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Costume parties for adults have become enormously popular, especially around Halloween at the end of October. These days it's not just the kids that dress up for Halloween, and it's not just witch and ghost costumes that are worn. One of the enduring favorites for adult costume parties is the Elvis Presley costume.
Everybody can immediately recognize an Elvis Presley costume. It starts with the 1950s hair style: dark, thick, wide side burns, sleekly combed back and long (but certainly not the shaggy and unkept look of the 1970s). You can get cheap plastic wigs that convey the look well enough for a costume party, but you might want to invest a little more in a better quality wig if you intend to wear the costume on several occasions.
Next you need the obligatory sunglasses. No Elvis costume is complete without the sunglasses. You might need to add some makeup to get the tanned look.
As to the clothes, you need to choose your era. In his early days as a rock star Elvis often wore a black leather jacket and jeans. It was a popular style in the 1950s, and was not really distinctive. The signature Elvis Presley costume came later in his career, especially in the late 1960s and 1970s when he regularly appeared at Las Vegas. This was the Elvis jumpsuit.
The Elvis jumpsuit look had long sleeves and sleek flared or bell bottom pants. It had a wide collar with a deep "V" neckline.
Usually the jump suits worn by Elvis were light in color, even white, to feature the distinctive elaborate embroidery, rhinestones, sequins, studs and glitters that were added to ensure the stage costume had a big impact. Accessories included a wide belt, with a large and elaborate buckle, and a scarf. Early jumpsuits also featured a cape, but this was dropped in later years. Early jumpsuits also included knotted fabric belts.
The original Elvis jumpsuits were handmade and very expensive, and came in a wide range of designs. It would not be practical to try to make an exact copy, but the idea can soon be conveyed with the addition of a generous lot of sequins and glitters.
Remember that the total Elvis "package" was more than just a costume. It was the way Elvis stood and his signature moves, especially the way he swiveled his hips, that got the fans so excited. You might need to practice!
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