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Editor’s letter am forever grateful to my mother who introduced me to the legend that is Elton John and his music. Around the age of ten I heard his iconic songs Candle In the Wind, Your Song and Tiny Dancer.
I instantly fell in love with not only his song writing skills and voice but his outrageous stage outfits and dynamic personality. The excessive amount of glitter and rhinestones, bright colours and his famous sunglasses drew me in. I spent hours searching through YouTube looking at his music videos and performances all the way from the 70s to the 2000s. Elton John was recently the name on everyone’s lips when the movie musical about his breakthrough years, Rocketman was released in 2019. I myself was back to listening to the knighted musician’s songs and being engrossed in his amazing career. I find it remarkable that he could wear so many different types of stage outfits but still made one thing ingrained into his image. The man who has sunglasses for every occasion managed to turn a pair of accessories into something that is associated with him every time his name pops up. Without the glasses there is no Elton John. In this zine sunglasses of all shapes, tints and sizes worn over the years by Elton are showcased. Moreover, we uncover what inspired him to wear them on stage and how they became such an iconic part of him. The main question is: How many pairs does he really own? Come and take a closer look at the galore of Elton John’s sunglasses and be ready to feel amused, excited and intrigued. Frederica Juutilainen
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“He invented his look, and everyone followed”
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the normal glasses s the normal glasses the normal glasses
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Elton John’s spectacular spectacles started as a tribute to pioneering pop star Buddy Holly, who died tragically at 22. As a fan of Holly at the age of 13 Elton took to wearing horn-rimmed glasses in imitation of the late star. “After 18 months. I found I couldn’t see without them. If any young fans are thinking of copying me, I’d advise them to forget it!” 5
The square glasses The square glasses The square glasses
The square glasses The square glasses The square glasses
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“If you Google ‘Elton John, 99.99% of the time he’s wearing glasses.”
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Elton’s glasses game really moved up a gear in 1974 when the singer released his Greatest hits album. This picture was taken at the height of his early fame when his release was the highest selling album in the US in 1975.
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the diamond glasses the diamond glasses the diamond glasses
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“I have no idea how many prescription, diamond-studded and bedazzled pairs he owned, but he certainly had enough to go with everything.�
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Touring the world, the singer brought some of his most iconic glasses to the stage and screen. Elton used his imagination to invent eyewear of the most unusual shapes, decorated with glitter and just about anything else one could imagine (or not) for his over-the-top eyewear assortment.
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“he’s worn worn one one of of the the most most “he’s memorable glasses glasses in in history” history” memorable Elton John still makes a statement with what he’s wearing now, thanks to his trademark glasses. Seeking out the kookiest pairs to complement his bespoke suits and match his mood, he’s worn some of the most memorable glasses in history: Think novelty shades that feature oddball additions like windshield wipers or fur, and rhinestonecovered specs. With every shape, size, style, and colour popping up, he’s managed to keep things interesting—and fabulous—while creating a look that’s completely his. Elton John’s career took off during an era in which eyewear materials, shapes and colour options were radically changing. Lenses that traditionally had been made of thick glass were replaced with plastic lenses, and frames became available in multiple hues. But John’s commitment to eyewear, even after he stopped wearing overt costumes in 1986, has arguably shaped the evolution of the global eyewear industry.
“I “i do do have have a a quarter quarter of of a a million million pair pair of of glasses” glasses” Whether it’s theatrical or he’s taking his kids to school, Elton wants the glasses to work. As Elton has aged gracefully, so has his taste in the glasses that he wears in public. Recent sightings of Elton wearing glasses have shown a much more conservative style when worn in public, and even his stage shows feature a much less flamboyant style. His style may have changed over the years but his shopping habits havent. Elton still invests in his glasses and buys multiple pairs in one go. “I don’t have an iPod or a mobile phone or a computer. I do have a quarter of a million pairs of glasses, but I don’t even have a mobile phone!”
