Renowned Costume Designer Annie Reavey Finds New Home in Walker After Losing Everything in Wildfire

The rock-and-roll bohemian who created iconic looks for Elton John is rebuilding her life and art in a small Eastern Sierra town.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:19pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of an oversized, glittering hat in shades of pink, purple, and gold, repeated in a tight grid pattern to capture the bold, playful aesthetic of Annie Reavey's costume design work.The vibrant, whimsical fashion designs that defined Annie Reavey's career as a costume designer for Elton John now serve as a colorful tribute to her resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges.Palm Springs Today

Annie Reavey, a renowned costume designer who created iconic looks for Elton John, has found a new home in the small town of Walker, California after losing nearly everything in a devastating wildfire. Reavey, known for her vibrant, bohemian aesthetic, had previously lived and worked in London, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and the Eastern Sierra region, leaving her creative mark through murals, window displays, and custom clothing. After the 2020 wildfire destroyed her Walker home and most of her life's work, Reavey is now focused on rebuilding and returning to her artistic passions.

Why it matters

Reavey's story highlights the resilience of artists and small-town communities in the face of natural disasters, as well as the enduring impact that creative visionaries can have on the places they call home. Her journey from London's rock-and-roll scene to the remote Eastern Sierra showcases the power of art to transcend borders and connect people across cultures.

The details

After a successful career designing costumes for Elton John and other high-profile clients, Reavey moved to the Eastern Sierra region of California, where she painted murals, designed window displays, and taught art in local schools. In 2020, a devastating wildfire swept through her home in Walker, destroying most of her life's work. Reavey was able to salvage only a few pieces of her art and personal effects before evacuating. She spent the next six months caring for her partner, who developed Parkinson's disease after the fire. Despite the immense loss, Reavey is now focused on rebuilding her life and returning to her artistic passions in the small town she has come to call home.

  • In 2020, a wildfire swept through Reavey's home in Walker, California, destroying most of her life's work.
  • Reavey spent the six months after the fire living at Topaz Lodge, caring for her partner who developed Parkinson's disease.
  • Reavey's partner passed away earlier this year, and she is now starting to paint and create art again.

The players

Annie Reavey

A renowned costume designer who created iconic looks for Elton John and other high-profile clients, and who has now found a new home in the small town of Walker, California after losing nearly everything in a devastating wildfire.

Elton John

A famous British singer-songwriter for whom Reavey designed many of his classic looks, including jumpsuits, sequins, and platform boots.

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What they’re saying

“It's too plain without them.”

— Annie Reavey, Costume Designer

“You, Miss Reavey, will never grow up.”

— Student

What’s next

Reavey is focused on rebuilding her life and returning to her artistic passions in the small town of Walker, where she is starting to paint and create art again after the devastating loss of her home and most of her life's work in the 2020 wildfire.

The takeaway

Annie Reavey's story is a testament to the resilience of artists and small-town communities in the face of natural disasters. Despite losing nearly everything, she is determined to rebuild her life and continue sharing her vibrant, bohemian aesthetic through her art, murals, and custom designs, inspiring others with her creative spirit.