Man's Jacket Gallery View Detail

In 1974, the Los Angeles Times stated Bill Whitten (d. 2006) was “one of Hollywood’s hottest, hippest clothes designers” who “believe[d] men should be allowed to be peacocks.” His hand-made suits sold for astronomical sums—between $500 and $800 at his Santa Monica Boulevard factory, called Workoom 27. Whitten had a strong celebrity following, including singers Neil Diamond (b. 1941), Michael Jackson (1958-2009), and Elton John (b. 1947). Worn by radio mogul Richard Wolfe (b. 1933), this jacket meshes “haphazard” hippie handwork with precision mitered tailoring found in suits of the 1940s.