Michael Jackson was known for his distinctive fashion sense and drive to stand out. His clothing frequently had intriguing features that left people guessing about their significance or purpose. For example, he often wore jackets with an armband on the right sleeve, and some even had “777” stitched on them.
Michael Jackson’s renowned wardrobe has intrigued us here at Bright Side, and we’re delighted to unearth some of the mysteries behind his legendary clothes!
1. What the letters CTE on his jackets meant
The initials “CTE” did not stand for anything. In the 1990s, Michael’s costume designers created a few new shirts for him that he appreciated. However, he desired to add some letters to the epaulets. He didn’t have a choice on which letters to use, so his designers put all of the alphabet’s letters in a hat and chose three at random. That is how the letters “CTE” appeared on his shirt.
2. The secret behind his leaning shoes
Michael Jackson’s gravity-defying shoes have a V-shaped hook at the heel that allowed him to grasp onto a nail embedded in the floor. This innovative system allowed him to perform his signature 45-degree forward lean. However, performing this astounding performance needed not just unique shoes, but also tremendous core and leg power to maintain perfect posture throughout.
3. Why he wore just one glove
Michael Jackson had vitiligo, a disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment, which may have impacted his choice to wear a glove. However, he believed that wearing two gloves would be too conventional, so he opted to wear only one.
4. Why most of his jackets had an armband on the right sleeve
Michael Jackson wanted to make his clothing stand out from the throng. He added an armband to his sleeve to create a distinct look. He also enjoyed instilling intrigue in his admirers by having them wonder what the armband represented.
5. Why number 7s were sewn onto his jackets
Michael was the eighth child in his family, born in 1958. If you add 19 and 58, you get 77.
6. Why he chose to wear white socks
Michael Jackson had a specific affection for white socks, and with good cause. Few people wore white socks with black shoes, making his look unusual. Furthermore, the white socks would reflect the light, bringing emphasis to the exact movements of his feet as he danced.
7. Why he wrapped tape around his fingers
Michael Jackson’s dancing routines relied heavily on hand movements. To highlight these actions, he and his costume designers wrapped white tape across his fingers, making them more visible in the light. Michael also decided to tape only his index, ring, and pinkie fingers to create a more distinct appearance. It was something he appreciated because viewers frequently wondered why he only taped three of his fingers.
While dancing, Michael would frequently bring his two untaped fingers together. This small move provided a sense of mystery to his performances, prompting fans to wonder if the position had any hidden meaning.
8. Why he wore smaller clothes at the end of his shows
Michael Jackson’s dance routines were extremely demanding, and he put his all into each performance. By the end of the episode, he might have lost up to 5 pounds and an inch off his waist. Because it was critical that his clothes fit precisely and allowed him to demonstrate his moves, each costume he wore was slightly smaller than the one before.
