Why did Elvis Presley change his fashion style?
In the late 1960s, desperate for a music career revival after spending years making Hollywood films, Elvis Presley dramatically shifted his image. Prior to his days as an actor, Presley was best known for looks that featured bright colors, tight pants, and slicked-back hair.
However, to keep up with the changing times, Presley introduced fans to a new, raw style. This was indicated in the Singer special, also known as the ‘
Elvis Presley began a fashion revolution in the early 1970s with his elaborately detailed attire. Presley’s sleek jumpsuits were immortalized in his Aloha From Hawaii television special and the feature film Elvis. The author of the book “Elvis: From Zoot Suits to Jumpsuits” stated that Presley’s “body-accentuating” jumpsuits lent a “seductive” air to his performances.
Elvis Presley wears his infamous Aloha From Hawaii jumpsuit | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Why did Elvis Presley change his fashion style?
In the late 1960s, desperate for a music career revival after spending years making Hollywood films, Elvis Presley dramatically shifted his image. Prior to his days as an actor, Presley was best known for looks that featured bright colors, tight pants, and slicked-back hair.
However, to keep up with the changing times, Presley introduced fans to a new, raw style. This was indicated in the Singer special, also known as the ‘68 comeback special. Presley donned a leather jacket and pants that appeared painted on, and a new era of the singer’s career was born.
As the 60s turned to the 70s and fashion changed even further, Presley adapted to the times by working with his costume designer to enhance his look with jumpsuits. Accessorized with fringe, stones, and multicolored studs, these stage outfits became an essential part of his on-stage persona until he died in 1977.
Elvis Presley’s ‘body accentuating’ jumpsuits were ‘seductive,’ claims author
Elvis Presley wears an embellished, white jumpsuit at a 1972 concert | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Tailor Gene Douchette was the man who crafted Elvis Presley’s iconic jumpsuits. In a story for The Guardian in 2010, Doucette said the jumpsuits “allowed [Presley] to move around onstage without worrying about getting his clothing snagged on something.”
The descostumes’ design drew inspiration from high Napoleonic collars and the needs of Presley’s high-intensity, karate, and dance-filled performances. From that point on, a jumpsuit swiftly became his performance staple.
Zoey Goto, author of Elvis: From Zoot Suits to Jumpsuits, claimed that the king of rock and roll pushed forth the idea of male sensuality with these now-iconic costumes. Goto explained these looks proved Presley was still capable of pushing boundaries.
“Elvis’ body-accentuating jumpsuits fell very much within the seductive fashion zeitgeist. Men started to occupy the erotic gaze,” Goto said. Presley’s fashion choices helped define an era for performers of the 1970s.
“By the time Elvis hit the Vegas stage, he’d spent a decade peeking behind Hollywood’s curtain and was a show business world veteran So, he packaged up the jumpsuits as part of a larger, epic stage experience that he delivered to audiences during the ’70s,” Goto said.
How heavy were Elvis Presley’s elaborately beaded jumpsuits?
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Did you know one of #Elvis’ jumpsuits featured unicorns? Check out his Black Brocade Suit from 1970 and you’ll find unicorns! #nationalunicornday #elvispresley #graceland #memphis #jumpsuit #fashion
Source:: Showbiz Cheat Sheet
