Jacob Elordi’s Valentino-designed ‘Priscilla’ costuming is impeccable
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WHILE IT won’t make it to Australian cinemas until January, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, has been making waves during its release overseas. And if like us, you’ve been finding yourself pouring over the images of a very stylish Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley, we can reveal there’s a very good reason he looks as good as he does.
For the film’s sharp and impeccable costuming, Coppola enlisted Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli to create a bespoke wardrobe for Elordi’s Elvis, and to celebrate, the Italian couture house has revealed some of the sketches behind the looks. Using era specific tailoring and styling combinations that throw to the musical legend’s specific tastes, such as the cropped suit lengths, Elvis’ penchant for coordinated outfits (which he allegedly insisted on, even at at home), the pieces by Piccioli are each inspired directly by the clothes Elvis has in his own wardrobe, reimagined by the designer for Elordi.
As expected from the Maison, the collection has an incredibly beautiful and luxurious focus on materiality and includes: flap-pocket mohair suits; cable knit sweaters and contrast-band cardigans, reconsidered in cashmere and slim polo shirts imagined in extra fine wool. The colour palettes used are earthy, which reflect trends from the era—think: navy, bordeaux, cream, caramel and slate blue—and inside every look is a hand-sewn ‘Valentino for Jacob Elordi’ tag, an arguably superfluous detail, but one that nods to the detail Piccioli brought to each bespoke piece.
Maison Valentino has had a long and rich love affair with film, dating back to the founder’s childhood. As a boy growing up in Italy, Valentino himself would find solace in the cinema, sneaking off from his day to immerse himself in the pure glamour and beauty of the time. Which, naturally, directly influenced his career in becoming a fashion designer. This was the era of La Dolce Vita, the height of Rome’s Cinecittà and stars like Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, who all played muse to and became friends with Valentino as he rose to fame within fashion, leading the Maison to become one of the most beloved ateliers of Hollywood and red carpet dressing. The Priscilla collaboration sees Piccioli continue the relationship and bring forward his own artistic touch and personal love of cinema, art and culture, not to mention the narratives that emerge when fashion is used as a communicator. The payoff is a beautifully elegant showcase of the style of one of the most influential dressers and personalities in music history, reimagined for a new generation of cinephiles.
Priscilla opens in Australia on 18 January, 2024
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