Nudie Rodeo Tailor

Doller Nudie Suit

2006-09-29T08:51:00.000+10:00

Johnny Doller's Nudie Suit, Nashville, 1975.

Gram Parsons Nudie Suit from 1968

2006-09-21T09:35:00.000+10:00

This photo was shot in 1991, in a series of nudie suits pictures for an exhibition celebrating the fashion of Nuide Cohn.

Nudie by Art Kane

2006-09-20T10:15:00.000+10:00

Photo by Art Kane for Esquire Magazine 1970.
“I love this picture. Nudie, L.A.'s Ukranian born tailor to rock stars like Elvis, The Stones. This picture is a real comment on our culture. The wild west, right? Used to be real horses, now the only real horse is a plastic horse with no legs, and the only real cowboy is a nice Russian Jewish boy from the Bronx, and that's America, and I love it.”

Nudie Cohen fits ups Gram Parsons

2006-09-14T11:06:00.000+10:00

Although Gram is often credited for inventing Country-Rock, Gram was simply the first Country musician to "act" like a Rock star (i.e. Flashy Nudie suites, excessive drink and drugs, etc.) and was often found in the company of the Rolling Stones. Gram was the inspiration of the Country-Rock movement which involved such bands as The Eagles, Pure Prairie League, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Desert Rose Band to name a few.

Nudie with the new generation

2006-09-08T09:38:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohn with granddaughter Jamie Lee, 1966. Jamie now continues the family business.

Rex Allen Senior - Gold Nudie Flash Shirt

2006-09-06T10:58:00.000+10:00

This original one-of-a-kind shirt was made for Rex Allen Sr. in the mid to late 1950s. The shirt is wool gabardine with all hand guided embroidery and leather fridge. Rex Allen Sr. wore this outfit on shows all over the United States and Canada. It is also on the cover of Comic Book number 27. It is priced at USD $17,500.

Rex's Nudie Suit

2006-08-31T10:07:00.000+10:00

The one-of-a-kind Black Flash Suit was made exclusively for Rex Allen Sr. in approx 1962 by "Nudie's Rodeo Tailors" of North Hollywood, California. Rex Allen Sr. had a hit record "Son Don't Go Near The Indians" at that time. That is why there is an Indian on the back. He wore this exquisite stretch lamé fabric outfit on hundreds of shows through out the United States and Canada. Rex Allen Sr. called it stretch metal! All the work on the jacket is hand embroidery. It is a one of a kind. It recently sold for $29,500 USD.

A Young Nudie Cohen

2006-08-30T08:56:00.000+10:00

Nutya and Julius Cohn, Russia, in 1912. Later in America, they would become Nudie and Cactus Cohn and the legend begins...

Nudie Cuddles

2006-08-24T10:25:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohn shows his love for his beautiful wife Bobbie.

Nudie goes for a drive

2006-08-23T10:59:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohen in his custom fitted Nudie Mobile.

Nudie Cohen and Hank Snow

2006-08-18T11:00:00.000+10:00

Clarence Eugene Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999), better known as Hank Snow, was a Hall of Fame country music singer and songwriter.
Snow was born in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada. When he was 14, he ordered his first guitar from Eaton's catalogue for $5.95, and played his first show in a church basement in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia at the age of 16. He then travelled to the nearest big city, Halifax, where he sang in local clubs and bars. A successful appearance on a local radio station led to his being given a chance to audition for RCA Victor in Montreal, Quebec. In 1936, he signed with RCA Victor, staying with them for more than forty-five years. His 'signature song' was I've Been Everywhere, in which he portrayed himself as a hitchhiker bragging about all the towns he'd been through. Rattling off a well-rhymed series of city names at an auctioneer's pace, the song has long been a challenge for any country-music singer to attempt. A regular at the Grand Ole Opry, in 1954 Hank Snow persuaded the directors to allow a new singer by the name of Elvis Presley to appear on stage. He used Elvis as his opening act, before introducing him to Colonel Tom Parker. Performing in lavish and colourful sequin-studded Nudie suits, his career covered six decades during which he sold more than 80 million albums.

The very popular Nudie Cohen

2006-08-16T13:20:00.000+10:00

Nudie certainly makes a great entrance in his signature green suit.

Judy Lynn's green Nudie

2006-08-13T08:45:00.000+10:00

Judy Lynn wore her vintage Nudie suit on the Australian cover of her single "Music."

Nudie's Rolling Stone Cover 1969

2006-08-12T10:27:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohn on the cover of Rolling Stone, 1969. "Don't give me no plastic saddle, Hollywood. I want to feel that leather when I ride."

The Nudie Legend

2006-08-11T11:27:00.000+10:00

Nudie accepting an American Country Music Award for "Man of the Year," 1968.

