Our rendezvous had taken on the starkness of an endgame.

NEWYORKER: The King of Sentences

Today's headlines have rightly focused on the starkness of David Cameron's message - his warning that the world could soon be staring down the barrel if eurozone governments don't tackle their debt and their lack of competitiveness.

BBC: Global economy: Britain out of Europe

In addition, the starkness of those e-mails and the spotlight that they shined on ugly truths about stock touting and deep-seated conflicts of interest on Wall Street shocked investors and destroyed investor confidence for a decade.

FORBES: Traders Say The Darnedest Things

Ms. Broackes's own Bowie highlights include a 1974 Terry O'Neill photograph of David Bowie with Beat writer William S. Burroughs (hand-colored by Bowie), the Alexander McQueen jacket from his 1997 "Earthling" album cover and the mannered starkness of Mr. Bowie's Thin White Duke garb from 1976.

WSJ: Bowie Is Back | 'David Bowie Is' at the V&A