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House of Nutter: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row
The strange, illuminative true story of Tommy Nutter, the Savile Road tailor who changed the silhouette of men's fashion – and his rock photographer brother, David, who captured it all on film.
From an early age, there was something different about Tommy and David Nutter. Growing up in an austere apartment above a café catering to truck drivers, both boys seemed destined to lead rather humble lives in post-war London—Tommy as a civil servant, David as a darkroom technician. Yet the strength of their imagination (plus a little help from their friends) transformed them instead into unlikely protagonists of a swinging cultural revolution.
In 1969, at the age of twenty-six, Tommy opened an unusual new boutique on the “golden mile” of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row. While shocking a haughty establishment resistant to change, “Nutters of Savile Row” became an immediate sensation among the young, rich, and beautiful, beguiling everyone from Bianca Jagger to the Beatles—who immortalized Tommy’s designs on the album cover of Abbey Road. Meanwhile, David’s innate talent with a camera vaulted him across the Atlantic to New York City, where he found himself in a parallel constellation of stars (Yoko Ono, Elton John) who enjoyed his dry wit almost as much as his photography.
House of Nutter tells the stunning true story of two gay men who influenced some of the most iconic styles and pop images of the twentieth century. Drawing on interviews with more than seventy people—and taking advantage of unparalleled access to never-before-seen pictures, letters, sketches, and diaries—journalist Lance Richardson presents a dual portrait of brothers improvising their way through five decades of extraordinary events, their personal struggles playing out against vivid backdrops of the Blitz, an obscenity trial, the birth of disco, and the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
A propulsive, deftly plotted narrative filled with surprising details and near-operatic twists, House of Nutter takes readers on a wild ride into the minds and times of two brilliant dreamers.
From an early age, there was something different about Tommy and David Nutter. Growing up in an austere apartment above a café catering to truck drivers, both boys seemed destined to lead rather humble lives in post-war London—Tommy as a civil servant, David as a darkroom technician. Yet the strength of their imagination (plus a little help from their friends) transformed them instead into unlikely protagonists of a swinging cultural revolution.
In 1969, at the age of twenty-six, Tommy opened an unusual new boutique on the “golden mile” of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row. While shocking a haughty establishment resistant to change, “Nutters of Savile Row” became an immediate sensation among the young, rich, and beautiful, beguiling everyone from Bianca Jagger to the Beatles—who immortalized Tommy’s designs on the album cover of Abbey Road. Meanwhile, David’s innate talent with a camera vaulted him across the Atlantic to New York City, where he found himself in a parallel constellation of stars (Yoko Ono, Elton John) who enjoyed his dry wit almost as much as his photography.
House of Nutter tells the stunning true story of two gay men who influenced some of the most iconic styles and pop images of the twentieth century. Drawing on interviews with more than seventy people—and taking advantage of unparalleled access to never-before-seen pictures, letters, sketches, and diaries—journalist Lance Richardson presents a dual portrait of brothers improvising their way through five decades of extraordinary events, their personal struggles playing out against vivid backdrops of the Blitz, an obscenity trial, the birth of disco, and the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
A propulsive, deftly plotted narrative filled with surprising details and near-operatic twists, House of Nutter takes readers on a wild ride into the minds and times of two brilliant dreamers.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
21 people are currently reading
1394 people want to read
About the author
Lance Richardson
2 books43 followersLance Richardson's new book, TRUE NATURE: The Pilgrimage of Peter Matthiessen, will be published in October 2025 by Pantheon (US) and Chatto & Windus (UK/Commonwealth). His first book, HOUSE OF NUTTER: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row, was a New York Times Editors' Choice and spotlighted on "The New Yorker Recommends." It was also named one of the notable books of 2018 by The Sunday Times, The Mail on Sunday, Esquire, and the American Library Association. It is currently being adapted for television by a major studio.
Lance has published widely in newspapers and magazines. He holds a masters degree in longform journalism from the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, NYU. He teaches in the MFA in Writing program at Bennington College, Vermont, and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Lance has published widely in newspapers and magazines. He holds a masters degree in longform journalism from the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, NYU. He teaches in the MFA in Writing program at Bennington College, Vermont, and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 46 reviews
July 19, 2018
I received this advance reader copy from Crown Publishing via NetGalley.
Being a lifelong Beatles fan, when I saw that this book involved Savile Row in London, England, my interest was immediately piqued. For I am well aware that the fancy tailors dominated that road. The Beatles new entertainment company Apple Corp. Ltd. set up headquarters in 1968 right in the middle of all that, at 3 Savile Road. But, little did I realize just how much celebrated bespoke tailor Thomas Nutter and his brother, photographer David Nutter's lives were intertwined with that of The Beatles. The three Beatles wearing suits on the album cover where they are crossing Abbey Road...were made by Thomas Nutter. Thomas Nutter also made the cream corduroy suit John Lennon was wearing when he married Yoko Ono at the Rock of Gibraltar. Not only that...David Nutter took the wedding photographs and was listed on the marriage certificate as one of the witnesses!
What is bespoke tailoring? It's the opposite of off-the-rack. Garments are custom made to your specific body measurements. At the tailor shop where Thomas Nutter first apprenticed, a customer's measurements were kept on file until they saw his name in the obituary! Another very interesting factoid was that 95% of men "dressed to the left".
Brothers Thomas and David Nutter were both gay, and each creative in their own way. Thomas became wildly successful during the late sixties designing suits and opening his own shop "The House of Nutter" on Savile Row. He was financed by lover Peter Brown, former personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein and Apple Corp. board member. Thomas made suits for Bianca and Mick Jagger, Elton John, The Beatles and other celebrities. David Nutter found his own success in photography working with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Elton John. He created that famous picture of John and Yoko which covers a ceiling in the Lennon's apartment at the Dakota, where it looks as though they are flying among the clouds over a London skyline.
Thomas Nutter died of AIDS in the 90s, and the whole terror of this new unknown disease was covered as it unfolded in the eighties. David is still alive and quite happy that this book exists to document their artistic contributions, born during the sixties and lasting through the next few decades. He shared many personal documents such as diaries, letters and photos which add a great authenticity to this book.
I love reading about sixties London, The Beatles and other rock bands that were around at that time, so this book was quite an interesting read for me. There were also many wonderful photos included in the book.
