Elvis Jumpsuit Stage Costume

From around 1969, after his 1968 Comeback Concert, until his death in 1977, Elvis Presley adopted a unique heavily decorated jumpsuit stage costume for most of his performances. The Elvis jumpsuit has become an instantly recognized "trademark" that immediately identifies the many Elvis impersonators when they perform their Elvis tribute shows, all around the world.

The numerous Elvis jumpsuits made came in many designs, based on the main jumpsuit design.

The core jumpsuit stage costume design was a wool gabardine one piece garment, featuring flared legs, pointed cuffs, high collars and a deep "v" cut neckline that partly exposed the performer's chest.

The decorations consisted of a wide range of patterns, mostly using a mix of metal and rhinestone studs and richly patterned embroidery. Each jumpsuit - and there were many - was uniquely decorated, and came in a variety of colors. Usually there was a design theme, with the inspiration drawing from a wide range of sources, such as, for example, an American eagle jumpsuit, a peacock jumpsuit and an American Indian design featuring long fringes.

Accessories included scarves, broad belts with large buckles, gold medallions and, especially earlier on, a cape.

Each jumpsuit stage costume was a work of art, and often quite expensive to make. Surviving Elvis Presley jumpsuits are valuable an collectable. There is a large collection in an exhibit at the Graceland memorial to Elvis.

The original stage costume designer of the Elvis Presley jumpsuit was the late Bill Belew, who later worked with Gene Duochette, a skilled craftsman  responsible for much of the workmanship that went into decorating the Elvis jumpsuits.

New Elvis jumpsuit stage costumes still have a ready market, and one of the leading suppliers, B&K Enterprises, has worked with these two original designers to re-create these stage costumes. This video tells their story: