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Video: Elton John's craziest shoes: Platforms, stilts, winged boots, etc
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Are the shoes in a museum of modern art? Yes, if these are Sir Elton John's boots! Perhaps his extravagant style attracts attention no less than his musical talent. His flamboyant concert costumes have become a legend, his extensive eyewear collection is admirable, and his shoe collection numbers several hundred pairs. And each of them has its own story …
“Even now, at my concerts, I choose a suit 20 minutes before the start of the show and only when I put it on I become Elton John” … The musician admits that in the fashion world he feels like a child in a candy store and is ready to squander a fortune on beautiful things … And although his heart truly belonged only to outfits from Gianni Versace, Sir Elton never missed the opportunity to try on unusual accessories created by other designers. And choosing shoes - he also made several fashion revolutions at once.
Silver and fantastic platforms
Elton John began to wear platform boots that significantly increase height long before the famous popularizers of men's heels - Mick Jager and David Bowie. He first appeared in platform shoes, apparently, at the legendary Los Angeles nightclub "Troubadour" in 1970. This performance marked the emergence of a new Elton John - not only a brilliant musician and performer, but also the king of outrageousness.
Such shoes were considered indecently feminine in those years, but Sir Elton was not afraid to challenge gender stereotypes. In those years, legendary designer Bob Mackie was involved in his style (in his track record, for example, Cher's "naked" dresses). The musician only spurred on the designer's wild imagination. Maki subsequently said that from a professional point of view, he perceived his ward more as a girl - a show business star, rather than as a male. So feathers, and rhinestones that dazzle spectators, and dizzying heels became possible …
Often, extravagant boots and platform shoes were coated in silver - Elton had at least four pairs of silver shoes in his arsenal. A pair of stage boots with a decorated platform and heel added almost twenty centimeters to the short musician! Elton John's shoes are often adorned with his initials. Silver boots with red leather appliqué in the form of initials were invented by Elton and Lionel Avery in 1974. Elton John did not part with his favorite platforms, even if he had to play the piano during the performance - they did not interfere with him on stage. For two decades, boots with high heels and platform in combination with wide trousers were associated primarily with him.
Iconic winged boots
The "winged" lightweight boots, which Elton John often wore on stage in his younger years, have undergone significant changes in the biopic "Rocketman" - there they look much more luxurious. The original winged boots were created by Jim O'Connor and Pamela Motown for Mr Freedom boutique.
It was a fabulous place for glam culture, rock musicians, avant-garde artists and, subsequently, punks, filled with weird clothes, shoes and furnishings. Pop art, kitsch, surrealism - the stylistic direction of things in Mr Freedom was not easy to define. Clothing at Mr Freedom was gender neutral, with an atmosphere of cheerfulness, freedom and acceptance. Instead of mannequins, they used inflatable dolls from an "adult store", giant clothes hangers hung on the wall, and a rainbow-shaped lamp was located above the cash register … Many musicians of those years loved to look into Mr Freedom from time to time, and Elton John was a real fan. of this place. Now his personal pair of winged boots is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Dr. Martens
In 1975, Elton John took part in the filming of the film adaptation of the rock opera Tommy by The Who. The rock opera tells the story of the life and suffering of the deaf-blind-mute boy Tommy, who went from a resigned victim of violence to the leader of a religious sect. The rock opera itself and the subsequent film adaptation, despite the devastating criticism, became the first commercially successful project in its genre - several years before Webber's project "Jesus Christ Superstar". Elton John was offered to play the role of the "local guy", the Pinball Wizard in the musical film - and he agreed on the condition that … he was given the monstrous Dr. Martens, in which his character flaunts.
They are stilts - a real boot is hidden under a long leg, making the viewer wonder how the costume designer managed to create such a crazy disproportionate image. Elton John was not the proud owner of them for so long - in 1988 he sold them, and now the creepy Martins are kept in the museum.
Classic styles with crazy decor
In his mature years, Sir Elton settled down considerably - he leads a healthy lifestyle, has been married to his constant partner for many years, brings up sons and no longer strives to jump over the piano in shoes on a huge platform. His images have become much calmer, and lately Sir Elton prefers calm classic styles - but certainly from unusual materials or with an extravagant design.
In 2010, the singer decided to part with a hundred pairs of shoes from his extensive collection. Worn boots from the star's collection ranged from £ 20 to £ 1,000. Elton John channeled all the proceeds to the HIV Fund. But this does not mean that the outrageous images have come to an end!
In 2018, Elton John embarked on a farewell tour, which is due to end in 2021. Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, a big fan and good friend of the musician, is responsible for the costumes and shoes for this tour.
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