Why Elvis Still Matters On The 85th Anniversary Of His Birth

“Fashions fade, style is eternal,” declared the late fashion pioneer Yves Saint Laurent. The legendary performer Elvis Presley, who was born on 8 January 1935, is one of those rare icons whose style influence has outlived their career.

The Memphis Flash, as he was known in his youth, continues to influence contemporary design culture, from pop stars and highend fashion houses to street style. Walking through most major cities, it is hard not to notice the guys and girls channelling their inner Elvis, with Americana and rockabilly styles being constantly reworked and revived on the streets. “Even today, a distilled version of Elvis’ look has filtered down into the wardrobes of many self-respecting teenage rebels,” acknowledges the British menswear designer Joe Casely-Hayford.

Zoey Goto, author of the book Elvis Style: From Zoot Suits to Jumpsuits, takes a look at the King of Style’s legacy and cherrypicks his most enduring style contributions.

BLING CULTURE

Elvis was born in a wooden shack in the Deep South of America and spent his early years living a hand-to-mouth existence. Having risen above his impoverished childhood and found monumental fame with his first number one hit by the age of 20, Elvis was able to finally indulge his taste for ostentatious fashion. He did this spectacularly in 1957 when he sported a sensational gold suit for the album cover of 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t be Wrong. The dazzling outfit, which cost USD10,000, was a forerunner to bling culture, where hip-hop stars use flashy clothing and diamond-encrusted jewellery to visually signal that they’ve hit the big time.