Is it possible to initialize an element without first attaching it to the DOM?

[VictorioBerra]

input = $('<input>');
input.durationPicker();
$("body").append(input );

I get

<input style="display: none;" />

[VictorioBerra]

Actually, it would help me a whole lot if init() would return mainInputReplacer. This would allow me to get the newly created element and move it wherever I want.