MICHAEL JACKSON

This item dates from the period of Michael Jackson’s major concerts in the early 1980s, a time when stage costumes became a key element in shaping his public image. It is part of the visual language of the Victory Tour, where visibility from a distance, the way light is captured, and the shaping of the silhouette were key design considerations.

The available documentary evidence links the garment to the Victory Tour and to the performance of ‘Billie Jean’. Its technical construction, notably the absence of a lining and the garment’s structure, suggests a connection with a specific photograph of Michael Jackson on stage on 25 June 1983, captured by Kevin Mazur / WireImage. By analogy of construction, provenance and technical characteristics, this sequinned jacket could correspond to the one visible in this photograph, though it does not allow for formal identification or a photo-match based on a verified appearance.

The provenance is based on two testimonies from members of his professional entourage, which will be provided to the purchaser. The first, from Mike W. Hirsh, then stage manager of the Victory Tour, states in a letter dated 14 June 2017 that he received the garment directly from Michael Jackson and that it was worn on stage during the tour. The second, from Keith Holman, assistant to Bill Whitten, Michael Jackson’s costume designer, identifies the jacket as a design created and worn by the artist during the 1983–1984 Victory Tour.

The item is a black sequinned jacket, with an inner label bearing the words “Bill Whitten” as described. It features the hallmarks of stage costumes from the Victory Tour period: a highly reflective surface, a design adapted to the constraints of stage lighting, and high visibility during performances.