Bowie Crowned Most Stylish Briton In History

David Bowie has been crowned the best-dressed Briton in history. The musician came top of the BBC History magazine's shortlist, which is chosen by various historians, fashion experts and curators.

Bowie - whose recent V&A retrospective was the fastest-selling exhibition in the museum's history - won 48.5 per cent of public votes. He was followed by Queen Elizabeth I in second place.

"David Bowie has received many accolades in his glittering career, but surely none of them compare to being voted the best-dressed Briton of all time," said the BBCmagazine's editor Rob Attar. "Bowie had to overcome a king, two queens and a political heavyweight to triumph in our poll, and in doing so has struck a blow for 20th- and 21st-century fashions." 

David Bowie

Other names to make the top 10 include Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, in third position and British dandy George "Beau" Brummell at number four, who was said to have spent six hours a day getting ready. Unexpected names to feature on the chart also include diarist Samuel Pepys and Henry III.