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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
My Parents Forbade Me from Moving Out — When I Discovered Their Real Reason, I Immediately Called the Police
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Taylor’s excitement about moving into her dream apartment was shattered by a devastating betrayal. Her parents had secretly taken out a loan in her name, using her savings without her knowledge. Faced with this painful truth, she made a bold decision that changed her family’s future forever.
My name is Taylor, and I want to share a story that turned my life upside down. I never thought I’d experience such betrayal, let alone talk about it. But here I am.
I recently finished my third year of university and stumbled upon the cutest little apartment near campus. It had everything I ever wanted: huge windows, a cozy reading nook, and a charm that felt like home. I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to tell my parents.
One sunny afternoon, I sat down with them in our living room, unable to contain my excitement.
“Mom, Dad, guess what?”
I looked at him, tears filling my eyes. “I hope so. It just feels like everything is falling apart.”
“Maybe,” he said softly. “But sometimes things need to fall apart to fall back into place. This is a lot to handle, but you have me and Aunt Freya supporting you every step of the way.”
Aunt Freya nodded. “Jake is right. We’re here for you, Taylor. And you’re stronger than you think. Never forget that.”
The legal process was long and stressful, but eventually, justice was served. My parents were held accountable for their actions, and I felt a sense of closure.
Do I feel bad for them? Sometimes. They were my parents, after all. But I couldn’t let them ruin my future. I had to take a stand, even if it meant breaking the family apart.
They looked up from their newspapers, giving me a curious glance.
With the support of Aunt Freya and Jake, I slowly started to rebuild my life. I found a new job, saved up again, and eventually moved into my dream apartment. It wasn’t easy, but I knew I had made the right choice.
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