Step Back In Time For Your Formal Theatre Look
What better place to source your ‘creative black-tie’ outfit inspiration than from the wardrobe of the style icon himself?
With undeniable style through the ages, Elvis broke the boundaries of Men’s Fashion and within the fashion industry itself. With many iconic looks over the years, Presley’s early wardrobe, throughout most of 1950s, was very much him and is what marks him as a true style icon.
We have curated outfit inspiration from Elvis’s classic 50’s style and some luxurious looks to get you ready for a formal night out at the theatre! Of course, we can’t gush about Elvis without shouting out his other half, Priscilla Presley, a fashion icon herself!
Staples of Elvis’s Style to Emulate
Specific to the 50’s (and beyond, of course) Elvis exuded class and style, he’d pick up his looks from Lanksy Bros where he was a loyal customer all his life. His signature look during this decade was a pair of clean cut slacks cropped at the ankle, a Cuban collar shirt, loafers paired with white or pastel patterned socks, and finished with a simplistic blazer. Not as daunting as it seems, eh?
An interesting fact about Elvis, he wouldn’t wear jeans, no matter how fashionable they became. Presley associated jeans or ‘working clothes’ with his poor upbringing. If you ever come across an image of Elvis in jeans it is likely from a scene of a movie he starred in. Ironically enough, Elvis allowed the famous denim company Levi’s to use his name for their ‘Elvis Presley’ style, the first black pair of denim jeans!
In honor of Elvis’s fashion no, jeans are not encouraged at this event
Glitz and Glam it up!
Thanks to Elvis, a bit of glitz and glam doesn’t equate to poor taste when worn with a gracious attitude. It’s totally the occasion to go full glam for this one, and wear that sequinned statement gown or embellished jacket, and to feel great about it!
The celebs draw inspiration from the King’s style by wearing simplistic silhouettes and bold colours for the Elvis premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Speaking of red, did you know that Elvis redecorated the living room in his Graceland Mansion with red carpet, red velvet furniture and red satin drapes? We’re sensing a theme here, Elvis. It is now referred to as the Graceland Mansion’s ‘red phase’ which is how the mansion was styled when he died in 1977.
Enter Priscilla…
Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s muse for 14 years or so and his wife for 6, had the fashion sense to hold her own with the King. Priscilla and Elvis focused on always staying dressed up for each other, they saw it as a form of affection and care for one another.
Throughout the years Priscilla has served up looks that helped to define important eras of fashion. In 1974 she even opened her own boutique, Bis & Beau, in Los Angeles, California with her friend and designer, Olivia Bis.
Get a little more insight into Priscilla’s looks through the decades here. You can also break down her iconic looks with Priscilla herself as she goes through her Life in Looks with Vogue!
And Finally, Hair & Make Up!
The finishing touches that can make or break any look are hair and make up, and we all know that Elvis was all about the hair!
Pompadour’s slicked with gel, back combed beehive style do’s, accompanied by extended cat eye eyeliner, defined eyebrows, and nude lip where calling cards of Elvis and Priscilla’s looks.
Fortunately, you won’t have to use Vaseline to style your pompadour like Elvis did as a teenager! Did you know Elvis’s personal hair stylist, Larry Geller, would go to the grocery store to make his own mixture for Elvis’s hair? He would combine a basic shampoo, aloe vera, and other special herbs to create a perfect hold for the King’s hair.
