Lansky's is an expensive men's clothing store located in Memphis' Peabody Hotel. According to the store's web site the Lansky brothers
switched to high-fashion clothing in a store on Beale Street, which caught the eye of a young and penniless Presley. Elvis worked as an usher at nearby Loew's State Theater.
When Bernard spotted the starry-eyed teen window-shopping, he recalls, "I said, "Come on in, young man.' I showed him the merchandise, and it blew his mind. We used to have Life Savers colors--reds, pinks, blues, yellows, purples. He said, "Boy, I like this. I don't have any money now, but when I get rich, I'll buy you out." I said, "Do me a favor. Don't buy me out, just buy from me.' "But may we all have the style of Elvis? Thanks, but we don't don't allow people to look like that on the street in St. Louis.
A loyal Elvis did just that, from his first tux--a pink-and-black combo he wore to his junior/senior prom--to a black mohair suit after his Army discharge. "Man, they tore it off him," laughs Bernard. "They sure did."
7 comments:
A great quotation!
Ha ha, they can keep the shirts in the window display.
A bit colorful for my taste, but to each his own.
What about his blue suede shoes Bob :)
Given that the vast majority of my wardrobe consists of the colour black... not for me!
St. Louis would be far more colorful (and fun?) if more people wore these colors.
Bob, this is a fun post. Thanks!
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