Elvis impersonators playing their Elvis Tribute performances almost always adopt the Elvis Presley jumpsuit as their stage costume. It is the iconic stage costume still instantly associated with Elvis around the world long after he passed on in 1977.
In fact the jumpsuit was preferred on stage by Elvis only late in his career. After his comeback television concert in 1968, he regularly performed in Las Vegas until his death in 1977. It was his Las Vegas years 1969-1977 that were his jumpsuit wearing years.
When Elvis began to perform in Las Vegas it was also the time of the 1960s Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., among others. Their singing style as crooners contrasted sharply with the King of Rock style of Elvis. He wanted to mark this difference with a distinctive stage costume quite different from the tuxedo that they preferred to wear on stage.
Elvis Jumpsuit
He turned to Bill Belew, the designer who developed the leather outfit he wore for his 1968 comeback show.
Below was inspired initially by the interest Elvis had in karate, and his first costume concept resembled a karate martial arts suit. This quickly evolved into a one piece jumpsuit made in wool gabardine, with a Napoleonic collar, deep cut neck line, pointed sleeve cuffs and flared legs. This basic concept remained the basis for the jumpsuits that followed.
For the Aloha Hawaii concerts a cape was introduced, which was soon shortened to waist length because the longer version proved cumbersome on stage, and prone to grabbing by fans. These concerts also added a distinctly American look, with a wide belt with a large belt buckle and an American eagle design on the chest. Metal and rhinestone studding became a feature.
By 1974 the cape was phased out and the emphasis turned to elaborate embroidery work, in which the talented Gene Douchette played a leading role. The jumpsuit costumes became works of art, with the cost said to have reached as much as $10,000 per costume. The similarity of the later jumpsuits to the elaborate costumes worn by Spanish matadors has been noticed by some observers.
A wide range of designs were made, with diverse themes. There followed versions with beading, fringes, wings and other additions. Decorative designs were inspired by an eagle, flower, butterfly, rainbow, peacock, prehistoric bird, king of spades, target, owl and more, and the suits came in a spectrum of bright colors. Some 56 remain in the Elvis Jumpsuits Exhibit collection at Graceland in Memphis, and others are in private ownership.