Being a lifelong Beatles fan, when I saw that this book involved Savile Row in London, England, my interest was immediately piqued. For I am well aware that the fancy tailors dominated that road. The Beatles new entertainment company Apple Corp. Ltd. set up headquarters in 1968 right in the middle of all that, at 3 Savile Road. But, little did I realize just how much celebrated bespoke tailor Thomas Nutter and his brother, photographer David Nutter's lives were intertwined with that of The Beatles. The three Beatles wearing suits on the album cover where they are crossing Abbey Road...were made by Thomas Nutter. Thomas Nutter also made the cream corduroy suit John Lennon was wearing when he married Yoko Ono at the Rock of Gibraltar. Not only that...David Nutter took the wedding photographs and was listed on the marriage certificate as one of the witnesses!
What is bespoke tailoring? It's the opposite of off-the-rack. Garments are custom made to your specific body measurements. At the tailor shop where Thomas Nutter first apprenticed, a customer's measurements were kept on file until they saw his name in the obituary! Another very interesting factoid was that 95% of men "dressed to the left".
Brothers Thomas and David Nutter were both gay, and each creative in their own way. Thomas became wildly successful during the late sixties designing suits and opening his own shop "The House of Nutter" on Savile Row. He was financed by lover Peter Brown, former personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein and Apple Corp. board member. Thomas made suits for Bianca and Mick Jagger, Elton John, The Beatles and other celebrities. David Nutter found his own success in photography working with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Elton John. He created that famous picture of John and Yoko which covers a ceiling in the Lennon's apartment at the Dakota, where it looks as though they are flying among the clouds over a London skyline.
Thomas Nutter died of AIDS in the 90s, and the whole terror of this new unknown disease was covered as it unfolded in the eighties. David is still alive and quite happy that this book exists to document their artistic contributions, born during the sixties and lasting through the next few decades. He shared many personal documents such as diaries, letters and photos which add a great authenticity to this book.
I love reading about sixties London, The Beatles and other rock bands that were around at that time, so this book was quite an interesting read for me. There were also many wonderful photos included in the book.
April 30, 2018
This was a such an informative read about the fashion and menswear trade from the late 1960’s and through the rock and roll years when a lot of his clientele were famous rockers among many other celebrities and worldwide famous folks. The book is also about the other Nutter brother who took up a career in photography and many times orbited around many of the same celebrities oddly enough, and on odd occasions at overlapping moments and locations.
The book recalls their lives and outcomes, following Tommy Nutter through his time in Savile Row learning to be a tailor working for another. Then when he’s finally able to get backing and open his first shop and breathe life into it and make his vision of fashion at last. Then he begins to dress the moneyed and famous and gains some fame of a sort for himself as he builds his business, always a walking advertisement himself and dressing his photographer brother in his fashions to advertise for him as well.
Brother David was often tasked to come in to do last minute photo shoots, getting great shots of the clothes on attractive volunteer friends and acquaintances who jumped in to help out and make things happen to get sales brochures out in time. There are lots of stories of becoming friends with the rich and famous and getting pretty successful, going out to all the “in” places, seeing and being seen and doing things to excess. They see the good side of things, and later the not so great sides as well. A very well told story that goes into other areas that are also important and gives a good bit of history. Well worth the read, but I don’t want to give anything away. An advance digital copy was provided by Netgalley, author Lance Richardson, and the publisher for my honest review.
Crown Publishers
Publication: May 1, 2018
The book recalls their lives and outcomes, following Tommy Nutter through his time in Savile Row learning to be a tailor working for another. Then when he’s finally able to get backing and open his first shop and breathe life into it and make his vision of fashion at last. Then he begins to dress the moneyed and famous and gains some fame of a sort for himself as he builds his business, always a walking advertisement himself and dressing his photographer brother in his fashions to advertise for him as well.
Brother David was often tasked to come in to do last minute photo shoots, getting great shots of the clothes on attractive volunteer friends and acquaintances who jumped in to help out and make things happen to get sales brochures out in time. There are lots of stories of becoming friends with the rich and famous and getting pretty successful, going out to all the “in” places, seeing and being seen and doing things to excess. They see the good side of things, and later the not so great sides as well. A very well told story that goes into other areas that are also important and gives a good bit of history. Well worth the read, but I don’t want to give anything away. An advance digital copy was provided by Netgalley, author Lance Richardson, and the publisher for my honest review.
Crown Publishers
Publication: May 1, 2018
December 27, 2019
The one thing I love about reading biographies is how I am constantly introduced to individuals who I have never heard about. Tommy Nutter is a wonderful example of this. This book is about his rise to fame in the world of bespoke tailoring during the 1970s.
At the age of 26, Tommy Nutter opened up Nutters of Savile Row in central London. This would not have been a cause for great concern except for the fact that he had no formal education or experience as a fashion designer or tailor. All he had was an "in-built feeling for clothes". That must have been enough because he rose to fame quickly. His clientele included the likes of The Beatles, Twiggy, Diane Ross, Elton John and Mick Jagger.
I loved reading about what makes bespoke tailoring so special. It is the perfect combination of art and science where the clothing is literally made for the individual in question after countless hours of fittings and alterations.
The author includes various photographs throughout the text which I definitely appreciated. It is one thing reading about the avant-garde fashion found in the House of Nutter but another thing completely seeing what the clothing actually looked like.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading House of Nutter and highly recommend it to everyone!
I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
At the age of 26, Tommy Nutter opened up Nutters of Savile Row in central London. This would not have been a cause for great concern except for the fact that he had no formal education or experience as a fashion designer or tailor. All he had was an "in-built feeling for clothes". That must have been enough because he rose to fame quickly. His clientele included the likes of The Beatles, Twiggy, Diane Ross, Elton John and Mick Jagger.
I loved reading about what makes bespoke tailoring so special. It is the perfect combination of art and science where the clothing is literally made for the individual in question after countless hours of fittings and alterations.
The author includes various photographs throughout the text which I definitely appreciated. It is one thing reading about the avant-garde fashion found in the House of Nutter but another thing completely seeing what the clothing actually looked like.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading House of Nutter and highly recommend it to everyone!
