Breaking Down the Fashion in Elvis The Movie

The film starts at the beginning of Elvis’s career as a rising artist in Memphis. During the 1950s, we saw women wearing a lot of dirndl dresses, which are dresses that are either sleeveless or have small puff sleeves, and are accompanied by a billowy skirt.

In the film, we saw Helen Thomson, who portrays Elvis’s mother Gladys Presley, in a lot of these dresses, along with actresses Cle Morgan and Shonka Dukureh who portrayed Mahalia Jackson and Willie May “Big Mama” Thornton respectively. Many of the female extras were in these types of dresses as well.

Elvis himself (Austin Butler), was dressed like a typical 1950s man with the exception of his rockstar attire while on stage. These were mostly casual button-down shirts with trousers (Elvis never wore jeans). Kelvin Harrison Jr., who portrays B.B. King, was mostly dressed in suits and suspenders throughout the film, but you have to remember that he was older and came from a different era. 

We don’t consider this a spoiler because this is commonly known information about Elvis, but in 1958, Elvis was drafted into the military, marking the beginning of a two-year break from Hollywood. While stationed in Germany it was here that Elvis met future wife Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge). Elvis was mostly in his military attire during this period, however we saw Priscilla dressed in shift/geometric dresses.

The movie then skips straight to Elvis’s return to Hollywood, which immediately saw him becoming a major movie star. This meant his style was a lot flashier. White and cream-colored suits were a big part of his wardrobe, and mini-skirts, dresses, and heels were a part of a Priscilla’s until the late 1960s/early 1970s when the hippie/free-spirit movement started occurring. 

Despite returning to Hollywood in the early 1960s and performing some music in his films, Elvis didn’t officially return to the performing scene until his comeback special in 1968. The late 60s and early 70s also marked the beginning of Elvis’s years-long affair with Vegas, and it was during this time period that he developed the style that perhaps most are familiar with.

The glitter jumpsuits, all-leather outfits, and aviator glasses became his signature “Viva Las Vegas” outfits. As for the rest of the cast, well, they were styled in what you would call typical mid-1970s attire. Fitted jeans, leather jackets, bohemian style shirts, skirts, and dresses etc., all made major appearances as we approached the latter stages of the movie.