1988 English Rock Song by the ‘Best Dressed Rock Star' Became an MTV Anthem

Robert Palmer was an iconic singer who had several huge hits throughout his career, from "Addicted to Love" to "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)." One of the most memorable songs that rose all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him his second Grammy was "Simply Irresistible."

This 1988 song was accompanied by a popular music video directed by a British fashion photographer named Terence Donovan. Donovan also worked on Palmer's "Addicted to Love" video, which was considered "fashion's favorite video" by The Guardian.

In addition to being a well-known singer and songwriter, Palmer was known for his unique fashion sense. He was named the "Best Dressed Rock Star" in Rolling Stone magazine's 1990 Readers' Poll, mainly due to his love of suits.

"I just always felt comfortable in a suit and tie," the star said in a 1996 interview with theL.A. Daily News. "It's served me well, because I never got aligned with any fashion trend. I simply believed that if you're going to be in public, dress up."

Palmer wore an outfit from Giorgio Armani when he was on the July 1988 cover of GQ, which is widely considered the most influential men's fashion magazine in the world. "He has a great personal style; he's definitely one of the most stylish guys in rock and roll," said Eliot Kaplan, the managing editor of GQ at the time. "I don't know what he wears to the beach, but the man is impeccable."

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However, according to the Anchorage Daily News, Palmer didn't agree that he was the best-dressed man in rock, saying, "Well, my hair's a mess at the moment. I'm the most conservatively dressed person you've ever seen. And they say I've got style? Forget about it. It's all a lot of nonsense." Then he referenced his iconic GQ cover and said, "Look at my face in the picture. That's how I felt about it. It was a silly gig, wasn't it?"

Palmer died in 2003 at the age of 54 after suffering a heart attack. Duran Duran issued a statement at the time that said, "He was a very dear friend and a great artist. This is a tragic loss to the British music industry."

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 6:15 AM.