Fashion Blog Pages

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Nudie Suits, Shirts, and other Westernwear Embellishments

Time to learn a bit more about the legendary Nudie's Rodeo Tailors.
Nudie suits take embellishments to the next level.

Nudie's offers custom one-of-a-kind suits and jackets that are hand tailored in Los Angeles, California.  Nudie Suits are made to measure and are completely customized based on your needs.  They offer custom embroidery, rhinestoning, handpainting, beading, leather inlay, and much more.

Nuta Kotlyarenko, known professionally as Nudie Cohn (December 15, 1902 – May 9, 1984), was a Ukrainian-born American tailor who designed decorative rhinestone-covered suits, known popularly as "Nudie Suits", and other elaborate outfits for some of the most famous celebrities of his era.  He also became famous for his outrageous customized automobiles.

Nudie Cohn and his wife Bobbie moved to New York  New York City and opened their first store, "Nudie's for the Ladies", specializing in custom-made undergarments for showgirls.  They moved to California in the early 1940s, and began designing and manufacturing clothing in their garage. In 1947 Cohn persuaded a young, struggling country singer named Tex Williams to buy him a sewing machine with the proceeds of an auctioned horse. In exchange, Cohn made clothing for Williams.   As their creations gained a following, the Cohns opened "Nudie's of Hollywood" on the corner of Victory and Vineland in North Hollywood, dealing exclusively in western wear, a style very much in fashion at the time.

Cohn's designs brought the already-flamboyant western style to a new level of ostentation with the liberal use of rhinestones and themed images in chain stitch embroidery. One of his early designs, in 1962, for singer Porter Wagoner, was a peach-colored suit featuring rhinestones, a covered wagon on the back, and wagon wheels on the legs. He offered the suit to Wagoner for free, confident that the popular performer (like Tex Williams) would serve as a billboard for his clothing line. His confidence proved justified and the business grew rapidly. In 1963 the Cohns relocated their business to a larger facility on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood and renamed it "Nudie's Rodeo Tailors".  And the legend of this westernwear clothing store blossomed.

Jamie Nudie is the granddaughter of Nudie Cohn and his wife Bobbie.  She grew up in the Nudie's iconic North Hollywood store where she learned the business inside and out.  Her grandparents transitioned out of retail in 1994 and Jamie now oversees Nudie's Rodeo Tailors.

Many famous celebrities wore Nudie suits including Elvis.

Learn more about Nudie shirts and other clothing.

Learn about embellishments for clothing.