I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2018
Fascinating subject matter. I thought I knew a lot about late-1960s/1970s music, art, and fashion, and yet I still learned plenty from this book. It turns out I knew next to nothing about Tommy Nutter. This book proves how much consideration Nutter's contributions are due.
One thing I would mention is that the author, Lance Richardson, seems to be a bit better are writing sad and serious stories than writing about happy times -- the end sections about the AIDS crisis are deeply affecting by their very nature, but in earlier sections, Richardson fails to entirely capture the joie de vivre of the Swinging '60s, for example. I mean, it's all here, but one doesn't quite feel it in the way one might wish. Richardson is clearly more journalist than painter of word-pictures. However, I suspect this may also be a consequence of how much source material (papers, interviews) came from David Nutter, Tommy's living brother, who had his own exciting adventures as a rock photographer but also had battled addiction and depression. So, throughout the book, even the happiest times seem tinged with sadness and desperation. (Though I guess this is a fairly common experience for anyone looking back at the '70s through the lens of later events.)
In any case, I especially liked when the Nutter brothers' lives were put into a larger context -- WWII and its aftermath, the history of Savile Row, the rise and fall of the Beatles, etc. I had no idea, going in, how personally close the Nutters were to all this, and how much influence Tommy had. I'm happy to have had this gap in my knowledge filled. In fact, this book fills a Nutter-shaped hole in the collective memory of British and American fashion and music history. I hope it will be widely read.
** I received an ARC of this book via Penguin's First to Read program **
One thing I would mention is that the author, Lance Richardson, seems to be a bit better are writing sad and serious stories than writing about happy times -- the end sections about the AIDS crisis are deeply affecting by their very nature, but in earlier sections, Richardson fails to entirely capture the joie de vivre of the Swinging '60s, for example. I mean, it's all here, but one doesn't quite feel it in the way one might wish. Richardson is clearly more journalist than painter of word-pictures. However, I suspect this may also be a consequence of how much source material (papers, interviews) came from David Nutter, Tommy's living brother, who had his own exciting adventures as a rock photographer but also had battled addiction and depression. So, throughout the book, even the happiest times seem tinged with sadness and desperation. (Though I guess this is a fairly common experience for anyone looking back at the '70s through the lens of later events.)
In any case, I especially liked when the Nutter brothers' lives were put into a larger context -- WWII and its aftermath, the history of Savile Row, the rise and fall of the Beatles, etc. I had no idea, going in, how personally close the Nutters were to all this, and how much influence Tommy had. I'm happy to have had this gap in my knowledge filled. In fact, this book fills a Nutter-shaped hole in the collective memory of British and American fashion and music history. I hope it will be widely read.
** I received an ARC of this book via Penguin's First to Read program **
June 12, 2018
I'm normally a quick study but in this case, I wanted to savour this tome. Not only a story of the legend and saviour of Savile Row, designer and icon, but a touching double-portrait of brothers Tommy and David Nutter during a time of cultural upheaval.
Tommy Nutter - an iconoclast who subverted the dusty culture of the Savile Row tailor to bring new energy to fight through waves of conservatism ...
and David Nutter - who provided a window into a revolution, a consciousness through his lens having immortalised not only his brother's aethetic but the likes John Lennon, Yoko Ono, the Jaggers and Elton 'Sharon' John.
During the epilogue which brought me to tears, you see here Richardson’s intention, as a ways for David to heal and celebrate a time that would not have been known without him.
I'm gushing, but you don't need to be interested in fashion or tailoring to eat this one up. It's a portrait of a joyous and tragic time, which puts our modern lives into perspective. Read it.
Tommy Nutter - an iconoclast who subverted the dusty culture of the Savile Row tailor to bring new energy to fight through waves of conservatism ...
and David Nutter - who provided a window into a revolution, a consciousness through his lens having immortalised not only his brother's aethetic but the likes John Lennon, Yoko Ono, the Jaggers and Elton 'Sharon' John.
During the epilogue which brought me to tears, you see here Richardson’s intention, as a ways for David to heal and celebrate a time that would not have been known without him.
I'm gushing, but you don't need to be interested in fashion or tailoring to eat this one up. It's a portrait of a joyous and tragic time, which puts our modern lives into perspective. Read it.
April 18, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from Penguin First To Read.
I had never heard of the Nutter brothers, but the blurb sounded like an interesting way to view a time in history with a particular subculture. It did not disappoint. Tommy and David Nutter were born to working class family around the end of the war. They both somehow become stars in the orbit of celebrities with Tommy being a Saville Row tailor who dressed Elton John and the Beatles and many others and David being the man who photographed them. Both were gay men who dealt with AIDS birth but only David survived it. There is something interesting fro everyone here -an inside look at the Beatles, fashion, gay culture, breaking down of class system in postwar Britain, AIDS. Really entertaining and many pictures to bring this to life.
I had never heard of the Nutter brothers, but the blurb sounded like an interesting way to view a time in history with a particular subculture. It did not disappoint. Tommy and David Nutter were born to working class family around the end of the war. They both somehow become stars in the orbit of celebrities with Tommy being a Saville Row tailor who dressed Elton John and the Beatles and many others and David being the man who photographed them. Both were gay men who dealt with AIDS birth but only David survived it. There is something interesting fro everyone here -an inside look at the Beatles, fashion, gay culture, breaking down of class system in postwar Britain, AIDS. Really entertaining and many pictures to bring this to life.
August 12, 2019
I inhaled this book. Written with a brisk and elegant style, the story of the Nutter brothers covers so much ground in such a personal way, compelling way, offering a history of gay life in New York and London, inside looks at the Beatles and Elton John, among many other things, and of course the world of tailoring, which I knew nothing about but loved. And the end gutted me.
January 15, 2019
Very well written and entertaining. I knew nothing of Tommy and David Nutter before reading this, but found it a thoroughly fascinating insight into the world of fashion and entertainment in the 1960s and 70s. Highly recommended.
September 19, 2018
House of Nutter is an astonishing, well-told story of the fabulous Nutter Brothers. Tommy a bespoke tailor/fashion designer and then older brother, David, an entertainment photographer who worked with and hobnobbed with Jagger, Elton and Lennon (only a single name required). Both brothers were British, gay and charismatic and the book is filled with fascinating stories about these talented brothers.
