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.
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!
Everyone Fell for My Charming New Boss, But I Knew Him as My Ex, Who Came Back to Finish What He Started — Story of the Day
Until Ellie fell asleep.
Then, I turned back to Logan. He was sitting on the couch, relaxed like he belonged there.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I whispered.
“Family. This is normal. You’ve just forgotten what it’s like. I’ll remind you.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You have no right.”
“I’m her father. And I will win you back.”
I grabbed my phone.
“I’ll call the police.”
“Go ahead. And tell them you left your daughter alone… while popping painkillers.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
He pulled a pill bottle out of his pocket with my name on it.
“Remember how you screamed at the office? We’ve got the footage. I installed the cameras.”
“That’s not mine! You planted it!”
“Can you prove it? They’ll believe me. I’m… a role model.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“What do you want, Logan?”
“You. And Ellie. Or… lose everything again.”
“You won’t dare! I rebuilt my life from ashes!”
“And I’ll destroy it again. I have enough power.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
I realized there was no protection. The police wouldn’t help. My coworkers were still hypnotized. I had to act alone.
And suddenly, I wasn’t scared anymore. I was angry. Not just for me — for every woman he ever fooled.
But William, seeing my burning eyes, stepped in.
We hatched a plan.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I created an anonymous page. I posted stories about women who survived emotional abuse. Seemingly fictional. But each one was a piece of the truth. We needed Logan to react.
William used his media skills to target those posts directly at our coworkers. Every one of them saw the stories, including Logan.
A few days passed. William placed a tablet in front of me, showing analytics from the anonymous page we had just launched.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Look at this,” he said. “They’re reading. They’re talking. If we keep the pressure, he’ll crack. That’s when we hit record. Let’s take his mask off.”
Logan didn’t know it was us, but he felt it. That afternoon, I saw him in the glass hallway by the elevators. Alone. He thought no one was watching. His fists were clenched. He slammed a folder onto the windowsill.
“Idiots!” I heard him hiss under his breath.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Logan glanced around, forced a smile back on his face, and walked away like nothing had happened.
He tried to keep the mask, but it no longer fit. People in the office started whispering. And he felt it.
At the significant conference where I was to speak, Logan sat in the front row. Smiling. As always. Pretending.
Finally, I stepped onto the stage. My hands were damp.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I knew one wrong word could cost me everything — my job, my daughter, and my sanity.
But if I stay silent, he wins. Again.
I looked out into the crowd. I saw William in the back.
I have such a support system. We’ll win.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I began my speech.
“We’re here to talk about strength. About women who survived. Who made it through darkness…”
I paused.
“And about those who pretend to be the light but are the darkness itself. Let’s talk about the men who live among us — perfect on the outside. But if you take off the mask…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I looked at Logan. He didn’t even shift.
“I once met such a man. No one but me saw what lay beneath. But today… I have the chance to show you.”
I played the video footage from my home. Every second felt like an hour. I kept my eyes on the screen, not daring to look at the crowd.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Then I heard it. His voice. The voice I had once loved — at that moment, pure venom:
“And I’ll destroy it again. I have enough power.”
This is it. This is how I finally take back my power.
Suddenly, Logan jumped up.
“It’s edited! It’s… a lie!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Is it, sweetheart? When you reappeared in my life, I took precautions. Spent quite a bit on a modern surveillance system. Video, audio. And today, it was worth every penny.”
Logan snapped and lunged at me.
“No one will believe you! You’re nothing without me! You were nothing before me, and you’ll be nothing after I’m done!”
His wild eyes, his voice, his screams — all recorded. Everyone saw it.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“You’ll regret exposing me. Even if they cancel me — I’ll still win. Because deep down, you know I made you.”
William was there, waiting. He stepped in and stopped Logan.
“Great headline for tomorrow’s paper,” William muttered, though his jaw was clenched.
The mask was off. Logan’s image crumbled. An investigation began. On my way out, I passed Mia in the hallway. She didn’t say a word. Just looked at the floor.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
That evening, I picked Ellie up from her friend’s house. She ran to me and hugged me so tight I couldn’t breathe.
“You look like a superhero, Mommy,” she whispered.
And at that moment, I believed her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I quit the next day. Walked out of the office in silence. Head held high.
Today, I run my own project — a small women’s center. It’s just two rooms above a bakery and a second-hand couch I found online.
But every week, women walk in who remind me of who I used to be — scared, silenced, surviving.
And now, I help them remember they deserve more than survival. They deserve to live.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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