How Melbourne-based designer sexed up Rod Stewart’s image

The designer behind Rod Stewart’s most famous stage outfits has revealed her inspiration for some of the star’s iconic looks.

Melbourne-based costume designer Fleur Thiemeyer created state outfits for Rod Stewart. Picture: Wayne Taylor

As legendary hit-maker Rod Stewart rolls into Melbourne later this month, the St Kilda based fashion designer who created his most famous stage outfits for more than 20 years, has told of the inspiration behind some of those iconic looks.

Fleur Thiemeyer rose to the top of the international music business in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s as the go-to costume designer for artists such as Dolly Parton, Pat Benatar, Heart, Donna Summer, Liza Minnelli, KISS, Raquel Welch, Ozzy Osbourne, Bette Midler, The Pointer Sisters and Earth, Wind and Fire.

She took her dear friend Olivia Newton-John from diaphanous frocks over discreet bodysuits to the body-con, gym-look of her “Physical” era, dressed Motley Crue as Mad Max inspired hair metal warriors for their Shout At The Devil album and put Rocking Rod into spandex.

Melbourne-based costume designer Fleur Thiemeyer. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“It was not my intention to become a clothing designer, I was not someone drawing pictures at 15 thinking I am going to be the next Chanel,” Thiemeyer, 73, said.

“I was the brat from hell — I wasn’t scared of anyone, but it worked.”

Thiemeyer grew up in Melbourne immersed in the late ’60s and early ’70s music scene.

Lynne Randell introduced her to Jeff Joseph, Michael Gudinski and Garry Spry and she knew Roger Davies, Bon Scott, The Easybeats, Zoot, Russell Morris and Molly Meldrum.

She moved to London in the early ’70s with Darryl Cotton and then LA, and through him met Newton-John.

“It was because of Olivia I met Mr Stewart,” Thiemeyer said.

“We were at the pool at her house in LA and her friend Susan George called and said ‘can we come and visit?’

“When the red Lamborghini pulled up Susan gets out and Rod gets out the other side. That was 1977 because Olivia was in rehearsals for Grease.”

Rod Stewart on stage in a costume designed by Fleur Thiemeyer. Picture: Instagram

Rod Stewart in a stage outfit designed by Fleur Thiemeyer. Picture: Instagram

Thiemeyer joined Stewart and George at a club that evening.

“I wore a black spandex skin tight suit that looked like a swimsuit with legs, which became the prototype for what I made that went under Olivia’s beaded dresses,” she said.

“Rod looked at me and said ‘what the hell have you got on?’.

“He called the next day and I went on to work for him for 25 years.

“He had this idea of doing some costumes like Nijinsky and Russian ballet, and now he found the fabric (spandex) and the person who knew how to make that fabric work like he wanted.”

Thiemeyer famously created spandex one-shoulder bodysuits, skin tight leggings, billowing shirts, leopard print tops, and wide hip hugging belts, all of which defined Stewart’s ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy’ era.

Stewart wears a striped suit designed by Thiemeyer. Picture: Instagram

Leggings and a shirt and belt designed by Thiemeyer. Picture: Instagram

“There is not much being hidden in the clothes. He was so fluid in his movement and he was very, very fit,” she said.

“The studio who built a lot of those clothes for me and did the stoning, it was the same studio that built costumes for Liberace and Elvis.

“We used the belt patterns from Elvis. Ozzy (Osbourne) was wearing the capes and the belts too.”

Thiemeyer continued to create stage and wardrobe pieces for Stewart until the early 2000s when she moved back to Australia permanently.

Thiemeyer, who is still designing costumes today, said the secret to her success was hard work and trust.

“I was dependable, I had integrity, I had respect, I was damn good at my job,” she said.

“Trust is pretty mind boggling. They did not second guess me, they trusted me. I worked hard at my art, I did not take it for granted.”