The brothers were brought up in the 50’s and 60’s in Britain in a strict, conservative household with a racist father and a rather subservient mother. They knew early on they needed to get from up under this restrictive household and at the first chance they did.
Tommy Nutter opened his first shop, Nutters of Savile Row in 1969 (age 25 or 26) after working with several tailoring shops in London. His shop was known for bespoke tailoring, which I learned is “made-to-measure” or a clothing pattern drafted from scratch particularly made for the customer. Tommy was one of the top bespoke tailors in Britain. His clientele included entertainment stars, politicians, sports celebrities and many others. He had many major successes in his career. The Beatles (John, Paul and Ringo) even wore Nutter suits on the cover of the Abbey Road album.
David Nutter was the photographer to the celebrities but also worked with Tommy on many design projects. His story gets a little less attention within these pages but they are certainly no less entertaining. His relationship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono before and even after Lennon’s assassination was particularly revealing.
This book is filled with wonderful photos throughout, mostly taken by David Nutter himself. The extravagant parties, lavish store grand openings and personal photos with the elite are scattered throughout the book.
I think one of the books biggest strengths is how the author shows the highs and lows during their careers in the 70’s, 80’s and the early 90’s: the financial collapse during the Thatcher administration and battling through the AIDS crisis where many of the artists they worked with succumbed to the disease including many of their close friends and Tommy himself, eventually.
This is a well researched book from cover to cover. There’s absolutely no dull moments here at all. I’m certainly not doing this book the justice it truly deserves, all i can say is read it. Please! The author does an incredible job with two quite charismatic subjects and easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Kudos!
The brothers were brought up in the 50’s and 60’s in Britain in a strict, conservative household with a racist father and a rather subservient mother. They knew early on they needed to get from up under this restrictive household and at the first chance they did.
Tommy Nutter opened his first shop, Nutters of Savile Row in 1969 (age 25 or 26) after working with several tailoring shops in London. His shop was known for bespoke tailoring, which I learned is “made-to-measure” or a clothing pattern drafted from scratch particularly made for the customer. Tommy was one of the top bespoke tailors in Britain. His clientele included entertainment stars, politicians, sports celebrities and many others. He had many major successes in his career. The Beatles (John, Paul and Ringo) even wore Nutter suits on the cover of the Abbey Road album.
David Nutter was the photographer to the celebrities but also worked with Tommy on many design projects. His story gets a little less attention within these pages but they are certainly no less entertaining. His relationship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono before and even after Lennon’s assassination was particularly revealing.
This book is filled with wonderful photos throughout, mostly taken by David Nutter himself. The extravagant parties, lavish store grand openings and personal photos with the elite are scattered throughout the book.
I think one of the books biggest strengths is how the author shows the highs and lows during their careers in the 70’s, 80’s and the early 90’s: the financial collapse during the Thatcher administration and battling through the AIDS crisis where many of the artists they worked with succumbed to the disease including many of their close friends and Tommy himself, eventually.
This is a well researched book from cover to cover. There’s absolutely no dull moments here at all. I’m certainly not doing this book the justice it truly deserves, all i can say is read it. Please! The author does an incredible job with two quite charismatic subjects and easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Kudos!
February 20, 2021
This was a fascinating book about the Nutter brothers, of whom I admit I knew nothing despite their many celebrity achievements, as tailor and photographer to the stars.
Tommy and David's stories are tinged with success, despair, failure, love, loss and adversity.
A very interesting read if you're after something a little different.
Tommy and David's stories are tinged with success, despair, failure, love, loss and adversity.
A very interesting read if you're after something a little different.
July 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this biog - really of the 2 Nutter brothers: tailor Tommy and photog David. There remarkable lives are more than the broad-shouldered bespoke suit trend Tommy started after first bringing in the altered style of an English horse riding jacket. Bother moved in orbits with Elton John as a focus and thats three of Tommy's creations on the cover of Abbey Road. Both gay men lived a colorful club life that was eclipsed by the specter of AIDS. The decades covered here feel like a generational sweep of the '70s thru the '80s and succeeding (at times) with a creative life.
April 21, 2018
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced eGalley of "House of Nutter: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row".
On the surface, and based on its captivating cover, you'd think this was going to be a book centered around Thomas (Tommy) Nutter--one of the pioneering designers of the once ultra-conservative Savile Row.
However, it is about BOTH David and Tommy Nutter, almost in equal measure.
Both gay.
Both ahead of their time in their respective disciplines.
Tommy hoped to turn the fashion world on its head with his otherworldly suit designs. Designs that would find their way onto the bodies of the Beatles (who wore his suits for the cover of 'Abbey Road'), Elton John, Diana Ross, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger. And while his successes would make him, at one time, the toast of London, his desire to remain true to his vision would also alienate and eviscerate relationships he'd develop with others.
One thing was frustratingly clear about Tommy, he wasn't willing to compromise under any circumstance.
His is a story of ups and downs--with the downs being nearly as notable as the ups--which culminates in his life being cut short by the growing AIDS epidemic.
On the other side of the pond, in New York, his older brother David's story would take place in parallel form. While younger brother Tommy was navigating the fashion waters, David's flare with a camera would bring him into contact with music and art royalty.
In an almost 'Forrest Gump' like fashion, David's ability to take pictures brought him into the orbit of not only the Beatles, but Elton John, Michael Jackson (before 'Off The Wall' made him into an other-worldly success), Freddie Mercury, and Mick Jagger.
Truthfully, as one who adores pop culture history--particularly where music is concerned--I was more fascinated with the world David inhabited. I couldn't believe the serendipity of his life.
A life that, sadly, was also spent in the grips of depression, thanks to undiagnosed manic depression (i.e. Bipolar Disorder).
David often turned to drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication, to no avail. By the time he figures out how to control his moods more effectively, he's endured more than his share of emotional, and physical, turmoil.
House of Nutter doesn't make it a point to dwell on David's mental health, but it was easy to see how it effected his ability to take better advantage of his opportunities--of which he certainly had many.
It also highlights how devastating the AIDS epidemic truly was, at that time. So many friends would eventually be lost to the disease--including Tommy himself (who died of AIDS in 1992).
