Method Dressing: How Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS Was Brought To Life With The Power of Costume
In the lead up to its international premiere date, Bazaar Arabia explores the crucial role the wardrobe department played in telling one of modern day music’s most compelling stories…
Rhinestones and blue suede shoes, oversized collars and embellished belts; the King of Rock and Roll did a lot more than simply revolutionize modern-day pop music. Elvis Presley was known for his eclectic dressing just as much as he was famous for his crooning voice and controversial style of dancing, a true pioneer when it came to incorporating the power of the costume into one’s performance.
His love for colour was apparent in his personal style and his choice of attire on stage, more often than not, included a jumpsuit and make-up (something which wouldn’t become “mainstream” for male performers until decades later when the likes of David Bowie, KISS and the hair metal hellions wouldn’t dream of stepping anywhere near a stage, let alone a fan, without being fully made up.) He was undoubtedly ahead of his time, one of the few stars of the last century that truly deserved the title of “icon.”
Therefore, when it was unveiled that Baz Luhrmann would be at the helm of a new biopic about the boy from Mississippi who grew up to become one of the most famous men of the 20th century, we knew we would be in for a visual treat – one which would leave us swooning over the costumes.
Luhrmann’s films are known for being visually extravagant, yet a 12-minute standing ovation at the Cannes film festival set ELVIS in good stead to be one of the best films of the year. Ahead of its release on June 26th the hype surrounding the film is only increasing, along with the notoriety of 30-year-old American actor Austin Butler who plays Elvis. Most recently Butler has been a topic of discussion due to his method acting – a practice where an actor fully embodies the traits of the characters they’re playing – as he cannot seem to rid himself of the “Elvis voice” he embodied for the film (so much so that his own family stated he “no longer sounds like himself.”) As the practice allows performers to encapsulate their role, dressing plays a crucial part in the actor’s performance. Luhrmann has always understood the importance of fashion and cinema and how one garment can tell a story, allowing an actor to truly portray their character.
Joining forces again with his wife, Academy Award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin (the creative mastermind behind The Great Gatsby) and fellow producer, the pair teamed up again with famed fashion houses Prada and Miu Miu to compile completely custom-made pieces for the film. The collaboration used wardrobe alongside hair and make-up as an integral part of storytelling and allowing the actors to personify their character in true Method acting style.
Embodying one of the world’s most recognisable artist through costume, with living family members, required a more delicate approach than the freedom of creating the Great Gatsby wardrobe. The garments in ELVIS needed to be a true reflection of the idol and his loved ones whilst allowing the actors to give their interpretation, making it a loving, respectful, and honouring tribute.
The biopic also features actress Olivia Dejonge portraying Priscilla Presley who was a style icon in her own right. From their meeting in 1959 Priscilla was an object of Elvis’s affection and her signature beehive, thick lashes, and winged eyeliner, soon established her as a fashion trailblazer.
“I think when you take on somebody who’s real, it always feels like they’re sitting on your shoulder or always there watching you do each scene, do each take, which obviously they’re not,” says Olivia. “It’s really daunting and overwhelming… especially at the beginning. Baz and Catherine Martin have really curated a beautiful environment where you feel free to explore and express, and there’s no real room for failure.”
Touching on dressing the part, Olivia conveys just how much she was in awe of her characters’ wardrobe. “Oh, my goodness, the clothes. The attention to detail, the fit,” she explains. “All the costumes were made by Prada to perfectly fit my body.”
Complete with sky-high hair and winged eyeliner, Olivia was armed with the right tools to help her step into the role of Priscilla in full force.
“Honestly, the hair and the make-up is half the character almost!” she admits. “So much of her and what she’s known for was the hair and it was the make-up. And it was so important obviously to get that right, and to really feel like I was in it when I was in it.”
Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS is in theatres in the UAE on June 23.
Images supplied.