Freddie Mercury: frontman and fashion icon

In the years after his death, Freddie Mercury has become synonymous with flamboyance. His work and legacy have gone on to influence maverick musicians from Lady Gaga to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and fellow icon David Bowie. During the early days of Queen, Mercury announced: “I’m not going to be a star, I’m going to be a legend”. Even until the end, when he performed frail and gaunt in the video for “These are the Days Of Our Lives”, Mercury maintained professionalism, heart and unabashed style with every show. 

Alongside his powerful vocals, a relationship with his audience that Kurt Cobain felt envious enough of mention in his suicide letter, and a mighty moustache, Mercury’s reputation as one of the original fashion subversives still prevails today. He reached a pinnacle of fame that very few can match, where every element of his character and aesthetic is universally recognised and frequently copied, using fashion and design as a means for constant reinvention. Seamlessly springing from catsuits to military jackets, Freddie Mercury's style was in a constant flux of reinvention. Glam was defined across the eras by A Night At The Opera where Mercury donned a satin number for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, his monochrome catsuit in “We are the Champions”, and his iconic tank top and studded arm band for his Live Aid 1985 performance.

Here we revisit some of the Queen frontman’s best moments in style during his flamboyant reign.

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