In the early Eighties Sir Elton performed in various military-inspired looks amped up beyond belief, with huge epaulettes, plenty of badges and a hat balancing on his head.

Elton John pictured wearing a typically flamboyant costume on Dec. 3, 1984. The previous August, “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” became his 14th top five hit on the Hot 100. The kaleidoscope is shaken, the results scrutinised and fashion’s votaries decree that this summer men will be wearing… girly stuff, basically. Hot colours, bold patterns, skirts, sequins. Sir Elton John poses for a portrait during the Revlon concert for the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall on April 3, 2012 in New York City.

1992

The novelty glasses came with miniature awnings over each lens and in hindsight, a surprisingly practical way to keep out sunlight - we wonder why this didn't catch on? A cinema-going Elton John would naturally need his own pair of bespoke 3D glasses. Read: Elton shares heartbreaking story of Freddie Mercury's battle with AIDS Elton John performing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, 1975. He is wearing a sequined Dodgers uniform. Elton John in a flamboyant stage outfit of white suit with feather trim and rhinestone encrusted glasses, circa 1973. Starting with his Billboard Hot 100 top 40 debut with “Your Song” in 1970, Elton John has not only made an enduring impact on the music industry, but on the fashion world as well. A major contribution to John’s popularity was due to his daring and outside-the-box style. From feathers to sequins and his iconic colorful glasses, John’s clothes captured the attention of the entire world.

Elton John, wearing a vest top and satin shorts, at home in Beverly Hills, 1975, with part of his wardrobe, notably a large collection of platform shoes. Perched on his shoulder is a soft toy in his own likeness. In 2018, he told V Magazine: “Bob has said that his approach to dressing me for stage was to “treat me like a male showgirl” – and that’s exactly what we did! Together, we had so many ideas. He couldn’t make the clothes fast enough. Bob made some fabulous outfits for me—feathers, sequins, glitter—totally outrageous one-offs. I look at them now and they make me howl with laughter. We had so much fun!” The British composer released his 22nd studio album Sleeping With The Past that year bringing us hits 'I Never Knew Her Name' and 'Healing Hands'.Elton John performs at the Lands End Stage during day 3 of the 2015 Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park on Aug. 9, 2015 in San Francisco. Elton John performs at the Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium in London on June 21, 1975. John performed the whole of his album ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’ during his set. Two weeks previously, that album had become the first album in history to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1. He told V Magazine: “I’m proud of the part I played in moving eyewear from function to fashion. My eyes needed the functionality, but ‘blowing up’ what could be done with frames and lenses gave me an exciting new way of expressing myself.”