Michael Jackson's Stylist Rushka Bergman: "The King of Pop" Costume Exhibition

[bluesky]

As I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed the other morning, plopped down at the computer and slowly began slipping into my morning routine, I was struck by the trending topic everywhere I clicked -- Michael Jackson. I immediately felt a pang of discomfort as I was sure this trending had something to do with either Dr. Conrad Murray's trial and/or the controversial Jackson Family Tribute Concert recently held in England. But imagine my happy surprise as I clicked on the topic du jour and the first images that popped up were of Vogue editor Rushka Bergman and The King of Pop.
Well, it turns out while Mister GoLightly was out and about in the city that never sleeps, faithfulAmerica's Next Top Model fans were being treated to a trilogy of fabulousness, "The Kardashians, The Jacksons and La Rushka Bergman." Give me a moment while I collect myself from the thought of all this fabulosity in one place. Personally, I stopped watching Top Model after the outrageous and outspoken Miss Jay was removed from the judges' panel, but clearly from all of this morning and last night's online chatter, ANTM has life left in it yet. So as I sat in my chair, sipping a hot, steaming cup of regret, it suddenly dawned on me that I possessed something that 99.9 percent of the viewers of ANTM could only dream of -- Ms. Bergman's mobile number.
So, before my brain could catch up with my index finger, there I was, feverishly dialing one of the most genius and brilliant, not to mention busiest, fashion editors in the world hoping she would spare five minutes for an impromptu interview.

If any of you guys were tuned in the other evening, I am sure you can imagine that Rushka has a way of answering the telephone like no one else: "Hello daarrrllliiinnnggg -- It's Rrrrrrushka. Rrrrrrushka Bergman." I must admit, I'm always just a little tickled everytime I hear her sparkling voice accompanied by her dramatic accent. She is a total character -- a sort of Diana Vreeland meets Arianna Huffington. Smart, sassy, sophisticated, worldly, confident -- the list goes on and on. Rushka truly possesses all those magical qualities that one wishes for in a person that lives, breaths and worships fashion.
No matter what the topic, one is always struck by her honesty and compassion for her fellow creatives as well as the creative process. So there we were, all connected, with me dying to get her opinion on her latest television appearance on ANTM. But before I could get a word in edgewise, between the darlings, sweeties, and divines -- Ms. Bergman had invited yours truly to drop everything and meet her for an early lunch. Now, to the average fashion enthusiast, this might not seem like a big deal, but in my world this is like being granted an audience with the Pope, or at least the High Priestess of Chic. So I quickly rearranged my schedule, got myself all spruced up and off I went "lightly" into Gotham City to break bread with the fabulous Rushka Bergman.
Let me tell you, to walk down the city streets with Ms. Bergman of Italian Vogue is absolutely priceless. Everyone is staring at her -- but she is staring only at you. Rushka is like a walking encyclopedia of all things cool, next level and fine art. I don't even think she actually uses the word fashion in her vocabulary -- it's simply a given that it is at the epicenter of her universe. So imagine my shock once we had been seated for only a few minutes before she began explaining and sharing with me her top secret plans on her next big project. At one point I had to survey the lavish Italian restaurant to make sure I wasn't being punk'd. Once I realized it was all on the up-and-up, I immediately begged her to let me share this new information with my readers. At first my proposition was met with gracious and elegant resistance --but slowly I could see the catharsis taking place. I've had the unique pleasure in my career of working with some amazing artists, activists as well as revolutionaries, and there is always a point in the process when true visionaries realize that a project, idea or concept -- is much bigger than anything they could have ever envisioned. So imagine hearing these words come out of Rushka Bergman's own mouth -- Michael Jackson's Costume Exhibition.

I can't contain myself -- I'm still swooning over this revelation. A Michael Jackson Costume Exhibit curated by his personal stylist, confidant and friend -- Rushka Bergman. It's almost too brilliant and genius for Mister GoLightly to comprehend.
It turns out that Ms. Bergman has been quietly working on this project for several years and has been holding it very close to her vest as well as her heart. I even got the feeling that perhaps Rushka and Michael may have been secretly planning this exhibition well before his passing. I will admit, at a certain point I became a bit teary-eyed as I listened to her explain the visual symphony of such an undertaking; the costumes, the designers, the archives, the music, the beads, the GLOVE. With everything she was planning and envisioning, one thing struck me -- there was never a mention of money, budget, fame or profit. This is so rare these days, as whenever you normally hear the name Michael Jackson it is always followed by the proverbial sound of "kerching-kerching!" As Ms. Bergman continued to describe her daunting plans in her harmonic English meets Italian meets Serbian vernacular, I found myself once again covered in goose bumps. I knew that not only was I privy to listening to the beginning stages of perhaps one of the greatest costume exhibits of our life time, but I was also bearing witness to a true labor of love.
As our lunch date came to an end and I was forced to go back to my reality of subways, sirens and Gotham -- I couldn't help but look back at Rushka's smiling and satisfied face and think to myself, "Michael Jackson is somewhere smiling down on his dear friend and giving her his blessing."
Now that I'm back home, safe and sound, let me see if I can dig up the number to Harold Koda, Curator of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I know I must have it somewhere (because I keep track of these things)... If Mr. Koda thinks he had a record breaker with Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty -- just wait until Micheal Jackson -- THE KING OF POP hits the hallowed halls of the MET!
Photos courtesy of Rushka Bergman Studios.
ANTM photo (center) courtesy of the CW.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/malcol...b_1010843.html

[qbee]

I found myself once again covered in goose bumps. I knew that not only was I privy to listening to the beginning stages of perhaps one of the greatest costume exhibits of our life time, but I was also bearing witness to a true labor of love....

