Freddie Mercury’s party-worn red vest, jacket and belt, 1980s

A black nylon blouson padded jacket with shaped leather fastening tab at neck, blue inset panels at shoulders, large white metal zip fastening, black knitted cuffs, collar and hem, electric blue lining with two interior pockets, labelled ‘Asphalt 1982’; a red elastane weight-lifter’s style vest, with white trim, unlabelled; and a black leather belt with white metal disc-shaped studs – Freddie wore this, or an identical vest, for his 38th birthday party at London’s Xenon nightclub; photographs taken on the night show him cutting into a five-foot cake in the form of a red vintage Rolls Royce. Possibly on the same occasion, either arriving or leaving the party, photographs show him wearing an identical jacket and belt with red vinyl trousers.

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