Starting with his Billboard Hot 100 top 40 debut with “Your Song” in 1970, Elton John has not only made an enduring impact on the music industry, but on the fashion world as well. A major contribution to John’s popularity was due to his daring and outside-the-box style. From feathers to sequins and his iconic colorful glasses, John’s clothes captured the attention of the entire world.
Elton John’s iconic looks were not only seen onstage, but on red carpets and in everyday life too. Elton has always dressed to the nines, and now in his 70s, he continues to take risks with his style.
John spearheaded new avenues of male style, breaking the pattern of men only wearing black or navy suits. Expressing himself through his style in such an extravagant manner encouraged his fans to do the same.
In his early years, his outfits included rainbow feather headpieces and orange latex jumpsuits, but now his style has matured with age. John continues to wear sparkles, though they are more frequently seen on suits. He continues to implement color into almost any look, though it is more likely to be seen on his shoes rather than through a hat these days.
Elton John remains one of the most fashionable male artists of all time, and there is no doubt he will continue to impress the world with his showstopping looks. Keep reading to see the iconic style evolution of Elton from 1970 to now.
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1970: A Star From the Start
Portrait of Elton John playing piano while wearing sunglasses and a shirt covered in stars on Nov. 7, 1970. Three weeks later, his first Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit “Your Song” debuted on the chart.
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1972: A Platform for Success
Elton John rehearses before his Royal Variety performance in London in 1972.
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1972: Blossoming Career
Elton John wearing a floral applique suit and sunglasses in 1972.
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1973: Feather Duster
Elton John in a flamboyant stage outfit of white suit with feather trim and rhinestone encrusted glasses, circa 1973.
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1973: Ballad of the Boy In the Red Shoes
Elton John in January 1973, as “Crocodile Rock” closed in on the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100. It reached the top spot on Feb. 3, 1973. It was his first No. 1 hit.
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1974: The Star Becomes an Icon
Elton John at his home in Wentworth, Surrey, during a shoot for the cover of ‘Elton John’s Greatest Hits’ 1974. The album topped the Billboard 200 for 10 consecutive weeks in 1974-75.
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1974: Couch Potato
Elton John listening to music on Sony hi-fi equipment in 1974.
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1974: Career Buzz
Elton John performs at an open-air concert in May 1974 in Watford, England. The previous month, “Bennie and the Jets” became John’s second No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
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1974: “This Old Thing?”
Elton John performs at The Forum on Oct. 3, 1974 in Inglewood, Calif. The following week, “The Bitch Is Back” became his ninth top 10 hit on the Hot 100.
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1974: Casual Fridays
Elton John performing onstage in October 1974.
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1975: Shoegazing
Elton John, wearing a vest top and satin shorts, at home in Beverly Hills, 1975, with part of his wardrobe, notably a large collection of platform shoes. Perched on his shoulder is a soft toy in his own likeness.
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1975: Pinball Wizard
Elton John plays the song “Pinball Wizard” in the rock band The Who’s rock opera movie ‘Tommy’ which was released on March 26, 1975 in the United Kingdom.
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1975: Go West, Young Man
Elton John performs at the Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium in London on June 21, 1975. John performed the whole of his album ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’ during his set. Two weeks previously, that album had become the first album in history to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1.
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1975: Baseball Diamonds
Elton John performing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, 1975. He is wearing a sequined Dodgers uniform.
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1975: Wearing the Walk of Fame
Elton John is honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on Oct. 23, 1975. He is wearing a suit emblazoned with the names of stars, including his own. One week later, “Island Girl” became his fifth No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. One week after that, ‘Rock of the Westies’ became the second album in history to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1.
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1977: Peacocking
Elton John performs in 1977.
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1977: A Friend to the Muppets
Elton John on ‘The Muppet Show’ in 1977.
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1978: A Hare Too Much Fur
Elton John at his home in Windsor in 1978.
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1984: All Dressed Up
Elton John pictured wearing a typically flamboyant costume on Dec. 3, 1984. The previous August, “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” became his 14th top five hit on the Hot 100.
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1986: Hair-Raiser
Elton John, sporting one of his more unusual hairdos, performing at the Universal Amphitheatre on Oct. 7, 1986.
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1997: Birthday Beauty
Elton John dressed in a period ensemble for his 50th birthday party at Hammersmith Palais on April 6, 1997. Later that year, following the sudden and shocking deaths of two close friends, Gianni Versace and Princess Diana, Elton landed his biggest hit with his Princess Diana tribute “Candle in the Wind 1997.”
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2000: Grammy Winner
Elton John attends the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2000. He is holding the Grammy Legend award, which he received that night.
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2012: The Man In Black (And Red)
Sir Elton John poses for a portrait during the Revlon concert for the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall on April 3, 2012 in New York City.
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2015: Sir Elton, Living Legend
Elton John performs at the Lands End Stage during day 3 of the 2015 Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park on Aug. 9, 2015 in San Francisco.
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2017: Don’t Shoot Him, He’s Only the Piano Player
Elton John performs live at Twickenham Stoop on June 3, 2017 in London.
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2018: A Stroll in London
Elton John photographed London in 2018, wearing a Gucci outfit head to toe. His silk red pants and Gucci T-shirt are paired with a navy blazer embroidered with a heart dagger. He accessorizes this look with Gucci sneakers, and in true Elton fashion, sparkly sunglasses.
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2019: The King of Gucci
A piece of clothing that embodies the style of Elton John: a sequin, velvet Gucci blazer. This look manages to capture his love for sparkles and, of course, Gucci, at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar party.
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2019: An Elevated Classic
Only Elton John could take the classic black suit up a notch. At “The Lion King” European premiere in 2019, John wears a black suit embroidered with gold detailing and an “EJ” on the collar.
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2021: No Look Is Complete Without Red-Lensed Glasses
At Global Citizen Live in 2021, John rocked a flower-print green suit lined in sequins. He paired the suit with a baby-blue ruffle-collared shirt, a classic for John.
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2023: Metallic Man
In June 2023, Elton John performed at the Glastonbury Festival wearing a metallic gold suit. Once again, John takes a risk on a classic suit.