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sources list Text sources https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/elton-john/elton-johns-glasses-fashion-outfits/ https://www.vogue.com/article/elton-john-70th-birthday-epic-glasses-collection-inspiration https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/04/03/elton-john-buddy-holly/ https://www.visionmonday.com/scene-and-heard/todays-read/article/a-tip-of-the-glasses-to-sir-elton-on-his-birthday/ Image sources Image 1 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/style/elton-john-farewell-tour-wardrobe-gucci.html Image 2 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/style/elton-john-farewell-tour-wardrobe-gucci.html Image 3 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+70s+lips+shirt&sxsrf=ALeKk02D9jJJV32902_WZSzmAHnQkc3Mwg:1591483599300&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPiei0ou7pAhWnyKYKHd5wCpUQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1280&bih=561#imgrc=F55_Hs21_ ZBZpM Image 4 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+square+glasses+black+and+white+photo&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjC1sS_nu7pAhXRsyoKHU4XD3cQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=elton+john+square+glasses+black+and+white+photo&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECCMQJ1Di8QpYzfwKYLCBC2gAcAB4AIABYYgBvgSSAQE3mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=tBjcXsKsAtHnqgHOrry4Bw&bih=561&biw=1280#imgrc=l10vJybEUvbNSM&imgdii=4RxzTX89Gnb2GM Image 5 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+square+glasses+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjS4pSWn-7pAhXBBXcKHQ3eDI4Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=elton+john+square+glasses+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECCMQJzIECAAQHlDaxg9Y2sYPYILJD2gAcAB4AIABV4gBV5IBATGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=aRncXpKKK8GL3AONvLPwCA&bih=561&biw=1280#imgrc=AurakO79wRj2nM Image 6 https://www.rockhall.com/sites/default/files/styles/images_autox800/public/2019-11/Gallery6_EltonJohn.jpg?itok=3_YTGRs3 Image 7 https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/455356212296065007/?nic_v1=1aCkaZt%2BrRse0P55%2FIUWbaHO%2BBOCNFKuQ4Tdj9mM9Q98Wn%2B%2F%2BS%2BYjstmcl9T8ZJcen Image 8 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+glasses+black+and+white+photo&sxsrf=ALeKk004lJOZR4CJkB_dO05n1gr1EWyrrw:1591482546110&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1xc6-nu7pAhWJB5oKHe5wCgsQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1280&bih=561 Image 9 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+diamond+glasses+70s&sxsrf=ALeKk00M0Ovr7fsYUC8u4wVt9i2s-W6k2A:1591483948320&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7357bo-7pAhVz5KYKHQniC_IQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1280&bih=561#imgrc=fC7mWN-sPER4nM Image 10 https://www.vogue.fr/vogue-hommes-en/article/elton-johns-most-spectacular-sunglasses-in-15-vintage-photos Image 11 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+pink+mohawk&sxsrf=ALeKk002AMoV2_uglADDA0e6_0Ze3-yv6w:1591483042682&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjs6bKroO7pAhUZ6KYKHTcUA0sQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1280&bih=561&dpr=1.5#imgrc=lv3ltkG-QZdyYM&imgdii=VHlCNiUXAUMzGM Image 12 https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+glasses+black+and+white+photo&sxsrf=ALeKk004lJOZR4CJkB_dO05n1gr1EWyrrw:1591482546110&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1xc6-nu7pAhWJB5oKHe5wCgsQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1280&bih=561#imgrc=kZD_4zNbzH6QVM Image 13 https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/AdfcGqvYw86L061BOjB2z2GnUf-bxeNhloi9OuIhDfHjgz5M2F1G9Ms/?nic_v1=1aOIHFJCkjgQuC%2FnfnCY%2B4i5GRlcCyr05SK6jYxJyI3%2FdfgtGyAjAAXn8x7%2FpRGyzk Image 14 https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/333266441180085785/?nic_v1=1aksli4kQZLRanj2AhSj2l0w4jtd7siAE8m3oIXt2lKp5Pil6CHBkpfWr68q%2FzcfPc Image 15 https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/333266441180085164/?nic_v1=1aXDHKXo35CQuM4q%2Bz3iflzRHWAMqZTAcDSUmxZkfLfYFfps3zAD%2FuJMkAbhZRTK54 Signature https://www.google.com/search?q=elton+john+signature&sxsrf=ALeKk026J7meCJlM-nFd5JrZjUfXlXTOhQ:1591483774832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj55cGIo-7pAhWwxMQBHSlWBYsQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1280&bih=561#imgrc=Iwj1FzMvcTqVCM
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