Rock Around the Clock A Look At the Evolution of Elvis
Elvis Costume Ideas
Elvis: The Superstars Iconic Costume Evolution
When you think of Elvis Presley, the first thing that comes to mind is his iconic style. He was known for his ostentatious costumes, scandalous dancing and over-the-top performances. While other artists at the time were dressing in simple suits or jeans and t-shirts, Elvis was onstage in glitzy jumpsuits and flashy collars. His style was so unique and recognizable that even 40 years after his death, we are here comparing how his style evolved from low-key bowler shirts to the ever-famous American Eagle jumpsuit!
With the new movie ‘Elvis’, we get a look at what life was like when this legendary rock’ n’ roll star started it all! Join me as I take you through some of his most iconic outfits and stage costumes! But first let's have a round of applause for Austin and his portrayal of the greatest rockstar to grace the stage!
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1954 Elvis
Elvis Presley’s first live show was on July 30, 1954 at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis, Tennessee. He was just eighteen years old at the time! He began his career of style with an understated white shirt and black tie, paired with zoot suit pants. A far cry from the luxurious Western-Vegas wear we see in his later years.
1955 Elvis
Let’s take it back to 1955, a time when the world was changing massively. The cold war was happening, civil rights movements were only beginning, microwaves were just invented, and the world was going insane at the thought of the nuclear weapons. Is this the reason fashion had become so personified? Were people sick of the restraints of the 1950’s and the housewife fashion that had become the norm? Is that why one a man wearing a pink suit with long hair changed the face of music and artist fashion forever?
1957 Elvis
1957 is the beginning of the true out-there Elvis styles. His gold tux, made by Nudie Cohn, was worn a total of three times at live shows and once for a shoot for an album cover. It shows the change between his uniform-style and Fashion Icon.
1957, November 8th. Elvis Presley’s first music video clip aired on television for the song “Jailhouse Rock.” The following day, they released the single. This is where we see Elvis’ style really take hold. The two-minute and thirty-second video featured Presley dancing and singing in a jail cell, in the now iconic outfit. This is one of the easiest and most recreated outfits! A simple black and white prison-styled striped shirt paired with a black leather jacket popular with Greasers back in the day.
1961 Elvis
1961 sees Mr. Presley in movie number #8, Blue Hawaii. This 60s classic is where we see a more relaxed Elvis Presley, as he strums his ukulele and sings love ballads on the beaches. The outfit that stands out for me is the Red Hawaiian shirt, with a yellow lei. It is so easy to recreate, with only a few required accessories for the look!
1965 Elvis
1965 shows us Elvis really knows who he is, in terms of style. By this time we start to see a pattern of understated elegance with an edge. His authentic style shows through these years, especially when he wasn’t on stage. Any way you could wear a bowling shirt, Elvis had a much better way. His pre show uniform always had the perfectly coiffed hair, pressed bowling shirt tucked in, statement rings and a pair of socks top match the colour scheme. No one dressed this well anymore!
1972 Elvis
From 1972, we really see the glitz and the glam in his stage outfits shine. One of the first jumpsuits Elvis wore on stage was the Black Butterfly. Teaming with costume designer Bill Belew, the two made an unstoppable team of creativity and show stopping fashion! It is around this time we see a decline in Elvis’ physical side.
1973 Elvis
1973, Elvis Presley was videotaped at the Convention Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was the first program to ever be beamed around the world by satellite, viewed by over 1.5 billion people! Which is a huge amount of people for a day where TV’s are just becoming the norm! The jumpsuit he wore had two versions, one for rehearsal and one for the show. It appears to be the first version of his incredible and iconic American Eagle jumpsuit.
1975 Elvis
1975 shows the world Elvis’ stardom reach it’s peak. Fans would line the streets of Graceland everyday hoping to glimpse the King himself, clocking 76 concerts for the year, all while struggling with health issues and a hefty prescription addiction. His style is still very glitzy during this time, and the only actual change is he is now 40 years old and a little rounder around the belly.
1977 Elvis
1977 brings us the sad news of the death of Elvis Aaron Presley. His last show, just two months before his untimely passing, he wore the Mexican Sundial jumpsuit. This suit was first seen in 1974 in Lake Tahoe, and not seen again till his last show. This seems fitting, as it’s one of the most detailed and luxurious of his western-Vegas style jumpsuits!
Top Elvis Presley Costumes
Now that we've had a good look at the evolution of Elvis throughout the years, it's only fitting to outline some of our favourite costumes!!
And that’s that! I hope you enjoyed looking back on the evolution of Presley’s iconic stage outfits and fashion with me, and maybe even found your own inspiration to celebrate the opening of ‘ELVIS’!
Don’t forget, we love to see all of your incredible costume creations!
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Until Next Time….
