David Bowie Life On Mars Costume Guide

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What You’ll Need

David Bowie’s appearance in the 1973 “Life on Mars?” promo film strips glam rock down to pure color and sharp tailoring. Set against an endless white cyclorama, the entire presentation hinges on four distinct color blocks: a crisp powder-blue suit, vibrant electric blue eyeshadow, warm candy-pink lips, and an unmistakable shock of fiery orange hair.

Recreating this outfit is less about hunting down complex props and much more about balance. When your garments have clean lines and the cosmetics are applied with deliberate precision, the entire presentation holds together immediately.

The Ice-Blue Suit and Neckwear

Freddie Burretti originally designed the two-piece with high armholes, pointed lapels, and flared trousers that flattered Bowie’s slender frame. A set like the Powder Blue Polyester Suit, Tie, and Shirt Costume gives you the foundation in one package, matching the jacket, trousers, shirt, and necktie in the necessary pastel tone.

If you plan to alter an off-the-rack suit, pay closest attention to the leg length and sleeve cuffs. The trousers should drape cleanly down to the shoe line with just a gentle break over the vamp, preventing fabric from bunching up. Keep the matching tie anchored tightly beneath the collar in a compact four-in-hand knot so the lines around your throat stay slim and elongated.

Under bright lights, lightweight polyester can generate heat quickly, so wearing a thin, sweat-wicking undershirt underneath keeps the light blue fabric protected from perspiration marks. The shirt collar can sit slightly outside or cleanly inside the jacket lapels depending on how pronounced you want the period collar wings to show.

Studio Makeup and Cosmetics

The video lighting created a pale, porcelain appearance that eliminated natural skin undertones. Applying Clown White Professional Makeup provides that flat, studio-ready base. Dab the cream base onto moisturized skin with a damp beauty sponge to build an even layer, then press a generous dusting of translucent setting powder across your face so the makeup stays locked in place and will not brush off onto the pale jacket collar.

Because full white greasepaint tends to crease around natural expression lines, keep the coverage sheer around the smile lines and eyelids. That prevents heavy product buildup while letting the vibrant pigment of the eye makeup take center stage.

The vivid blue eye makeup dominates the face. Using the Blue Jumbo Eye Pencil, block out the color across the entire mobile eyelid, blending upward toward the brow bone and out past the outer corners into a soft wing. Trace the same pencil along the lower lash line to encircle the eye completely. Finish with a coat of black mascara on both upper and lower lashes, and lightly define the natural eyebrows with a soft pencil to frame the upper half of the face.

The mouth requires a bright, creamy contrast against the cool-toned eyes and pale foundation. Applying Bombshell Pink Lipstick with a firm lip brush yields crisp edges and full coverage. A satin or glossy finish mirrors the original studio footage far better than a modern ultra-matte liquid lipstick.

Hair Styling and Shoes

The hair demands an unapologetic shade of bright tangerine. An Orange 70s Rocker Mullet Wig provides the foundation with its short, spiky crown and longer feathered layers reaching the nape. Take a comb and a dab of styling wax to separate the crown spikes and give them upward lift, then gently brush the side layers backward around the ears so they do not crowd your eye makeup.

Synthetic wig fibers can carry an artificial shine right out of the package. A quick mist of dry shampoo softens that plastic sheen, helping the fiery shade look far more natural under direct light.

Two-tone Black and White Oxford Dress Shoes anchor the lower half of the outfit with authentic early-1970s styling. The white wingtip and black quarters break up the solid pastel fabric of the trousers as you walk. Keeping the leather clean and scuff-free maintains the sleek, studio-lit aesthetic from head to toe.