That may have been the saddest part of all of this. Tommy didn't live long enough to see his influence come to fruition in many of today's most relevant designers--including Tom Ford.
An entertaining read for anyone interested in a time when creativity and innovation were at the forefront of progression, and art was about making something last, rather than setting a trend.
On the surface, and based on its captivating cover, you'd think this was going to be a book centered around Thomas (Tommy) Nutter--one of the pioneering designers of the once ultra-conservative Savile Row.
However, it is about BOTH David and Tommy Nutter, almost in equal measure.
Both gay.
Both ahead of their time in their respective disciplines.
Tommy hoped to turn the fashion world on its head with his otherworldly suit designs. Designs that would find their way onto the bodies of the Beatles (who wore his suits for the cover of 'Abbey Road'), Elton John, Diana Ross, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger. And while his successes would make him, at one time, the toast of London, his desire to remain true to his vision would also alienate and eviscerate relationships he'd develop with others.
One thing was frustratingly clear about Tommy, he wasn't willing to compromise under any circumstance.
His is a story of ups and downs--with the downs being nearly as notable as the ups--which culminates in his life being cut short by the growing AIDS epidemic.
On the other side of the pond, in New York, his older brother David's story would take place in parallel form. While younger brother Tommy was navigating the fashion waters, David's flare with a camera would bring him into contact with music and art royalty.
In an almost 'Forrest Gump' like fashion, David's ability to take pictures brought him into the orbit of not only the Beatles, but Elton John, Michael Jackson (before 'Off The Wall' made him into an other-worldly success), Freddie Mercury, and Mick Jagger.
Truthfully, as one who adores pop culture history--particularly where music is concerned--I was more fascinated with the world David inhabited. I couldn't believe the serendipity of his life.
A life that, sadly, was also spent in the grips of depression, thanks to undiagnosed manic depression (i.e. Bipolar Disorder).
David often turned to drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication, to no avail. By the time he figures out how to control his moods more effectively, he's endured more than his share of emotional, and physical, turmoil.
House of Nutter doesn't make it a point to dwell on David's mental health, but it was easy to see how it effected his ability to take better advantage of his opportunities--of which he certainly had many.
It also highlights how devastating the AIDS epidemic truly was, at that time. So many friends would eventually be lost to the disease--including Tommy himself (who died of AIDS in 1992).
That may have been the saddest part of all of this. Tommy didn't live long enough to see his influence come to fruition in many of today's most relevant designers--including Tom Ford.
An entertaining read for anyone interested in a time when creativity and innovation were at the forefront of progression, and art was about making something last, rather than setting a trend.
March 27, 2018
The strange, illuminative true story of Tommy Nutter, the Savile Row tailor who changed the silhouette of men’s fashion—and his rock photographer brother, David, who captured it all on film.
From an early age, there was something different about Tommy and David Nutter. Growing up in an austere apartment above a café catering to truck drivers, both boys seemed destined to lead rather humble lives in post-war London—Tommy as a civil servant, David as a darkroom technician. Yet the strength of their imagination (plus a little help from their friends) transformed them instead into unlikely protagonists of a swinging cultural revolution.
In 1969, at the age of twenty-six, Tommy opened an unusual new boutique on the “golden mile” of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row. While shocking a haughty establishment resistant to change, “Nutters of Savile Row” became an immediate sensation among the young, rich, and beautiful, beguiling everyone from Bianca Jagger to the Beatles—who immortalized Tommy’s designs on the album cover of Abbey Road. Meanwhile, David’s innate talent with a camera vaulted him across the Atlantic to New York City, where he found himself in a parallel constellation of stars (Yoko Ono, Elton John) who enjoyed his dry wit almost as much as his photography.
House of Nutter tells the stunning true story of two gay men who influenced some of the most iconic styles and pop images of the twentieth century. Drawing on interviews with more than seventy people—and taking advantage of unparalleled access to never-before-seen pictures, letters, sketches, and diaries—journalist Lance Richardson presents a dual portrait of brothers improvising their way through five decades of extraordinary events, their personal struggles playing out against vivid backdrops of the Blitz, an obscenity trial, the birth of disco, and the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
From an early age, there was something different about Tommy and David Nutter. Growing up in an austere apartment above a café catering to truck drivers, both boys seemed destined to lead rather humble lives in post-war London—Tommy as a civil servant, David as a darkroom technician. Yet the strength of their imagination (plus a little help from their friends) transformed them instead into unlikely protagonists of a swinging cultural revolution.
In 1969, at the age of twenty-six, Tommy opened an unusual new boutique on the “golden mile” of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row. While shocking a haughty establishment resistant to change, “Nutters of Savile Row” became an immediate sensation among the young, rich, and beautiful, beguiling everyone from Bianca Jagger to the Beatles—who immortalized Tommy’s designs on the album cover of Abbey Road. Meanwhile, David’s innate talent with a camera vaulted him across the Atlantic to New York City, where he found himself in a parallel constellation of stars (Yoko Ono, Elton John) who enjoyed his dry wit almost as much as his photography.
House of Nutter tells the stunning true story of two gay men who influenced some of the most iconic styles and pop images of the twentieth century. Drawing on interviews with more than seventy people—and taking advantage of unparalleled access to never-before-seen pictures, letters, sketches, and diaries—journalist Lance Richardson presents a dual portrait of brothers improvising their way through five decades of extraordinary events, their personal struggles playing out against vivid backdrops of the Blitz, an obscenity trial, the birth of disco, and the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
May 30, 2018
I think it's easy to forget the toll that the AIDS epidemic took on our creative communities from 1980 til the mid-1990's when medical "cocktails" helped turn the fatal disease into a chronic one. Author Lance Richardson reminds us of that toll in his biography of Tommy Nutter, "The House of Nutter: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row." The bio, which centers on Tommy, also features his older brother, David, who was a noted photographer and management aide to many prominent rock musicians.
The Nutter brothers were born before and during WW2 of lower middle-class British parents. They came of age in the 1950's and 60's and both fastened on to the burgeoning style scene in London. Tommy went to work for a bespoke tailoring shop on Savile Row and soon shook things up with his - for the time - avant garde designs of how the new, the mod man, should look. He opened his own shop, selling his own designs, but Tommy Nutter was more a designer than a businessman. David, meanwhile. was finding his way as a photographer in London and New York. They were both in the mix at fashionable parties and the club scene. Both men were gay and dabbled in drugs.