Diamond Dave's Nudie Suit

2006-08-10T09:45:00.000+10:00

David Lee Roth looking fresh in his very own Nudie suit, circa 1990.

The Nudie Book

2006-08-09T11:52:00.000+10:00

Here's a great book of Nudie Cohn, if u can find it.

"Nudie blurred the boundaries of fashion and cast a far-reaching influence over the clothing worn in country music, rock music, movies, and television. Nudie the Rodeo Tailor chronicles the life of the man who epitomizes the American Dream itself, with an amazing selection of photographs of suits, clothing, accessories, and of Nudie himself with the hundreds of clients and friends he made through the years. This is a long overdue testament to his spirit and talent."

Nudie Beginnings

2006-07-30T15:38:00.000+10:00

Tex Williams got to know Nudie well and gave Nudie a horse and saddle for auction for $150. to get his first sewing machine. Nudie set up shop in his garage. Once again Tex Williams gave Nudie his second big brake when he asked Nudie to make costumes for Tex and his band. This was really the beginning of Nudie's success, he opened his shop in North Hollywood in 1947. He turned out thousands of garments. Hank Williams was one of the first in Nashville to wear a Nudie suit and after his big success everyone in Nashville Wore Nudie's suits. Throughout Nudie's career, he continued to make costumes for the movies (mainly westerns). John Wayne had clothing made by Nudie. Colonel Parker, Elvis's manager had Nudie make Elvis a 24k gold lame' suit at a cost of $10,000 for Elvis and $9,000 profit for Nudie. By the late 1960's Nudie had become a living California legend.

The Nudie Logo

2006-07-18T16:04:00.000+10:00

Helen 'Bobbie' Cohen was the inspiration for the original Nudie's logo (to see the nude logo go here), a naked cowgirl leaning against a fence, twirling a lasso whose coils spelled out the company name. According to family legend, the logo dates to one evening in the 1940s when she appeared before her husband wearing only a cowboy hat, boots and a holster. The cowgirl on the logo got clothes in the early 1960s (above), when Nudie Cohn converted to Christianity from Judaism.

The suit that made him famous

2006-06-07T10:57:00.000+10:00

In 1957, Nudie made a $10,000 gold lame' suit for Elvis Presley, this put him on the cowboy fashion map. Colonel Parker, Elvis' manager, became a very close friend of Nudies where they spent many afternoon doing lunch, shooting the breeze.

Elvis and Nudie

2006-06-07T10:56:00.000+10:00

The Gold Suit at Graceland

2006-06-07T10:55:00.000+10:00

Here's a partial Nudie client list: Elvis Presley, Dale Evans & Roy Rogers, Elton John, Gene Autry, John Wayne, John Lennon, Steve McQueen, Ronald Reagan, Johnny Cash, Glenn Campbell, Eric Clapton, David Lee Roth, k.d.lang, Liberace, ZZ Top, Cher, Flying Burrito Brothers, Spade Cooley, Cliffie Stone, Lefty Frizzell, Tex Williams, Goldie Hawn, Robert Mitchem, Pat Buttram, Tony Curtis, Michael Landon, Hank Williams, Jr., Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Sr., Chicago (rock group), Lou Rawls, Jon Voigt, Ann Margret, George Jones, Judy Lynn, Robert Redford, Merv Griffin, Suzy Quattro, George Harrison, David Allan Coe, Ricky Nelson, Buck Owens, Charlton Heston, Clint Eastwood, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones, Twiggy, Dean Martin, Webb Pierce and Arnold Schwarzenegger. whew

Nudie, Tex and Elvis

2006-06-07T10:53:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohen, Tex Williams and Elvis Presley

Garage Cowboy Tailors

2006-06-07T10:33:00.000+10:00

Nudie and Bobbie, came to California in the early 1940's and started making clothes out of their garage. Spade Cooley, Cliffie Stone, Lefty Frizzell, Tex Williams and his band, gave him a chance that set him well on his way. Nudie and Bobbie decided that before they would talk to any others they needed to set up a shop. So off they went, with the help of their friends, to the corner of Victory and Vineland in North Hollywood, CA. They first approached Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the early 1950's and eventually became their custom tailors suiting them for every appearance, becoming their personal friends.

Nudie the Russian Cowboy

2006-06-07T10:30:00.000+10:00

Nudie Cohen was born in Kiev, Russia in 1902. He was apparently the first man to put Rhinestones on clothing in the early 1930's. While traveling cross country he came upon a boarding house in Mankato, Minnesota. There he not only received room and board but found his future bride Bobbie as well. During their stay in Minnesota they had their only daughter Barbara. They left Mankato to travel in New York where they spent most of their time. He started off making G-Strings for show girls working his way to become The Rhinestone Cowboy!!