This Halloween, I was determined that I would come as Elton John. He’s a great music maker and I admire his unique ability to remain as creative as any in a career that spans forty years. In my efforts to transform myself into this awesome man, I decided that I would have to focus on one era of his life. He had so many stages and fashion phases that if I wasn’t specific, I would end up looking like a schizophrenic version of the singer. No, I knew that if I was going to be Elton, I would have to do it right.I ultimately chose to reproduce his mid 70s era glamour. This part of his life was most evident by the outlandish costumes he wore onstage. He wasn’t opposed to wearing ostrich feathers or $5,000 novelty sunglasses that spelled out his name in lights. In fact, I think that kind of flamboyance was the very thing that attracted people to his concerts. He was the consummate showman and I wanted to imitate at least a portion of that glow.
The first thing I chose to buy was his glittery pant suit that he wore when he famously sang "Benny and the Jets" on stage. Of course because I couldn’t get my hands on the real deal, I simply found a white jumpsuit at a thrift store and decorated it with studs and glitter. It actually turned out rather true to form. The next thing I got was a wig to match his reddish locks. Finally, my search was complete when I arrived at a store that carried the pink novelty sunglasses that Elton John wore to alot of his shows. Of course, they were discount designer style sunglasses that were replicas, but I’d only be wearing them to a few parties for that one occasion anyway. Apparently, I was such a dead ringer that night that people didn’t even recognize me! Once they did, they gave me heaps of compliments on my outfit but what they liked the most were the novelty sunglasses.