As the years went by, both men were successful - David as much as he wanted to be - and lived interesting lives. But when Tommy became HIV positive in the early 1990's, his life was cut short. He joined the thousands of creatives who lost their lives. Will we know what designs could have been designed, music been composed, books been written? Lance Richardson, in his book, takes a good look at the Nutter brothers - one dead, the other alive - and written an interesting book about two men who most of us were probably not acquainted with before reading the book.
The Nutter brothers were born before and during WW2 of lower middle-class British parents. They came of age in the 1950's and 60's and both fastened on to the burgeoning style scene in London. Tommy went to work for a bespoke tailoring shop on Savile Row and soon shook things up with his - for the time - avant garde designs of how the new, the mod man, should look. He opened his own shop, selling his own designs, but Tommy Nutter was more a designer than a businessman. David, meanwhile. was finding his way as a photographer in London and New York. They were both in the mix at fashionable parties and the club scene. Both men were gay and dabbled in drugs.
As the years went by, both men were successful - David as much as he wanted to be - and lived interesting lives. But when Tommy became HIV positive in the early 1990's, his life was cut short. He joined the thousands of creatives who lost their lives. Will we know what designs could have been designed, music been composed, books been written? Lance Richardson, in his book, takes a good look at the Nutter brothers - one dead, the other alive - and written an interesting book about two men who most of us were probably not acquainted with before reading the book.
January 28, 2025
I am going to admit that I had no idea who Tommy Nutter was before opening this book. I quickly realized, however, that he has waved a hand over many of the most famous moments in pop culture history spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s. His brother David was equally as ubiquitous. Tommy dressed the likes of Elton John, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Yoko Ono, the Beatles, various members of royalty, and many other famous film and music stars of the time period. He designed the suits John, Paul, and Ringo wore for the cover of Abby Road. He designed almost every bit of wardrobe Elton John wore. And, just as he was the tailor to the stars, his brother was the photographer. David photographed several of Elton John's album covers, and even toured with him as his personal photographer. When John and Yoko flew to Gibralter to get married in a secret ceremony, David was the man they called to take the pictures. Between the two brothers there is not a star they didn't touch for 30+ years.
As high as they flew socially, their private lives were scattered with tragedy, addiction, depression, and financial insecurity. David in particular struggled with depression but both men walked a fine line between success and poverty. Despite their popularity with the rich and famous, neither ever had much of a strong financial foothold in their fields. Their personal troubles were compounded by the fact that both men were gay in England in a time when that was considered a crime for which they could go to prison. Lance Richardson has put together an incredibly fascinating look at two men who deserve to be widely known and who deserve a place of honor for their hand in our cultural history.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As high as they flew socially, their private lives were scattered with tragedy, addiction, depression, and financial insecurity. David in particular struggled with depression but both men walked a fine line between success and poverty. Despite their popularity with the rich and famous, neither ever had much of a strong financial foothold in their fields. Their personal troubles were compounded by the fact that both men were gay in England in a time when that was considered a crime for which they could go to prison. Lance Richardson has put together an incredibly fascinating look at two men who deserve to be widely known and who deserve a place of honor for their hand in our cultural history.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2018
Fashion underwent a tremendous revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, and Tommy Nutter was one of that revolution's leaders.
This biography of the noted fashion designer was fascinating. A man from humble beginnings set the men's fashion world on its head with his bold designs and use of color at a time when the world was still very much a grey place. Add to that kind of bold thinking the fact that Mr. Nutter was gay when the gay world was still in the closet, and you have the makings of an intriguing read.
The writer brings us into the world of Savile Row tailoring and gay nightlife in swinging London, and he does it well. He places us in the disco era, among the stars in Tommy Nutter bespoke suits, all glitz and glamour and tragedy when the AIDS virus began to spread.
Not to be forgotten is Tommy's brother David, the noted photographer, who also features prominently in the tale. He was a groundbreaking artist in his own right, and the story of two gay brothers in creative fields, blazing new trails, makes for a very enjoyable read.
The younger generation, those who did not grow up in the bland 1950s and think the 1960s was all about protesting will find this treatment of those days interesting. There was a revolution, pushed on by the post-war babies, and the protests took on many forms, including wide lapels and colors beyond the grey/navy pallet.
Thanks to Penguin Random House for access to a book that I highly recommend.
This biography of the noted fashion designer was fascinating. A man from humble beginnings set the men's fashion world on its head with his bold designs and use of color at a time when the world was still very much a grey place. Add to that kind of bold thinking the fact that Mr. Nutter was gay when the gay world was still in the closet, and you have the makings of an intriguing read.
The writer brings us into the world of Savile Row tailoring and gay nightlife in swinging London, and he does it well. He places us in the disco era, among the stars in Tommy Nutter bespoke suits, all glitz and glamour and tragedy when the AIDS virus began to spread.
Not to be forgotten is Tommy's brother David, the noted photographer, who also features prominently in the tale. He was a groundbreaking artist in his own right, and the story of two gay brothers in creative fields, blazing new trails, makes for a very enjoyable read.
The younger generation, those who did not grow up in the bland 1950s and think the 1960s was all about protesting will find this treatment of those days interesting. There was a revolution, pushed on by the post-war babies, and the protests took on many forms, including wide lapels and colors beyond the grey/navy pallet.
Thanks to Penguin Random House for access to a book that I highly recommend.
April 23, 2018
This was such a fascinating read! Despite being tragically unhip, I find stories about the fashion world delightfully dishy and entertaining - the glamour, the rise and inevitable fall, the drama of it all makes for such interesting reads... David and Tommy Nutter were a pair of true originals, and their tale was exactly as interesting, dramatic, and full of deliciously snappy gossipy bits as I'd hoped. It was very well-written, in a narrative style that kept me engaged without feeling lost in the drama. The brothers' tale was tragic, comic, and tragicomic - sometimes in the same anecdote! - and I loved all the campy details of their run-ins with icons of their era. They lived HUGE lives, particularly for a pair of boys from such humble beginnings, and their tale was a delight to read.
