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
My Daughter Dropped Out of College for a Boyfriend My Age – Until He Showed Up at My Door with Chilling Secrets.
I always believed I had created a solid, independent life for myself and my daughter, Megan. I’d worked hard for years to establish a good job, a comfortable home by the sea, and raise her on my own. In quiet moments, I felt a lack of companionship or someone to share life’s burdens with.
That night, I had planned a special supper only for Megan and me. I prepared the table, lit the candles, and waited with optimism in my heart. I never expected what came next.
— “Mom, this is Grayson,” Megan said, walking in with a man who looked even older than me.
— “Nice to meet you, Erica,” he said confidently, offering me his hand.
— “Likewise,” I replied, trying to hide my discomfort. Megan hadn’t mentioned bringing a guest—let alone someone that age.
We sat down, but the atmosphere grew heavy.
When I asked Grayson what he did, he replied coolly, “Finance. Investments.” And when I asked Megan about college, she dropped a bomb:
— “Maybe college isn’t for everyone.”
I tried to stay calm, reminding her how hard we had worked to get her there. But she seemed spellbound by this man. She told me she felt free with him, like she could finally breathe.
I warned her that if she dropped out of college, she couldn’t count on my financial support. She didn’t hesitate:
— “That’s fine. I have Grayson’s money now.”
And that’s when things truly unraveled.
That same night, as we sat in uncomfortable silence, a loud knock echoed through the house. Megan opened the door… and there stood a young woman, red-eyed and visibly upset.
— “YOU!” she shouted at Grayson. “You told me I was the only one!”
Grayson froze.
Rachel confessed to putting a in his car after he continued to avoid her. Megan was stunned. She didn’t need any other proof. She pulled him to the door and shouted:
— “Get out.” Right now. “I do not want to see you again.”
Grayson stumbled out. But when he went onto the road, a car came around the corner and hit him. The horrible noise of the hit silenced everything.
At the hospital, they informed us that he would be unable to travel for some time.
The town’s only hotel was closed due to renovations. And as much as I wanted to turn him away, I couldn’t abandon him on the street. I grudgingly allowed him to stay.
In the days that followed, something unexpected occurred. I began to see a different side of him. We spent the evenings playing chess and talking for hours. He explained that he had lost his wife when they were young and had never recovered. He stated that younger women were only distractions; he felt lonely and lost.
I progressively fell in love.
When Grayson recovered, he gently proposed that we go see Megan together and talk to her. We found her in a small cafe. She was chilly at first, but she listened.
— “I’m not here to act like a father,” Grayson informed her. “I am here because I care. You deserve to be able to make your own decisions about your future, free of pressure from me or your mother.”
Megan rolled her eyes, but something moved. She ultimately stated:
— “Fine. “I will think about it.”
A few days later, she called me.
— “Mom… maybe you were right. I don’t have access to Grayson’s card anymore. The guys I’ve met don’t take me seriously. I miss my old life, my friends… the university.”
She paused, then added:
— “I’m sorry. I want to go back to school. This time, I mean it.”
Hearing those words, I felt like I had my daughter back. Grayson squeezed my hand and said softly:
— “I love you. We’ll face whatever comes—together.”
And just like that, calm descended upon me. For the first time in a long time, I felt prepared to let go of control and believe in what lied ahead. We sat together, watching the waves crash on the coast. We knew life would bring storms, but we weren’t alone.
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