If it shone, shimmered, frilled and fluttered, it was sure to be found in the wardrobe of glam rockers in the late 1960s and 70s. The outrageous fashions burst forth in a dizzying array of sequins, feathers, lamé and glitter which bedecked glam bands like T. Rex, Slade, Sweet and the New York Dolls. Their appearance was androgynous, fantastic and extraterrestrial; no jumpsuit was too sparkly, no platform boot too tall (or sparkly) and the wigs looked like furry alien pets perched on their master’s head. The band KISS combined heavy metal music and glam rock extravagance to stage elaborate performances that were all about the spectacle.

No one exemplified the look better than glam icon David Bowie, whose alter ego Ziggy Stardust purported to be an actual Martian bringing glamour and sexual liberation to our drab little planet. Not only was there life on Mars but it was also a snappier dresser than you. His spiky orange hair, painted face and quasi space age clothes were emulated by thousands of fans around the world and were no doubt responsible for an equal number of parental headaches.

An entire generation of boys discovered the joys of flamboyance and effeminacy, eagerly adopting their idols’ gender bending garb and make-up. First British, then American teens strutted and preened in sequined shirts, feather boas, eyeliner and lipstick, with a layer of glitter covering everything for that intergalactic traveler look. As far removed from flower power simplicity as could possibly be, glam fashion transformed every kid into a rock star and lent a little extra touch of credibility to lonely sessions of air guitar, air drums and air singing into a microphone. Dresses and high heels weren’t just for girls any more; lip gloss gleamed from every boyish pout.

Glam’s glittering hand reached well into the 1980s, as bands like Poison posed for their album covers in rich make-up, tight pants and long, teased hair. A darker side of glam survives today, in the guise of shock rocker Marilyn Manson who embraces androgyny and oddity but steers clear of painted rainbows.