This was indeed a wild ride, and it sent me to Google more times than I can count to check out the people and events and styles referenced - particularly since my copy did not include the vast majority of the image files, for some reason. Since I couldn't find a lot of the pictures, I can only imagine how cool the full print book must be!
My review copy was provided by the Penguin First to Read program.
This was indeed a wild ride, and it sent me to Google more times than I can count to check out the people and events and styles referenced - particularly since my copy did not include the vast majority of the image files, for some reason. Since I couldn't find a lot of the pictures, I can only imagine how cool the full print book must be!
My review copy was provided by the Penguin First to Read program.
June 11, 2019
This biography is titled for Tommy Nutter, the tailor, but it's really a dual biography of Tommy and his older brother, David. Both gay, both influential in their own celebrity circles, both intimately affected by the AIDS crisis.
Lance Richardson is himself gay, and I think his personal connection brings a depth to the biography that a straight author wouldn't have. He writes about the persecution of gay men in Britain in the 70s, and the underground gay clubs, with a kind of underlying passion that illustrates the pressure these men were under to hide the very cores of themselves while still finding a sense of community and revelry with each other. (And later, when he talks about the AIDS crisis in the 90s, you can feel the emotions and grief behind the fairly objective words.)
The story itself is gripping; Tommy the tailor and David the photographer, and the high-profile celebrities they orbited around - The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson. Tommy made clothes for them all, including the suits three of the Beatles wore on the cover of Abbey Road, and the outfits worn by Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman. David took photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's wedding, and was Elton John's personal photographer, publishing a book of photos of the star in 1977.
The biography is part social history, giving an incredible view of the underground gay club scene in the 70s and 80s in London and New York, which the two brothers bounced between.
One thing I was struck by is how casually everyone used drugs at the time! Tailor's assistants mention doing speed to get work done; everyone drunk themselves into a stupor as often as they could; David unexpectedly blacks out after combining alcohol and some kind of drug while partying one night. David ferries cocaine for a friend/employer at one point - and not a little bit of cocaine, either. A lot. It was definitely a different era for drug use!
The book is also an amazing example of how much people can influence culture and still be forgotten. I'd never heard of David or Tommy Nutter, but the celebrities they clothed and photographed almost everyone has heard of! They didn't just clothe and photograph them, but influence them. David was a close friend of Elton John's, cheering him up when he fell into the depths of depression. Tommy was a major pillar of support for the manager of The Beatles, and created a lot of Elton John's off-stage wear. These two were huge in the cultural change of the 70s and 80s. How do we not know their names?
I really enjoyed this book, and it's a great piece of gay history for Pride Month. I highly recommend it.
You can find all my reviews and more at Goddess in the Stacks.
Lance Richardson is himself gay, and I think his personal connection brings a depth to the biography that a straight author wouldn't have. He writes about the persecution of gay men in Britain in the 70s, and the underground gay clubs, with a kind of underlying passion that illustrates the pressure these men were under to hide the very cores of themselves while still finding a sense of community and revelry with each other. (And later, when he talks about the AIDS crisis in the 90s, you can feel the emotions and grief behind the fairly objective words.)
The story itself is gripping; Tommy the tailor and David the photographer, and the high-profile celebrities they orbited around - The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson. Tommy made clothes for them all, including the suits three of the Beatles wore on the cover of Abbey Road, and the outfits worn by Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman. David took photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's wedding, and was Elton John's personal photographer, publishing a book of photos of the star in 1977.
The biography is part social history, giving an incredible view of the underground gay club scene in the 70s and 80s in London and New York, which the two brothers bounced between.
One thing I was struck by is how casually everyone used drugs at the time! Tailor's assistants mention doing speed to get work done; everyone drunk themselves into a stupor as often as they could; David unexpectedly blacks out after combining alcohol and some kind of drug while partying one night. David ferries cocaine for a friend/employer at one point - and not a little bit of cocaine, either. A lot. It was definitely a different era for drug use!
The book is also an amazing example of how much people can influence culture and still be forgotten. I'd never heard of David or Tommy Nutter, but the celebrities they clothed and photographed almost everyone has heard of! They didn't just clothe and photograph them, but influence them. David was a close friend of Elton John's, cheering him up when he fell into the depths of depression. Tommy was a major pillar of support for the manager of The Beatles, and created a lot of Elton John's off-stage wear. These two were huge in the cultural change of the 70s and 80s. How do we not know their names?
I really enjoyed this book, and it's a great piece of gay history for Pride Month. I highly recommend it.
You can find all my reviews and more at Goddess in the Stacks.
August 29, 2018
This is a fantastic read for a niche audience, namely anyone who is familiar with Tommy Nutter, or has an abiding interest in Savile Row tailoring, or simply has an insatiable appetite for Elton John stories. Though the ostensible subject of "House of Nutter" is Tommy Nutter, his brother (David) plays a prominent role as well, which is as it should be because David provided a wealth of archival materials that elevate the book from superficial to sublime. There are a number of delicious bits of celebrity tattle that would have been lost to posterity were it not for David's participation in this book.
Tommy Nutter served as a bridge of sorts from the traditional world of British tailoring as epitomized by the houses on Savile Row to the more dramatic designer-driven men's wear embodied in designers such as Giorgio Armani. Like many creative types, the Nutters (Tommy and David) were lousy business people, which may explain why the House of Nutter has faded into obscurity. Fortunately, Lance Richardson's "House of Nutter" rectifies this situation, which is as much biography as it is social history.
Tommy Nutter served as a bridge of sorts from the traditional world of British tailoring as epitomized by the houses on Savile Row to the more dramatic designer-driven men's wear embodied in designers such as Giorgio Armani. Like many creative types, the Nutters (Tommy and David) were lousy business people, which may explain why the House of Nutter has faded into obscurity. Fortunately, Lance Richardson's "House of Nutter" rectifies this situation, which is as much biography as it is social history.
April 3, 2024
Lovely book by an evocative writer. Tommy Nutter and his brother David were working-class gay men from Great Britain who became prominent and iconoclastic tailors and fashion designers from the late 60s until Tommy's tragic death from AIDS in the early 90s. I'm no good with fashion, so I'll just say that they challenged the rather stuffy traditionalism of Savile Row both in their personal behavior/approach to business as well as through the flair and radicalism of their designs. There's great stuff in this book about their working/socializing with the Stones, the Beatles, Elton John, Sondheim, Webber, and an all-around who's who of celebs from this era. LR also has incredibly well-written passages about the peculiar culture of the tailoring industry, an odd mix of intimacy, tradition, elitism, and innovation.
