HE KING OF STYLE: Dressing Michael Jackson is the first art-driven book about the costumes, apparel, shoes and accessories worn by Michael Jackson, including hundreds of lavish photographs and a behind-the-scenes look into the process of collaborating with him on the making of his wardrobe, written by his longtime costume designer Michael Bush. It’s a fascinating look at the intersection of music and fashion, as well as an homage to Michael’s brilliant fusing of costume, personality, and performance to create his iconic image.

For more than 24 years, Michael Bush, together with his partner Dennis Tompkins, worked personally with Michael to create some of the most original and indelible clothing ever worn by a musical performer. Using their professional background in theatrical costume construction and dance, they created thousands of custom artistic pieces that captured the essence of a one-of-a-kind pop star.

THE KING OF STYLE will feature exquisite photographs of the striking fashions worn by Michael at the height of his career, as well as images showing the carefully planned construction of the clothes to incorporate his unique dance moves and the details of the dynamic fabrics, metals and other materials used. Accompanying text will provide insight into the artists’ methodology and fascinating stories from their decades-long relationship. Their stories are funny and touching, and show a human and artistic side of Michael Jackson not seen in the various other books about him on the market.

The book’s range of illustrations and text will be broad, including the international Bad, Dangerous and HIStory tours, the evolution of the iconic "Thriller" jacket over the years, a patented shoe device the author invented with him that allowed him to recreate his captivating anti-gravity "lean" move live onstage, hand-stitching the trademark rhinestone gloves, dressing Michael off the stage, creating items for Neverland, and encounters with Bubbles the Chimp. The author has unparalleled access to photographs and costumes from his own and the estate’s archives, including many rarely seen or previously unpublished images.


THE KING OF STYLE is also an exclusive look at Michael Jackson's love of fashion and impact on popular culture. A modern day P.T. Barnum and a master illusionist, he had a keen awareness of his role as an entertainer, and a highly imaginative, specific vision of the image he wanted to project — from the military silhouettes and regalia to edgier street looks. For his millions of fans around the globe as well as fashion lovers, THE KING OF STYLE will provide a new and different perspective of Michael Jackson’s artistry, and serve as a lavish celebration of his dramatic sense of style.

Celebrities and fashion luminaries have provided endorsements, including Philip Treacy and Celine Dion. The author will donate a percentage of the proceeds received from the sales of the book to MusiCares.

The book is being published by Insight Editions for release on October 30, 2012. It is available for pre-orders in our online store here at dressingmichaeljackson.com and via the major online book retailers.

Despite the efforts of the Estate of Michael Jackson, some brave people in the far Japan are still using MJ's image... illegally.

See my previous entry on this matter: http://lesliemjhu.blogspot.hu/2010/07/mich...ghts-story.html

The "Michael Jackson Asia Rights Co. Ltd." is still active, and coming up with new "surprises". Like a "Jackson family dinner" held sometime this July with the participation of guess who? Josehp Jackson and Dieter Wiesner. Only 50 people could attend the event, that had a special Neverland dinner amongst others.

The company furthermore announced on their own that from July 10, 2012 they decided to sell "official" MJ items. See the whole list here: http://mja-rights.com/img/news/Mjgoods.pdf

Well, It seems they did not read the recent news regarding Howard Mann's copyright infrigment case.

A little tidbit: The funds from The Michael Jackson Estate to the children are distributed to a Delaware company, called "PPB LLC" (as "Prince Paris Blanket LLC"). It has been registered on November 4, 2010. Already over 10 million dollars has been moved to the company's account.

Another two entities are registered for the same, or almost the same purpose: PPB II LLC in Delaware (August 15, 2011), and PPB (NV), LLC in Nevada (June 27, 2012).

If I should speculate, I would say that the Estate will not only distribute funds through these companies, but will move MJ's (maybe debt free) entities under these new companies/trusts. The multiple names, especially if registered in different states may refer to that.

Ross "wanted to meet with the children in person, as well as Katherine Jackson, to be sure that this was really the best thing for everyone involved. If Diana needed to step in, she would. Diana just believes that the children are better off with their grandmother and cousin, TJ Jackson, at this point. Diana made sure that all of the children, especially Paris, had her personal cell phone number, so that they could reach her anytime," an insider told us.

"Diana has no qualms whatsoever about the new custody agreement; she only wants what is best for the children. Diana knows that the children are old enough to decide who they want to live with and she defers to what they want. While Diana hasn't been a big part of their lives because she lives on the East Coast, she is very fond of them," a source close to the situation previously told us.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff is expected to formally sign off on the custody agreement on Wednesday, August 22, which will permanently give co-guardianship of the kids to Katherine and TJ Jackson.

A federal judge ruled Friday that a businessman working with Michael Jackson’s mother has violated copyrights owned by the singer’s estate and should be blocked from future uses of the work.

U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson sided with the singer’s estate in a ruling against Howard Mann and thewebsite www.michaeljacksonsecretvault.com , which appeared to be inactive Friday morning.

The estate sued Mann in January 2011, claiming he was violating copyrights and posed unfair competition to Jackson’s estate. Pregerson ruled that the website improperly used art from the film “This Is It,” a logo featuring Jackson and the song “Destiny,” as well as other material.

“In light of defendants’ past and present infringement, it is also undisputed that future violations are likely, causing ongoing harm to plaintiffs and misled consumers,” Pregerson wrote.

An upcoming trial will address damages, although the judge noted that Mann and the site probably will not be able to pay any amount because of debts.

A phone message for one of Mann’s lawyers, Lee Durst, was not immediately returned Friday. Mann has collaborated with Katherine Jackson, who is a beneficiary of the singer’s estate, on several projects, including a book of recollections about her son. Several of the Jackson Secret Vault releases occurred at the same time as estate projects were being released, including the anniversary of Jackson’s death and the release of the album “Michael” in December 2010.

Mann’s attorneys recently wrote in court filings that they hoped to introduce evidence during the upcoming trial that the singer’s will was a fraud. The businessman had claimed he obtained rights to the works in a bankruptcy sale years ago, but Pregerson ruled there was no evidence that the items could be used commercially.

“The court’s ruling makes clear that Howard Mann had no right to use Michael Jackson’s intellectual property for his own benefit,” attorney Zia Modabber, who represented the estate in the case, wrote in a statement. Estate attorney Howard Weitzman said executors John Branca and John McClain are “extremely pleased” by the ruling.