight to triumph in our poll, and in doing so has struck a blow for 20th and 21st-century fashions,” BBC History Magazine editor Rob Attar reflects.
David Bowie’s status as a leading fashion icon for the 20th century began to emerge in the early Seventies as his growing mainstream success coincided with the famous Ziggy Stardust persona – the first of several extravagant alter-egos which Bowie has adopted since.
His career and cultural impact was celebrated with a Victoria & Albert exhibition earlier this year.
Top 10:
1/ David Bowie – 48.5%
2/ Elizabeth I – 13.6%
3/ Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire – 9.5%
4/ George ‘Beau’ Brummell – 8.4%
5/ Queen Alexandra – 7.1%
6/ Anne Messel – 5.3%
7/ Henry III – 2.5%
8/ Ellen Terry – 2.2%
9/ Charles James Fox – 1.6%
10/ Samuel Pepys – 1.3%