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.
6. Why he never polished his shoes
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!
The Intriguing Experience of Pareidolia
Have you ever glanced at random objects and thought you saw faces? This curious occurrence is called pareidolia. Our brains are wired to identify shapes, patterns, and even sounds as something significant, often perceiving them as faces.
This explains why we might spot animals in clouds or faces in rocks. Even a worn tile floor, like the one in the image above, can reveal a subtle face when examined closely.
What is Pareidolia?
Pareidolia is a fascinating psychological and visual phenomenon where our brains detect familiar patterns, particularly faces, in everyday objects. This tendency comes from our evolutionary need to recognize friends, enemies, and others. Our brains are designed to identify faces, even when none are really there.
The Tile Face: A Closer Look
If you carefully study the image, you’ll see that the rough texture of the tile creates a face, complete with eyes, a nose, and a mouth. The “eyes” might appear as darker spots, the “nose” as a smudge, and the “mouth” as a faint curve. It’s as if the tile has turned into a hidden character, patiently waiting to be discovered. This instance of pareidolia transforms an ordinary tile into something mysterious, artistic, and perhaps a little eerie.
Why Do We See Faces?
Surprisingly, seeing faces in objects is more common than we realize. Throughout evolution, our brains have honed the skill of recognizing faces as a way to form social bonds and ensure survival. Detecting allies and recognizing threats was essential for early humans. As a result, our brains became finely tuned to notice even the smallest facial cues, sometimes even over-interpreting them.
Scientists suggest that this natural ability to see faces has influenced our emotional understanding, social interactions, and even our creativity. It shows the incredible capacity of the human brain to find meaning, even when it only exists in our imagination.
The Artistic Side of Pareidolia
Pareidolia is not just a scientific curiosity; it also has a captivating artistic aspect. Artists have long been inspired by hidden images in the environment. This type of art encourages us to see beyond the obvious and find beauty in the unexpected.
The face in the tile from the image above can be seen as a natural work of art, a masterpiece shaped by time, wear, and our imagination. It reminds us that art can be found anywhere if we just take the time to look.
In Conclusion
The next time you see a tiled floor, gaze at cloud-filled skies, or closely inspect a textured surface, take a moment to observe. You might just find a face staring back at you. Pareidolia reminds us how our brains interpret the world, revealing wonder in the most ordinary things. These moments of recognition are small reminders of the magic hidden in everyday life. So go out there and embrace the beauty of pareidolia!
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