Michael Jackson: From His Tailor’s Words (7) — Michael’s Coat (Part 7)
Read Part Six of this article here: here.
Clothing Display and Auction
This summer in London ended with a week of Michael-style fashion. Phil Treacy used Michael Jackson’s outfits—sewn by Bouch and Tompkins—for his show, and you read the news about it here.
Bouch, who participated in the show, says:
"It was amazing. While I was sitting among the crowd and watching the models walk across the red carpet, I remembered the things Michael had told me about each and every one of these outfits. After the ceremony ended, many fashion designers came to me and said how much Michael’s clothing impressed them. Many of them said they had pinned photos of Michael in these outfits to the walls of their inspiration boards — the boards where they place their best design ideas to get inspired.
The tour of Michael Jackson’s luxury outfits, prepared by the King of Pop and his two tailors, opened on May 18 this year at the Museo de la Moda museum in Chile. Previously, you read about the Michael Jackson fashion museum in Chile here. These outfits had not been seen since Michael wore them. Michael Jackson had gifted these outfits to Bouch and Tompkins. The museum closed on June 27, then the exhibition moved from July 3 to July 29 to Newbridge in Ireland.
When the luxury outfits exhibition arrived at The Museum of Style and Icons in Ireland, it was then the turn of the Getty Gallery in London to host part of world music history starting October 5. The exhibition was initially scheduled to run until November 4, but it was extended until November 17. The next stop for these outfits was the Sky Tree Soramachi Center in Tokyo, Japan, and after traveling around the world, the outfits returned home.
The final destination for these handcrafted pieces was the Beverly Hills Gallery in Los Angeles, where it had previously been planned that after an exhibition from November 19 to November 29, on December 2 they would be put up for auction for sale, and part of the proceeds would be used for charity.
Julien’s Auctions planned to sell these outfits as part of the Icons & Idols auction. The auction house announced that more than sixty lots of Michael memorabilia would be sold in this auction, including pillow covers bearing Michael’s handwriting, outfits from Michael’s tours and films including “Vise,” an invitation card to a Jackson family party in 1973, awards, and many other items from the King of Pop’s memorabilia.
Right now, the special helmet for the 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden is one of the items in the Beverly Hills Gallery. Michael signed it with black marker: "For Bouch, with love, Michael Jackson."
Another item is a T-shirt that Michael wore on June 23, 2009—two days before his death—during rehearsals for the This Is It tour. Also included are outfits from the History, Dangerous, and Bad tours; the jacket Michael wore when performing “Beat It” on stage; some of Michael’s outfits from the Jackson 5 era; white gloves; and, in short, outfits from his childhood up until just days before his death.
Perhaps, according to some, the most famous item among Michael Jackson’s outfits is the jacket from the Thriller trailer. This jacket was designed by Deborah Nadoolman (Nadoolman), the wife of the trailer video director, John Landis, before Bouch came onto the scene in 1983. Last June, this jacket sold for nearly two million dollars. (News)
Opposition to the Auction
After news broke that Michael Jackson’s outfits would be sold, Karen Faye, Michael’s makeup artist and a former collaborator of Michael Bouch, wrote on Twitter:
"I’m very upset that Michael Bouch has decided to sell iconic MJ outfits. Both Michael Bouch and I know that Michael’s wish was to create a museum with these clothes. MJ often talked to us about this. That’s why MJ trusted Michael Bouch and handed him his clothes... Fans who buy these outfits will make Michael Bouch richer. I won’t buy these outfits so I don’t add to his wealth."
"I can’t take care of them anymore. There’s a storage problem and moth damage. These are made of fabric, and they must be kept in a suitable place under specific temperature conditions."
According to Bouch, one of the shirts Michael wore for the performance of “Dirty Diana” has been exposed to destruction.
"This shirt is made from delicate French fabric. Over the 25 years that it has been taken out for display on mannequins and then put back in its place, it has deteriorated and is at risk of being destroyed."
Many fans expressed dissatisfaction with the sale of Michael’s outfits and tried to stop the auction by creating a Facebook page.
One of them wrote: "We have already lost some of Michael Jackson’s irreplaceable outfits through nine auctions held since his death. If we don’t stop this auction, there will be nothing left for his beloved children or for his future museum!"
Auction Stopped
Bouch, who had allocated a large portion of his clothing collection from Michael to the auction, changed his mind and donated them to the Michael Jackson estate as a gift so that a museum could be built from them. (News text)
On November 9, and almost a month before the auction was to take place, the Michael Jackson Foundation announced in an statement that the sale of Michael Jackson’s outfits had been prevented.
Michael Bouch wrote on his personal Facebook page that he has been deeply moved by the love and admiration fans have for Michael Jackson. Although these outfits were gifted to him by Michael, he is donating them to his foundation. Perhaps in the near or distant future, Michael’s and his fans’ long-standing dream will come true, and we will report on this page the news about reopening a museum of his outfits and memorabilia.
However, Michael Bouch refused to say which items he has provided to the Michael Jackson Foundation, and said that the Jackson family wants this information to remain hidden for now.
After the auction was announced, Bouch’s personal Facebook page was targeted by attacks, but when he withdrew some items from the auction, fans praised him. In response to one of the people who had praised his action, he wrote: "It’s better not to judge people before you’re fully aware of what’s going on." This remark created the suspicion that perhaps Bouch had intended to donate these items from the beginning.
Bouch says it was Michael’s wish for his clothes to be displayed in a museum and for a book about them to be written. Bouch is happy that he has been able to fulfill Michael’s wish.
This article continues...
