An Elvis Presley outfit is certainly one of those costumes
that needs no introduction. Once you enter the room with your flashy, sequined
outfit and trademark pompadour, there is no question who you are wearing. Those
who would like to wear an instantly recognizable costume should definitely
dress up as The King of Rock n’ Roll.
There are many Elvis Presley costumes that you can find in
costume stores, either for sale or for rent. It should be easy for you to get
one, but if you prefer to put together the outfit yourself, here's what you
should do.
Things you will need:
- A polyester suit
- Gemstones, rhinestones, or
sequined appliqués
-
Elvis wig,
or lots of hairspray
- Suede shoes
Step 1: Since
hair is a very important part of the Elvis costume, you should definitely pay
attention to it. If your hair is dark and long enough to create the trademark
pompadour, then all you need is hairspray, mousse, and a teasing comb to get
the hairstyle. The styling of the hair should be done after you put your outfit
on. If your hair is still short and there is enough time to grow it out, then
do so.
Now if you have light hair and you do not want to have it
colored black, then you can buy a wig instead. You will have no trouble finding
an Elvis wig. You can even order one online. Make sure that you get a wig with
Elvis' trademark lamb chop sideburns.
Step 2: The King
is known for his flashy polyester suits so it is imperative that you get one. No
need to have it custom-made; you can just scour second-hand stores and thrift
shops for it. The tackier the polyester suit, the better. Make sure to get
pants with bell-bottoms to get the look right. The all-white suit is the most
popular among The King's outfits.
If you are lucky, you can find suits that already have
sequins on them. However, you'll probably have to put the glittery stuff on yourself.
This should not be a problem, since you can buy gemstones, rhinestones, or
sequined appliqués from any crafts and hobbies store. You can easily buy the
nifty tool which you will use to apply the studs and stones into the fabric.
To make this easier for you, download a picture of Elvis
from the web and take a good look at the costume. This will give you an idea on
how to put the glittery stuff on properly.
Step 3: Wearing
blue suede shoes is an obvious cliché in an Elvis Presley costume. If you find
a pair, then you should definitely wear it to the party. If you can't find a
blue pair, then any color should do. Just make sure it goes well with the color
of your suit.
Step 4: After you
have put your suit on, work on your hair. If you are styling it yourself to
make a pompadour, blow dry it thoroughly and put on a lot of mousse. Using the
right comb, tease the top of your hair to make it stand up. The higher the
poof, the better. The pompadour should look smooth from front to back. Use lots
of hair spray to make sure it stays in place all night long.
And, if you're in a retro rock n' roll mood, Star Costumes
carries tons of fifties
costumes, as well as sixties
and seventies costumes.