Elton John is synonymous with glitz and glam—donning some of the most extraordinary stage costumes since the early ’70s. Nothing has ever been too over-the-top for the musician, with his ensembles commanding as much attention as his incredible collection of music.
John, 78, sat down with the the World Gold Council for the documentary short film Touched by Gold to talk about the inspiration behind some of his most celebrated ensembles over the years. Available to watch on Gold.org as of Sept. 15, he goes into the vault to share how gold, in particular, has played a major role in his fashion choices over the years.
In a clip from Touched by Gold, John recalls how, over the years, the outfits just grew wilder and wilder, and he was having the time of his life wearing them.
“If I have to maintain the attention of an audience, I’m going to dress incredibly,” he says in the doc. “I’m going to move around that piano, I’m going to jump off of it. I have to sell myself.”
John says that the show-stopping wardrobe really started with his impressive array of eyewear. Glasses are a necessity for him, as he admits he’s nearly blind. The very idea of wearing the same boring pair of glasses every day wasn’t so appealing, so John began accumulating a great deal of extravagant spectacles which then played very well with his stage presence.
“Elton John became this sort of person you came to see but, what’s he going to wear?” he said. “That was the show I wanted to give people. It’s just, ‘Wow.'”
He adds, “I could not go on stage in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans.”
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A Memorable Golden Moment
Earlier this year John collaborated with singer-songwriter Brandi Carlisle on the album Who Believes in Angels?. For the cover, he wears an unbelievable gold suit that comes with a story of its own.
“With the gold suit for Who Believes in Angels?, Mirpuri, who does a lot of my tailoring, made this suit,” John says. “But the jacket was Hand and Lock. They’ve been around for centuries and they do all the royal stuff and they embroider things. We gave it to them and they were so delighted to be able to do it. And I was even more delighted when they finished it because it’s a bit of a work of art. It’s incredible.”
Incredible, indeed. With a pair of meticulously crafted angel wings and colorful flowers, the jacket doesn’t just belong on a stage, it’s museum-worthy as well.
To hear John reminisce on more of his wild wardrobe, watch Touched by Gold on Gold.org.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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