Elvis Presley died in 1977, but the iconic image of him performing, as the still undisputed king of roll and roll in his stage costume, remains instantly recognizable all these years later, not just in America but around the world as well.
Perhaps the myth that Elvis is still alive has some truth, as his many impersonators can often be seen still performing their Elvis tribute shows in most cities around the world today. Almost invariably, they choose to wear a copy of their stage outfit.
In fact, Elvis adopted his stage suit jumpsuit style quite late in his career. It was after his television comeback concert in 1968 that his singing career resumed, and his main base for performing shows became Las Vegas from around 1969. He wanted to distinguish his rock and roll style from that of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the other tuxedo with crooner style singers who were often playing in Las Vegas at the time. A tuxedo was not his style, and he needed a new look for his stage outfit.
Elvis turned to lead designer Bill Belew for ideas, who designed a two-piece suit inspired by Elvis’s interest in martial arts. This concept soon evolved into a one-piece wool gabardine jumpsuit with a high neck, flared legs, pointed cuffs, and a deep V-neckline that partially exposed Elvis’s chest.
This basic outfit remained Elvis’s signature stage outfit from around 1969 until his death in 1977. However, there were many adornments during this time, with elaborate accessories and decorations added in numerous variations.
The color of the monkeys varied. While the white version was often preferred to showcase the brightly colored trim and to stand out on stage, a variety of other colors were also used.
A cape was popular with Elvis for a few years at first, but was rarely seen around 1974. A scarf was often added. A wide belt with a large buckle took over from the belt-tied karate style that was used in the beginning. Rhinestones, metal studs, and other decorative designs were increasingly used, and elaborate embroidered patterns followed. Gene Douchette’s workmanship was a major influence on the many decorative variations on successive monkeys, drawing inspiration from many concepts, ranging from peacock feathers to the American eagle.
These richly decorated stage costumes were striking in appearance and often cost thousands of dollars to make.