Smoothy Slim
Smoothy Slim
Photo: Jonathan Borba
The jumpsuit was Bill's idea, he was inspired by clothing from the Napoleonic era, particularly the high collars. Of course, jumpsuits were practical for Elvis because they allowed him to move around onstage without worrying about getting his clothing snagged on something.
This is not a myth; fresh eggs sink while bad eggs float to the top. Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place your eggs in it. If they sink...
Read More »
They are lauded for their many health benefits. However, excess intake of beetroot juice may cause side effects. It may cause discoloration of...
Read More »
This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.
Learn More »I fell into wardrobe design by accident. When I was a kid, I was always drawing; my mother said I could draw before I could speak. When I was 20, I went to Los Angeles to try and get work, and after living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a year, I eventually got a job at a costume shop. It was there that I discovered I had a flair for embroidery. Before long, I had earned a reputation as one of the best embroiderers in LA. I crossed paths with Bill Belew in the early 1970s, when he was designing costumes for Elvis. The jumpsuit was Bill's idea, he was inspired by clothing from the Napoleonic era, particularly the high collars. Of course, jumpsuits were practical for Elvis because they allowed him to move around onstage without worrying about getting his clothing snagged on something. Eventually, Bill handed over to me and I began working on Elvis's jumpsuits. I loved working with themes, such as primitive, Egyptian, Aztec Thunderbird. I didn't just want glitter, I wanted a story. My most famous design, and probably my personal favourite, is the suit Elvis wore for his Aloha in Hawaii in 1973. He had requested a patriotic design because the show was going to be broadcast around the world. I grabbed a piece of paper and sketched out an eagle in blue and yellow marker and told Bill, "I want to do this." He said: "Go for it." I think that jumpsuit became synonymous with his image for many people. Despite designing jumpsuits for Elvis for the best part of a decade, I never actually got to meet him. There was a great hierarchy of people surrounding him by the time I came on board in the early 70s, and they had their own niches to protect. If they'd ever let me near Elvis, I would have told him to get rid of his tailor because he made his pants too short. I always got feedback from Elvis – "He loved the last suit, can you make me five more in different colours" – but this line of communication had its problems. I remember once I was working on a bunch of ideas and Elvis was impatient so asked, through his assistant's assistant's assistant, could he see some samples. I was making a jungle-themed suit at this point – vines, serpents, elephants – so I sent him a sample that featured a zebra's head on it. I heard back, "Elvis loves it, but wonders why you've made the feet on the bird so small." I had no idea what they were talking about, until I realised that when you looked at the zebra upside down, it kind of did resemble a bird. What could I do, it's Elvis? I just widened the zebra's nose, changed its feet to ears and reworked the shape and it became a Phoenix. Then I hear back: "Elvis loves them, can you do five more in different colours?"
If a smoothie helps you offset other calories you would otherwise consume, it can be an effective weight loss tool. If you prioritize ingredients...
Read More »
Beetroot juice has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. The widening of blood vessels caused by nitrate ingestion not only improves...
Read More »
A potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.
Learn More »I continued designing jumpsuits for Elvis until he stopped performing due to ill health. As far as I'm aware, there wasn't one of my suits he turned down, he wore them all. Since then I've worked with Siegfried and Roy, Dolly Parton and Diana Ross, among others, and I continue to make jumpsuit replicas of the classic Elvis design to this day. I'm proud that I influenced Elvis's style and that the suits became so iconic. I don't mind that I was never allowed to meet him as he always passed on his thoughts about the jumpsuits. Having said that, I guess it would have been nice to have shook his hand. Gene Doucette was talking to Rosie Swash. Elvis: At The Movies is available on DVD now from Paramount Home Entertainment
If you're trying to lose weight, soda is not your best beverage choice. Regular soda is high in sugar and calories and studies show that diet soda...
Read More »
An amino acid called tryptophan, which occurs in many protein-rich foods, helps the body produce serotonin. Carbohydrates help the body absorb...
Read More »
This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.
Learn More »
Egg yolks Egg yolks Most of the protein in an egg is found in the white, and the fat, vitamins, and minerals are found mostly in the yolk. The yolk...
Read More »
This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.
Learn More »
One to two bananas per day is considered a moderate intake for most healthy people. Be sure to eat this fruit as part of a balanced diet that...
Read More »