The recent release of Baz Lurhmann’s biopic Elvis has many revisiting the music and style of the King of Rock and Roll.
Considering Elvis Presley’s style may conjure that gold lamé suit or those rhinestone-laden jumpsuits from the ‘70s, but the King knew when to tone it down. He was certainly a clotheshorse, his vast closet running the gamut between gaudy stagewear and tasteful tailoring, often cut for him by Sy Devore, the “tailor to the stars” who also dressed the Rat Pack.
Few of us have any need or desire to incorporate lamé or rhinestones into our daily fits, but digging deeper into Elvis Presley’s style reveals a few sartorial lessons that can add star power to your wardrobe… without needing to spring for blue suede shoes.
The Harrington jacket offers timeless appeal
Even a groundbreaking artist like Elvis knew when to embrace the classics. The design of the Baracuta windbreaker was more than 20 years old when Elvis brought this golf jacket off the green and onto the screen in his fourth movie, King Creole.
Whether the costume choice was suggested by costume designer Edith Head or Elvis himself may be lost to history, but the hip-swinging star in his stone-colored G9 ignited a movement that would later include fellow stars Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra, and Ryan O’Neal—whose Peyton Place character inspired the nickname https://www.primermagazine.com/2017/spend/the-history-of-the-harrington-jacket” data-wpel-link=”internal”>“Harrington jacket”—and cemented the jacket’s legacy.
Harrington Jacket Picks:
https://www.amazon.com/Baracuta-Mens-Original-Jacket-Dark/dp/B07W7W2TJ6?keywords=Baracuta%2BJacket&qid=1657667390&sr=8-5&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=primer05-20&linkId=80691d046420bb0eb92e2eeada35f27e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Baracuta G9 Jacket
https://www.amazon.com/Orvis-Mens-Weatherbreaker-Jacket-Large/dp/B07GZZ2511?keywords=Baracuta%2BJacket&qid=1657667390&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyU0pFU0VEUUk5TTg5JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODQ1NDMzMTNRSlBKTEROMUdJMCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzQyNjg3RzFBSVBYRDZZTjhVJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=primer05-20&linkId=3a3462d39cde07a084e2e1396cd93b09&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Orivs Weatherbreaker Jacket
Bold stripes aren’t just for inmates
Yes, Elvis made a prison uniform rock harder than it should in his 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock, but his more colorfully striped sport shirts in later movies like the banally titled Fun in Acapulco present a way to incorporate bold stripes without looking like you just broke free from a chain gang.
Striped Shirt Picks:
https://bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com/browse/product.do?pid=801146381#pdp-page-content” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Banana Republic Slim Untucked Shirt
https://www.express.com/clothing/men/striped-rayon-short-sleeve-shirt/pro/01692095/color/Powder%20Blush/e/regular/” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Express Striped Shirt
https://www.express.com/clothing/men/striped-rayon-short-sleeve-shirt/pro/01690117/color/FIRED%20BRICK/e/regular/” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Express Camp Collar Shirt
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/bdg-eli-striped-camp-collar-shirt?inventoryCountry=US&color=009&type=REGULAR&quantity=1″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Urban Outfitters Striped Shirt
https://www.zara.com/us/en/striped-shirt-p04514108.html?v1=178073541″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Zara Striped Shirt
It’s time to embrace Aloha summer
Elvis’ 1961 musical Blue Hawaii did plenty to promote tourism to the Hawaiian islands as well as its bright aloha style. Tropical shirts had already been increasingly popular over the previous decade, but the King’s parade of colorful Hawaiian shirts continue to make the case in favor of floral prints more than 60 years later.
Floral Print Shirt Picks:
https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/performance-short-sleeve-button-up-shirt-47291819?seq=12&faceout=model1″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Abercrombie & Fitch Performance Shirt
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Brand-Goodthreads-Standard-Fit-Short-Sleeve/dp/B07XC7KT3S?keywords=hawaiian+shirt&qid=1657747049&refinements=p_n_feature_eighteen_browse-bin%3A14630392011&rnid=14630382011&s=apparel&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sr=1-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=primer05-20&linkId=8722eb5a581c6307c150a5daf97937bb&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Goodthreads Poplin Shirt
https://www.jcrew.com/p/mens/categories/clothing/shirts/short-sleeve/short-sleeve-camp-collar-shirt-in-hemp-cotton/BH574?display=all&fit=Classic&color_name=smile-flower-navy-white&colorProductCode=BH574″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>J.Crew Camp Collar Shirt
https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=826811072&pcid=999&vid=1&searchText=floral#pdp-page-content” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Old Navy Camp Shirt
All of the above are from traditional retailers, but if we wanted to go true Hawaiian, there are great selections from authentic company Aloha FunWear, including the original worn by Tom Selleck in Magnum PI:
https://alohafunwear.com/products/mini-anthurium-red-hawaiian-shirt?_pos=13&_sid=466a5cd63&_ss=r&variant=11587986292772″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Aloha Funwear Hawaiian Shirt
Don’t be afraid of big sunglasses
… and not just those famously oversized “TCB” aviators with holes punched in the arms. Before the Vegas residency days, Elvis’ eyewear still gravitated toward the larger and more eye-catching (so to speak.)
Sunglasses Pick:
https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/RB4162%20MALE%20rb4162-light%20havana/805289465089″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Ray-Ban Sunglasses
And don’t step on—or rule out—blue suede shoes
By way of the hit single originated by his Sun Records contemporary Carl Perkins, Elvis warned listeners not to step on his blue suede shoes, but the singer’s preferred stage kicks during the era were more frequently black-and-white lace-ups, which would have also looked flashier on those black-and-white TV sets of the ‘50s. These spectator shoes can be frequently spotted throughout early scenes in Elvis, for which costume designer Catherine Martin https://www.gearpatrol.com/style/shoes-boots/a40289308/elvis-movie-shoes/” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>worked with high-end designer Manolo Blahnik to recreate the King’s favored footwear.
Neither Perkins nor Presley stipulated just what shade of blue, so more daring gents can add some rockabilly flair to their summer style via penny loafers or moc-toe drivers with tasteful navy suede uppers that stand apart from the usual black and brown.
Blue Suede Shoes Picks:
https://www.mrporter.com/en-ca/mens/product/gh-bass-co/shoes/loafers/weejuns-90-larson-suede-penny-loafers/1647597284554792?&ignoreRedirect=true&ppv=2″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>G.H. Bass & Co. Larson Penny Loafer
https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Manchester-Suede-Penny-Loafer/dp/B07QDBGKP2?keywords=blue+suede+shoes&qid=1657747442&refinements=p_n_feature_eighteen_browse-bin%3A14630392011&rnid=14630382011&s=apparel&sr=1-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=primer05-20&linkId=1b02e30879cf4ab7890aa013aae34d11&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Sperry Manchester Penny Loafer
https://jaybutler.com/collections/mens-casual-leather-loafers-shoes/products/mens-penny-loafer-hand-sewn-leather?variant=860061621″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Jay Butler Cromwell Penny Loafer
https://tblon.com/en-us/products/hampton-penny-loafer-navy-blue-suede?variant=39684869292150″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Thomas Bird Hampton Penny Loafer
https://www.primermagazine.com/2022/spend/style-lessons-from-elvis-presley”>