Micheal Jackson -- THE KING OF POP hits the hallowed halls of Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This is very exciting to me _ I want the whole world to honor Michael in every way possible
To be able see his costumes in an art musem makes me so happy and bring tears to my eyes ( I know Im corny)

[gerryevans]

Thank you so much for posting.

[Memefan]

OMG!! my dream coming true... I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!!

I hope this happens next year......Rushka would do an amazing job. She loves & respect MJ.

[Rhilo]

Rushka sounds cool, and it's great that Michael is being paid tribute through a costume exhibit.

[myosotis]

Hmmmm....I wonder who she plans on working with? Does she have any of Michael's outfits at all?
I'll reserve judgement til we hear more...

[Sophielo]

Rushka would do an amazing job with this and I always though her relationship with Michael was so sweet.

[moodyblue97]

Hmmmm....I wonder who she plans on working with? Does she have any of Michael's outfits at all?
I'll reserve judgement til we hear more...

I´m wondering too now. What did she design for him? From what I know she only styled him.

Bush and Co talked about how his clothes belongs in a museum, so why do they wait? They don´t want to work with the estate or what?

[Petrarose]

Moody Some of his clothes are already in a museum. I have seen them, although so much of his things have been sold, one wonders what is left. This sounds as a good project, if it is done correctly. I wonder if she would team up with Bush, since he made clothes for Michael for years.

[Memefan]

I´m wondering too now. What did she design for him? From what I know she only styled him.

Bush and Co talked about how his clothes belongs in a museum, so why do they wait? They don´t want to work with the estate or what?

Well, I hope she doesn't bring Bush & co on board.

Best would be for her to get clothes from the estate. Bush & co don't own the clothes they designed for MJ...MJ did. Unless he gifted them the clothes..as we've seen with the Thriller jacket, they care more about getting $$$ than protecting these artefacts.

I believe MJ still own lots of his costumes...because he had planned to open a museum.

[moodyblue97]

Moody Some of his clothes are already in a museum. I have seen them, although so much of his things have been sold, one wonders what is left. This sounds as a good project, if it is done correctly. I wonder if she would team up with Bush, since he made clothes for Michael for years.

Yes, I've seen many of them too, Grammy's for an example. Estate owns a lot of his clothes. And it seem a lot of his stage clothes are still with Bush.
Whatever we think of Bush, he did a good job through the years, giving Michael what he wanted, giving him his own style. How he looked throughout the three big world tours, all the videos and trial. Amazing.

[Memefan]

Yes, I've seen many of them too, Grammy's for an example. Estate owns a lot of his clothes. And it seem a lot of his stage clothes are still with Bush.
Whatever we think of Bush, he did a good job through the years, giving Michael what he wanted, giving him his own style. How he looked throughout the three big world tours, all the videos and trial. Amazing.

I don't believe this to be the case. When you pay a designer to create a piece for you, you paid for their services, but the clothes are yours.

MJ paid Bush & Tompkins to create his clothes, they do not by default own them. Unless MJ gifted them, his estate owns them. We have seen quite a few pieces at the London Exhibit and some of the iconic pieces are to loan at the grammy museum.

Bush & co are useless..and Bergman could pull this off if she gets the right people on board.

[love is magical]

Yes, I've seen many of them too, Grammy's for an example. Estate owns a lot of his clothes. And it seem a lot of his stage clothes are still with Bush.
Whatever we think of Bush, he did a good job through the years, giving Michael what he wanted, giving him his own style. How he looked throughout the three big world tours, all the videos and trial. Amazing.

Exactly! We might not like Michael Bush auctioned out one of the Thriller jackets. But, we still cannot ignore the fact that Bush & Tomplins created clothes for Michael, helped Michael to create his own unique style and dressed him for DECADES. Bush was there with Michael throughout BAD, Dangerous and HIStory tours. All those styles are iconic.

The leather jacket and buckles in the BAD era.

The white suit and fedora in Smooth Criminal.

The blue shirt in TWYMMF.

The outfit that is inspired by fencing attire in the Dangerous Tour.

The gold jumpsuit in the HIStory Tour.

Michael Bush had inputs in all of the above. Furthermore, Michael Bush created all the suits that Michael wore during the 2005 trial. He helped dressing him every morning of the darkest chapter of Michael's life. I don't understand how a Michael Jackson Costume Exhibition can be complete without getting Bush and Tompkins on board. Rushka Bergman styled Michael in 2007 for the Vouge photo shoot and thereafter. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love the way Michael looked in Balmain. The jackets he wore during the TII rehearsals are to-die-for. Rushka did a great job; but, the style is not the level of works Michael Bush created with Michael throughout Michael's career.

If we want to get a meaningful study of Michael's costume, I believe it's necessary to seek inputs from Bush & Tompkins. I cannot discredit Michael Bush's contributions just becasue I disagree with certain of his recent actions. A sophisticated exhibition is much more than displaying a piece of clothing in a museum setting. It'll be much more inspiring and interesting if they include the backgrounds and stories of each piece. Michael Bush is a great source for all these details.

[Ashtanga]

Rushka did a great job; but, the style is not the level of works Michael Bush created with Michael throughout Michael's career.

[Memefan]

The BAD jacket wasn't created by Michael Bush..MJ found it in a store in Santa Monica, if I remember correctly.

I do not care how much input MB & DT had...I just don't want them involved in any way shape or form. They are backstabbers...best they are kept away.