Source: eMJey.com / Reuters & Associated Press
Bouch, who participated in the show, says:
"It was amazing. While I was sitting among the crowd and watching the models walk across the red carpet, I remembered the things Michael had told me about each and every one of these outfits. After the ceremony ended, many fashion designers came to me and said how much Michael’s clothing impressed them. Many of them said they had pinned photos of Michael in these outfits to the walls of their inspiration boards — the boards where they place their best design ideas to get inspired.
The tour of Michael Jackson’s luxury outfits, prepared by the King of Pop and his two tailors, opened on May 18 this year at the Museo de la Moda museum in Chile. Previously, you read about the Michael Jackson fashion museum in Chile here. These outfits had not been seen since Michael wore them. Michael Jackson had gifted these outfits to Bouch and Tompkins. The museum closed on June 27, then the exhibition moved from July 3 to July 29 to Newbridge in Ireland.
When the luxury outfits exhibition arrived at The Museum of Style and Icons in Ireland, it was then the turn of the Getty Gallery in London to host part of world music history starting October 5. The exhibition was initially scheduled to run until November 4, but it was extended until November 17. The next stop for these outfits was the Sky Tree Soramachi Center in Tokyo, Japan, and after traveling around the world, the outfits returned home.
The final destination for these handcrafted pieces was the Beverly Hills Gallery in Los Angeles, where it had previously been planned that after an exhibition from November 19 to November 29, on December 2 they would be put up for auction for sale, and part of the proceeds would be used for charity.
Julien’s Auctions planned to sell these outfits as part of the Icons & Idols auction. The auction house announced that more than sixty lots of Michael memorabilia would be sold in this auction, including pillow covers bearing Michael’s handwriting, outfits from Michael’s tours and films including “Vise,” an invitation card to a Jackson family party in 1973, awards, and many other items from the King of Pop’s memorabilia.
Right now, the special helmet for the 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden is one of the items in the Beverly Hills Gallery. Michael signed it with black marker: "For Bouch, with love, Michael Jackson."
Another item is a T-shirt that Michael wore on June 23, 2009—two days before his death—during rehearsals for the This Is It tour. Also included are outfits from the History, Dangerous, and Bad tours; the jacket Michael wore when performing “Beat It” on stage; some of Michael’s outfits from the Jackson 5 era; white gloves; and, in short, outfits from his childhood up until just days before his death.
Perhaps, according to some, the most famous item among Michael Jackson’s outfits is the jacket from the Thriller trailer. This jacket was designed by Deborah Nadoolman (Nadoolman), the wife of the trailer video director, John Landis, before Bouch came onto the scene in 1983. Last June, this jacket sold for nearly two million dollars. (News)
Opposition to the Auction
After news broke that Michael Jackson’s outfits would be sold, Karen Faye, Michael’s makeup artist and a former collaborator of Michael Bouch, wrote on Twitter:
"I’m very upset that Michael Bouch has decided to sell iconic MJ outfits. Both Michael Bouch and I know that Michael’s wish was to create a museum with these clothes. MJ often talked to us about this. That’s why MJ trusted Michael Bouch and handed him his clothes... Fans who buy these outfits will make Michael Bouch richer. I won’t buy these outfits so I don’t add to his wealth."
Karen Faye (her hand around Michael’s neck) and Bouch on the left
Michael Bouch said he agreed to the auction not because of money, but because he couldn’t properly store these clothes and for charitable purposes.
The main reason for selling these outfits is the many problems involved in storing them. These historic garments have been kept for years in closets, inside boxes, and under Bouch’s bed.
"I can’t take care of them anymore. There’s a storage problem and moth damage. These are made of fabric, and they must be kept in a suitable place under specific temperature conditions."
According to Bouch, one of the shirts Michael wore for the performance of “Dirty Diana” has been exposed to destruction.
"This shirt is made from delicate French fabric. Over the 25 years that it has been taken out for display on mannequins and then put back in its place, it has deteriorated and is at risk of being destroyed."
Many fans expressed dissatisfaction with the sale of Michael’s outfits and tried to stop the auction by creating a Facebook page.
One of them wrote: "We have already lost some of Michael Jackson’s irreplaceable outfits through nine auctions held since his death. If we don’t stop this auction, there will be nothing left for his beloved children or for his future museum!"
Auction Stopped
Bouch, who had allocated a large portion of his clothing collection from Michael to the auction, changed his mind and donated them to the Michael Jackson estate as a gift so that a museum could be built from them. (News text)
On November 9, and almost a month before the auction was to take place, the Michael Jackson Foundation announced in an statement that the sale of Michael Jackson’s outfits had been prevented.
Michael Bouch wrote on his personal Facebook page that he has been deeply moved by the love and admiration fans have for Michael Jackson. Although these outfits were gifted to him by Michael, he is donating them to his foundation. Perhaps in the near or distant future, Michael’s and his fans’ long-standing dream will come true, and we will report on this page the news about reopening a museum of his outfits and memorabilia.
However, Michael Bouch refused to say which items he has provided to the Michael Jackson Foundation, and said that the Jackson family wants this information to remain hidden for now.
After the auction was announced, Bouch’s personal Facebook page was targeted by attacks, but when he withdrew some items from the auction, fans praised him. In response to one of the people who had praised his action, he wrote: "It’s better not to judge people before you’re fully aware of what’s going on." This remark created the suspicion that perhaps Bouch had intended to donate these items from the beginning.
Bouch says it was Michael’s wish for his clothes to be displayed in a museum and for a book about them to be written. Bouch is happy that he has been able to fulfill Michael’s wish.
This article continues...
Source: eMJey.com / Reuters & Associated Press