Black Pinwheel (aka) Black Matador Jumpsuit (1971-1972)

[Tigerman1975]

That black pinwheel is really cool. I wish that he would have wore more black than he did. I read somewhere that Elvis didnt think that the people in the back of the arenas could see him as good when he wore black.

[peter]

Detail from Prague exhibition

[peter]

Second detail....

[merry77]

unfortunately the items at the Prague exhibition are not the real ones. None of them.

[Garyelvisstuart]

My issue is why are they trying to pass this off as Elvis' Owned and Worn Black Matador/Black Pinwheel jumpsuit. And for G-D's sake, why would they just dump the jumpsuit all crumpled up like that. Even if it was or wasn't Elvis', to treat such a garment in this fashion,like yesterdays old newspaper, is just a tragedy. I think who ever did such a thing should be taken out back and hit with a switch. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE!!!!!

[Tommy]

[Tommy]

[Tony Trout]

There's ONE question that has been bothering me recently:


When did the designs for the bell-bottoms start to become larger like actual bell-bottoms? You'll notice in the suits from 1970-1972, the kick pleats are small-ish (except for the kick pleats on the "White Pyramid" suit) and I'm just wondering when the legs for the suits started having more of a classic bell-bottom design?

[drumzz70]

No... as usual EPE has their facts wrong. The suit is a 1971 design (smaller bell bottoms) but it was delivered to Elvis in January 1972. The suit made its debut during the Jan/Feb 1972 season in Las Vegas and Elvis wore it a few times during that engagement using two different types of gold belts. He never wore it on a tour. There might be a possibility it was even used in Aug/Sept 1972 but that is pure speculation.....

There's even a chance that the suit has two different versions. As you look at some of the pictures where Elvis is posing in the "Black Butterfly" you can see that the lining of the cape and the lining of the kick pleats are yellow. The version that is on display at Graceland has gold linings.

There is a picture of the second version butterfly next to the tv show aloha suit and the size difference is way too different to be elvis's suit. the legs of the suit are so long they are bundled at the shoes. My opinion is the second version is a b&k repro, and the suit fits butches height from b&K, he is probably 6'4 or 6'5 in height and elvis was 6 feet the max. even with shoes the second suit was way too big for elvis.

[drumzz70]

flickr.com once on the site search american eagle aloha from hawaii , there are 2 pictures of this black butterfly with gold, next to the tv show aloha suit.

[drumzz70]

There's ONE question that has been bothering me recently:


When did the designs for the bell-bottoms start to become larger like actual bell-bottoms? You'll notice in the suits from 1970-1972, the kick pleats are small-ish (except for the kick pleats on the "White Pyramid" suit) and I'm just wondering when the legs for the suits started having more of a classic bell-bottom design?

From looking at elvis in concert photos, the white pyramid was the first with longer kickpleats and bells. It was in jacksonville FL 1972 ( the on tour footage ) just before the NY shows he started with the bigger pleats then the , comet/ adonis suit, porthole suit, blue grass suit..ect. i think the aloha suit bells were even a little wider then all because it was for tv but, it could be just how the tv showed it to appear.