Nutter was an outrageous character, and LR paints a vivid portrayal of his life and work. Still, I couldn't help feel like Nutter was a little bit shallow as a person, that he valued glamor and notoriety more than substance. Anyways, this is a great book that helped me better grasp the importance of fashion in pop culture history.
Nutter was an outrageous character, and LR paints a vivid portrayal of his life and work. Still, I couldn't help feel like Nutter was a little bit shallow as a person, that he valued glamor and notoriety more than substance. Anyways, this is a great book that helped me better grasp the importance of fashion in pop culture history.
February 28, 2018
---- Disclosure: I received this book for free from Goodreads. ----
A nice tale about an artistic tailor, which closes in a way that makes one aware this book was really about two people; both the tailor & his brother. Tommy & David Nutter are the kind of people I find interesting, b/c they lived life on their own terms as much as possible. Mad respect for that. Moving things along were the story line happening mainly on 2 continents, as well as both the local & global ups & downs of history. The determination of these 2 brothers to live as they saw fit led to remarkable contributions for the culture of the times, & left indelible marks on modern culture. Maybe you don't (yet) know their names, but odds are high you've come across their work.
I found this book to be well-written & must thank the author for this work. The cathartic effect it must have produced for David Nutter is enough to make me grateful it was done.
September 21, 2021
Savile Row: the most socially conservative address for the affluent wanting bespoke tailored suits. But it was all change when Tommy Nutter (and brother photographer David Nutter) arrived. Suddenly the newly-affluent: popstars, actors and other celebrities, also wanted custom fashion. And Tommy Nutter was the man to tailor to whims and fancies.
Lance Richardson describes the perhaps chaotic lives of the Nutter brothers, and the hyper rich and hyper demanding lives of their clients. There is bright description of the fashion world of London in the 70's, 80's and 90's, and lots of gossip and insider observations.
But world of fashion seems mean and crude and fickle. Perhaps big wins for a few, but generally full of ego and pomp and status. The book is an opener into this world, but glad to shut the book and leave.
Lance Richardson describes the perhaps chaotic lives of the Nutter brothers, and the hyper rich and hyper demanding lives of their clients. There is bright description of the fashion world of London in the 70's, 80's and 90's, and lots of gossip and insider observations.
But world of fashion seems mean and crude and fickle. Perhaps big wins for a few, but generally full of ego and pomp and status. The book is an opener into this world, but glad to shut the book and leave.
August 8, 2018
I won this book in a giveaway. I started reading this without any prior knowledge about Tommy or David Nutter. I found the story interesting, and enjoyed that it was ultimately the story of both brothers. I also found it heartbreaking-- it is easy to forget the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic in the 80's and how many people were lost. My one wish is that there were more pictures, especially of the wonderful clothes that Tommy designed.
January 6, 2019
The book itself not only told a fantastic story about Tommy Nutter, it also touched on a whole era, the era of my youth, and summed it up perfectly.
I remember seeing the photos in the book, in magazines and newspapers.
Studio 54 and CBGB’s, were places I dreamed of going to.
How the general public reacted to the emergence of AIDS, and the clothes.
Oh, the clothes!
I loved the clothes, and have Tommy Nutter to thank for those w i d e lapels, and the mixing/mismatching of colors, designs and patterns.
Tommy Nutter was reckless genius who managed out of sheer will, and determination to create his vision and clothed some of the most famous people while doing so.
I had no idea those 3 suits worn in perfect synchrony, crossing Abbey Road where his design.
I would love to find a Tommy Nutter suit in a thrift shop because no one knew its pedigree.
I remember seeing the photos in the book, in magazines and newspapers.
Studio 54 and CBGB’s, were places I dreamed of going to.
How the general public reacted to the emergence of AIDS, and the clothes.
Oh, the clothes!
I loved the clothes, and have Tommy Nutter to thank for those w i d e lapels, and the mixing/mismatching of colors, designs and patterns.
Tommy Nutter was reckless genius who managed out of sheer will, and determination to create his vision and clothed some of the most famous people while doing so.
I had no idea those 3 suits worn in perfect synchrony, crossing Abbey Road where his design.
I would love to find a Tommy Nutter suit in a thrift shop because no one knew its pedigree.
August 16, 2022
Moderately enjoyable holiday read, about a tailor/designer who became fairly successful, on and off, and had tangential connections to a few notables of the 60s and 70s. And his brother who had a similar level of success as a photographer. Actually pretty well written, the author chooses his words well and uses them properly. The story itself is fine, sort of interesting, but not totally riveting.
June 10, 2018
Lance Richardson looks at one of the more interesting characters from Savile Row - you know Tommy Nutter's work even if you think you do not, as all Beatles but for George wore a Nutter suit on the Abbey Rod cover - and fills out the story of the man's life. A well-written and engaging book but at the end I did not feel I knew Tommy Nutter as a person, which is what expect from a biography.
December 3, 2018
Packs quite a punch for one compact 300-page book. There’s the biography of an iconoclast, and a history of swinging London through the early 80s, and a chronicle of how AIDS felled a creative titan, and an informative look into the world of bespoke tailoring. Breezily and confidently written, there’s more than enough to keep one engaged. Enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2020
A biography with the intimacy of a memoir. The story is entertaining, camp, tragic and sad and the accompanying photos peppered throughout the book are incredible. It’s almost worth reading for the photos alone, from glorious fashion moments like Bianca Jagger arriving at Heathrow Airport in a Nutter bespoke to the innocence of a young Michael Jackson dancing in a hotel room with an umbrella.
March 10, 2019
Full disclosure: I won this in a goodreads.com giveaway.
A fascinating time capsule of a very specific moment in music and fashion. A book as glamorous as the subject matter and, indeed, those who sported his entirely unique style.
A fascinating time capsule of a very specific moment in music and fashion. A book as glamorous as the subject matter and, indeed, those who sported his entirely unique style.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 46 reviews