Elton John: Musician AND Fashion Icon

            In 2020, Harry Styles became known for challenging gender norms when he posed in a frilly lace Gucci dress on the cover of Vogue magazine. Many were shocked at his fashion choice, especially as he was the first male to be shown solo on a cover of Vogue. However, many celebrities before Harry have paved the way for challenging traditional gender norms, especially through fashion. One of the most successful artists of all time, Elton John, is one celebrity who should still be recognized for his ground-breaking, iconic, and influential fashion throughout the many decades of his career in the spotlight.

            Elton John is a British singer/songwriter born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England, and grew up in his grandparent’s modest house in the suburbs. He was originally given the name Reginald Kenneth Dwight, but after rising to fame, he officially changed his name to Elton Hercules John. His parents were into music and pop culture, and Elton picked up the piano at the early age of 3. By the time he was 11 years old, he had already won awards and had started lessons at the Royal Academy of Music. By 1970, Elton John had risen to fame with his first hit, “Your Song”. Through his career of over five decades, Elton John became the most successful solo male in the history of American Charts and is the 3rd most successful artist (behind the Beatles and Madonna). He is an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award winner and has been granted too many other awards and honors to list. Besides undeniably impacting the music industry, Elton John’s influence on the fashion industry is just as notable. 

            Known for his flamboyant style of glittering jumpsuits, oversized colorful sunglasses, feather boas, and more, Elton John creatively redefined what male style could be. Particularly in the 1970s, when gendered fashion was much more strict, his fashion choices onstage were extraordinarily bold and contributed to a cultural shift towards greater acceptance of diversity and individuality. His fashion served as an extension of his artistic expression, and his theatrical costumes were as much a part of his performance as the words he sang. Other male artists of his time usually sported a much more subdued and conservative style of suits and jackets, whereas the eye-catching costumes were considered solely for females. Elton John’s use of color, glitter, feathers, and even high heels blurred the boundaries between traditionally feminine and masculine aesthetics. He showcased the fluidity of fashion as a means of self-expression and still became the most famous pop star of his time while doing so. He challenged beauty norms by wearing colorful makeup or changing his hairstyle. 

            

                In order to cultivate his creative fashion, Elton John always went for the pieces that would be the most bold and show-stopping. Once he became famous enough, he had a stylist help him with creating outfits, but his flamboyant clothing choices have always been his prerogative. During the process of creating his style, he always chose eccentric garments and paired them with other glamorous pieces, creating a look that was over the top and stood out. The most important part of his creative process was collaboration. Elton John worked closely with fashion designers who helped translate his visions for larger-than-life outfits into actual fabric and accessories. This often involved incorporating theatrical elements like sequins, rhinestones, and metallic materials. He also needed to keep in mind functionality when putting together his outfits for the stage. For example, many of his garments have more flexibility around the sleeves for playing piano. He also takes inspiration from other clothing and often puts an extra twist on something from fashion history, film, or wherever else he picked up an idea. 

            I think that Elton John’s bold style choices challenge the traditional gender roles of society that are talked about in “The Creative Spark” by Agustin Fuentes. In chapter 8, Fuentes talks about how society has constructed the concept of gender separate from any biological basis, contrary to the very imposed and accepted sex and gender binary of today. Traditionally, men are expected to display more masculine traits, like being more assertive, dominant, and undramatic. However, these norms lack biological background and are just exaggerated expectations created by society. Within these gender norms lies the concept of fashion - what clothing is considered “feminine” and what is “masculine.” Elton John shows that fashion is not limited by gender by wearing accessories and clothing that our society would view as more feminine - and becoming a superstar while doing it. With his flamboyant fashion choices, he expanded the boundaries of what was considered acceptable attire for men. As Fuentes mentions, it is slowly being uncovered that many ideals we consider innate and ancestral actually have no foundation in ancient societies. In his own creative way, Elton John shows that fashion is an expression of individuality rather than a reflection of what men and women should wear. 

https://www.eltonjohn.com/elton-john

https://www.goldradiouk.com/artists/elton-john/husband-wife-songs-children-age/#:~:text=Elton%20was%20born%20in%20Pinner,Levels%20to%20concentrate%20on%20music.

https://niood.com/the-rocket-mans-legacy-how-elton-john-revolutionized-the-music-and-fashion-industry/

https://www.christies.com/en/stories/elton-john-fashion-collection-stylist-d7ff9545416f469faf9cefb98a135590