Elton John splashes on shoes

Sir Elton John has spent $18,000 on a pair of glitzy custom-made shoes.

The 67-year-old musical legend splashed out on a pair from the Donald & Lisa Signature Collection for his birthday last month. The handmade footwear retails for $1,400 and is encrusted with rare beads imported from the Czech Republic.

"He came into our Las Vegas store and asked us to make a special shoe for him," Donald J. Pliner of the husband and wife-design duo told Life & Style.

The pricey loafers also feature the initials of Elton's two sons, Zachary and Elijah, who he shares with his husband, David Furnish.

"He has two… sons and he gave me their initials," Donald added. "And, of course, the [shoes are] red because he's known for the red piano, so we did it in the red crystals with the letters 'ZE'."

It's not the only fashion news involving Elton today, as actor Tom Hardy has announced he will be wearing the star's old clothes in preparation for the forthcoming biopic Rocketman. The film will tell Elton's legendary story, from his childhood to his rise to fame.

"When I play a real person, I like to have bits of them. Since I can't take physical body parts and sever those, I try and grab as much 'kit' off them as possible," Tom said during a cinema society screening of his new movie Locke.

"Then you can sell it on eBay!"

Rocketman, which will be directed by Michael Gracey and released by Focus Features, is scheduled to start shooting in fall 2014.