Style Icon

As part of Miles 100, journalist Kevin Le Gendre explores the impact of Miles Davis on jazz and beyond - into popular culture.

Davis's image evolved alongside his music from the mid-1940s all the way up until his death in 1991. His early look featured sharp suits (Workin') and casual authority (the iconic olive green shirt on Milestones). In the late '60s, influenced by his wife Betty Mabry and artists like Jimi Hendrix, he adopted looser, flamboyant, Afrocentric styles (dashikis, patch suede pants). His later 1980s outfits were outlandish, featuring shoulder pads and giant shades. Beyond aesthetics, his style held social and political weight; for instance, his elegant white jacket was stained with blood after being arrested outside a New York music venue in 1959. He defied convention up to his final album, Doo-Bop, showcasing a toned, bare-chested look.

Produced by Joby Waldman
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3