Those flashy, glittery, rhinestone-studded suits you saw on country music stars and pop stars in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s were all designed by the same guy: Nudie Cohn. The Ukrainian immigrat designed clothing for everyone from Hannk Williams to Elvis to Elton John. Cohn's granddaughter Jamie Lee tells how he established Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in Hollywood and became famous by outfitting clebrities in gaudy stage costumes.
There was always a party going on. He had a kitchen in the back of the store with a bar, which I still have. A bottle of Jack Daniels would always be there. You could walk in the store one day, and you’d find Tex Williams, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, while all the regular customers are there just shopping retail. Larry Hagman and the whole crew of “Dallas” was there, Roger Miller, the Osmonds—I went to their house once to do a fitting—David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman, all of them, which was pretty cool to see as a teenager.
My grandfather also played the mandolin and recorded his album in a little apartment above the store, and all the musicians hanging out would have jam sessions where they’d walk around serenading the customers; the longer they serenaded them, the longer they shopped. It was a win-win situation. Now, I wish I had been older then—I was maybe 14 or 15 at the time. I was there but I didn’t value it as much. I was the one serving coffee to everybody.
Read the rest of this fascinating story at Collector's Weekly -and see lots of pictures. And if you don't recognize them, you'll find out who is wearing Nudie suits in the photograph here. Link