Michael Jackson was a picky dresser, and he wanted to stand out. That’s why his costumes had a lot of details that made everyone wonder why they were there and what they meant. For example, almost every jacket Michael Jackson wore had an armband on the right sleeve, and some of his jackets also had “777” sewn onto them.
We at Bright Side are fascinated with Michael Jackson`s wardrobe, and we`re ready to reveal some of the secrets behind his costumes!
1. Why he wore smaller costumes at the end of his shows
Michael Jackson`s dance routines were very physically strenuous, and he gave his all during his performances. By the end of the show, he would often lose up to 5 lbs, and his waist would become one inch thinner. And since it was important that his clothes fit perfectly, so that he could show off his dance moves, every next costume was a bit smaller than the previous one.
2. How his lean shoes worked
Michael Jackson`s shoes that helped him defy the laws of gravity had a V-shaped clasp at the bottom of the heels. With its help, he could hook into a nail attached to the floor and perform his famous 45-degree forward tilt. However, to be able to do that and to keep his whole body straight, an incredible amount of core and leg strength was also needed.
3. Why he only wore one glove
Michael had vitiligo, a skin condition where patches of your skin lose pigment. It started on his hand and he wanted to cover it up. And he thought it would look too ordinary to wear 2 gloves, so he would only wear one.
4. Why almost every jacket had an armband on the right sleeve
Michel Jackson just wanted his clothes to be different from everyone else’s. And having an armband on a sleeve makes your look distinguishable. Michael also liked to make his fans wonder why that armband was there.
5. Why there are 3 № 7s sewn onto his jackets
Michael was the 7th child in his family. Also, he was born in 1958, and if you add 19 plus 58, it equals 77.
6. Why he never polished his shoes
Once, the singer`s managers were concerned about the condition of his shoes and asked his costume designer to polish them. He did it, but it made Michael extremely angry. He explained that the leather was worn off exactly as he needed it to be, and that polishing would make it too slippery for him to perform his dance moves.
7. Why he wore white socks
Michael loved wearing white socks for several reasons. No one else wore white socks with black shoes. Moreover, they would catch the light and attract attention to the movements of his feet when he was dancing.
8. Why he taped his fingers
Hand movements were an important part of Michael Jackson`s dance routines. So he and his costume designers decided to wrap white tape around his fingers in order to attract more light. Michael also decided it would be more unusual to only tape his index, ring, and pinkie fingers. It was also fun for him, because fans would ask why only 3 of his fingers were taped.
When Michael danced, he would unconsciously put his 2 untaped fingers together. And that would also add mysteriousness to his performances, since the fans would think this sign had a secret meaning.
9. What the letters CTE on his jackets stand for
These letters don`t stand for anything. In the 90s, Michael`s costume designers created a few new shirts for him. He liked them, but he wanted to add some letters on the epaulets. He said it didn`t matter which ones, so his costume designers put all of the letters of the alphabet into a hat, and took 3 of them out at random. That`s where the letters “CTE” came from.
Do you think Michael Jackson had great taste in clothes? Is there any costume of his that you like in particular? We`d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Preview photo credit Smooth Criminal / Quincy Jones Productions
A Nostalgic Reminder of Culinary Elegance
Have you ever found vintage pastry tongs at a flea market or in your grandmother’s kitchen? Known by other names as pastry servers or sugar tongs, these quaint old-fashioned cooking implements have a rich heritage and a function that speaks to a bygone period. Let’s delve into their fascinating tale for a while.
An Amazing Combination of Design and Usability
Pastry tongs’ style pays homage to the grace and practicality that characterized bygone eras. These utensils, with their elaborate patterns and handles, were works of art rather than merely common serving utensils.
During tea time or dessert events, its delicate build made it possible to serve delicate pastries, cookies, and other sweet delights with precision and grace.
It was an art in and of itself, using pastry tongs. Their thin, pointed ends let one to delicately pick up the pastry they wanted and guarantee a smooth, elegant serving.
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With these tongs, every encounter is a joyful experience since the handles were expertly created to strike the ideal mix between functionality and aesthetic appeal.
An Icon of Edwardian and Victorian Elegance
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The Victorian and Edwardian eras, when elaborate tea parties were common social gatherings, saw the height of pastry tongs’ appeal.
The way pastries and candies were presented evolved into a beautiful art form, and these tongs were a necessary piece of equipment to maintain the upscale dining experience.
But eating habits changed throughout time, and contemporary convenience became more important. Pastry tongs were eventually replaced by other serving tools as their use decreased. Nevertheless, collectors and aficionados of vintage pastry tongs maintain a particular place in their hearts even in spite of their limited usefulness in modern kitchens.
An Emotional Bond with the Past
Vintage pastry tongs are treasured artifacts for people who value artistry and historical relevance. These tongs arouse strong feelings of nostalgia and take us back to a time when serving pastries was a kind of art in and of itself, whether they are arranged as decorative pieces or on shelves.
They encourage us to reflect on and value the beauty of the past by providing a concrete link to a time of culinary refinement in the past.
Therefore, the next time you come across a pair of pastry tongs, stop and consider their artistry and the histories they represent.
These understated yet sophisticated utensils are a tribute to historical artistry and a kind reminder of the refined cuisine that formerly graced our tables.
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