Changing the way you comb your hair might sound like a simple, everyday decision. But for Priscilla Presley, parting her hair right down the middle was the ultimate symbol of secret freedom.
For years, she was married to Elvis Presley, the biggest music star in the entire world. But living inside his magical world meant that Elvis had strict rules about almost everything—including how his young wife should look every single day.
When Elvis met Priscilla, he was a massive celebrity who paid extra attention to beauty, fashion, and style. Because Elvis had grown up very poor, fine clothes and fancy hair represented success to him. He preferred Priscilla to wear a giant black bouffant, thick dark eyeliner, and high heels.
Elvis even banned her from wearing blue jeans, because denim reminded him of the poverty-stricken clothes of his childhood. He also deeply disliked hair parted in the middle. For a long time, Priscilla happily dressed up to make him smile, but as the years went on, her own identity got lost behind Elvis’s favorite glamor look.
Priscilla Presley Reveals How Much Control Elvis Had Over Her Life | Loose Women
When their marriage ended in 1973, Priscilla faced a huge challenge. She had met Elvis when she was just fourteen years old, which meant she never had the chance to figure out who she really was. She had gone straight from following her parents’ rules to following Elvis’s rules. Leaving his world was scary, but it gave her a chance to finally ask herself simple questions: What kind of clothes do I actually like? How do I want my hair to look? How do I want myself to look?!
Her journey to finding herself did not happen overnight; it happened through tiny acts every single day. Right after their separation, Priscilla talked about how she began doing something as simple as parting her hair straight!
She started wearing flat shoes instead of heels. She wore blue jeans and lightened her heavy black eye makeup. These small fashion choices were her way of taking control of her own body and choices for the very first time.
Priscilla often talks about how she did not change her style out of anger or hatred. She loved Elvis, and they remained close friends while raising their young daughter, Lisa Marie, even after the divorce. Changing her look was simply her way of loving him and still having the courage to choose herself!