A David Bowie Barbie

The David Bowie Barbie doll. Image credit: Mattel 

On Thursday, the world learned that Barbie is a Bowie fan. 

With the release of a doll dressed as David Bowie’s iconic alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Mattel said they were celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of “Space Oddity”, released in 1969. 

The Barbie doll wears a body-hugging metallic “spacesuit”, calf-high red platform boots and silver earrings with dangling stars. Her dark red backcombed mane of hair is just like Ziggy Stardust’s, and daubed on her forehead is the golden circle he wore. Her nails are painted black. 

Barbie replicates the look of Bowie’s bisexual messenger from the stars – though her usual pleasant smile doesn’t quite match the intense stare usually associated with the character. 

It is a notably androgynous look for a doll that epitomized the stereotypes of feminine appearance in its earlier iterations. 

Introducing the $50 (£40) doll, Mattel said: “In a definitive celebration of two pop culture icons, Barbie honors the ultimate pop chameleon, English singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie, whose dramatic musical transformations continue to influence and inspire”.

David Bowie performs in 1973 in his Ziggy Stardust persona. Image credit: Michael Putland/ Getty Images

Note: Bowie was known for his gender-bending style and sexual fluidity, and Ziggy Stardust was one of the most memorable experiments. He debuted the persona in 1972 with the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (often shortened to Ziggy Stardust), featuring the classic songs Five Years, Starman and Suffragette City. He evolved the character in 1973, ushering in the era of Aladdin Sane.

Vans x David Bowie Collaboration

Vans sneakers are classic. So is David Bowie. 

And when you combine two of the greatest classics, you're bound to create something really special. 

A limited-edition collection that includes sneakers, tees, and caps. 

And especially for the sneaker fans, there are all the greatest Vans hits, all of which modeled after a Bowie album – like Ziggy Stardust Sk8-His or Aladdin Sane Old-Skools. 

The full line is available to buy from April 05:

I wish!

Lady Gaga Walks the Runway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singer Lady Gaga presents a creation by Marc Jacobs during his Fall/Winter 2016 collection during New York Fashion Week in the Manhattan borough of New York, USA on February 19, 2016. Reuters pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: Marc Jacobs/Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: George Chinsee/Fairchild

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lady Gaga with Marc Jacobs. Image credit: http://www.mix1073.com/news/lady-gaga-walks-marc-jacobs-show-during-new-york-fashion-week/

Who would have imagined Lady Gaga walking the runway?

She did it for design legend Marc Jacobs in a triumphant finale to New York Fashion Week following collections from Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Jacobs, the darling of the Amercian fashion scene, prides himself on closing out the twice yearly Big Apple fashion bonanza by putting on extravagant spectaculars – and yesterday was no exception.

 

It was a collection of Gothic fantasy filled with oversized outfits in which models sported incredible lace-up platform boots that added to their height as large clothes obscured their slender frames.

 

The pop diva took her place among professional models just days after donning a Jacobs costume in her flamboyant tribute performance to the late David Bowie at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, USA on Monday.

Image credit: http://www.eonline.com/photos/18188/grammys-2016-red-carpet-arrivals/680899

 

And on February 07, 2016, Lady Gaga belted out the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, also in California. She said it was “a total dream come true” for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 07,2016

One very busy talent!

I was at No 10, Jalan Perak in KL for the Fraser Kuala Lumpur Toastmasters meeting. This is the address for Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur, an upscale apartment hotel that is 11 minutes' walk from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

 

One of those rare occasions where I had no meeting role and therefore, I could sit back and enjoy the proceedings. I was happy to note that the meeting was well-attended as twenty-five hoteliers came for this meeting!

 

David Bowie's Albums Dominate UK Charts

David Bowie (left) is the man who elevated his music to what can only be labelled as an art form.

Rolling Stone magazine has described him as symbolizing "modern rock as an idiom in which literacy, art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary can be rolled into one".

And even in death, nineteen of his albums have entered the UK album charts.

 

Including his latest album, Blackstar, which has reached number one, selling almost 150,000 copies since its release on January 08, 2016. The Official Charts Company said that it had already been on course to top the charts before news of his passing was announced on Monday.

 

Blackstar is also number one in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden. It is expected to top the US charts this week itself.

 

Blackstar has been described by Bowie’s record producer Tony Visconti as a parting gift for fans. It is enjoying near universal critical acclaim, with the avant-garde artiste again proving his mastery of reinvention with a saxophone-driven hard jazz sound.

The 40-minute-long album includes seven tracks, but it was the poignant lyrics of Lazarus which stirred a reaction among fans.

In an eerie film clip that opens with a blindfolded, button-eyed Bowie writhing on a hospital bed, he sings: "Look up here, I'm in heaven, I've got scars that can't be seen, I've got drama, can't be stolen, everybody knows me now."

 

The final verse concludes: "Oh I'll be free, just like that bluebird. Oh I'll be free, ain't that just like me."

 

On Friday, in a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United, the former demolished the latter 4-1.

 

Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring with a low drive in the twenty-first minute and six minutes later, Jozo Simunovic made it two from a close-range header. Simon Murray scored one for Dundee United in the thirty-first minute but Griffiths scored the third in the forty-eighth minute before Kris Commons volleyed home a stunning fourth eight minutes later.

 

The win put Celtic six points clear of Aberdeen at the top.

 

The following day, I was in KL’s Bankers Club where I was a speech evaluator. Generally, a good meeting – kindly check out photos of the MIMKL Toastmasters here: