Tyler, Richard

Australian-born Richard Tyler (b. 1948) began to learn his craft from his seamstress mother, training as a tailor. His career as a designer began when he created stage clothes for Elton John, Cher, Rod Stewart and Diana Ross. In the mid-1980s Tyler began to coalesce his signature style, debuting a menswear line.

Tyler’s womenswear line debuted in 1989, responding to the clamor by both sexes for his finely-hewn menswear creations. He had developed a look that was classical and tasteful, yet funky and with a certain strut that managed to inspire a generation of young L.A. designers and put L.A. on the fashion map. As Diane Keaton said “He cuts a suit and literally transforms your body.”

The seamstresses and tailors working for Tyler were well-compensated and among the best available, creating the impeccable tailoring that was Tyler’s trademark. A Chicago retailer once marveled that his pieces were so perfectly wrought that they could be worn inside out.

In the mid-1990s, Anne Klein & Co. appointed Tyler to be head designer, but his work for Anne Klein ended with Tyler’s designs being too edgy for the company’s core clientele.

Without breaking stride, Tyler’s designs for Richard Tyler Couture earned him three Council of Fashion Designers of America awards in a row, with the first in 1993 when he was named “best new talent” at age 46. More recently, Tyler has designed an eveningwear line and accepted a commission from Delta Airlines to create their staff uniforms. While still much admired, fashion has turned away somewhat from Tyler’s polished construction and elegant style.

Written by denisebrain

from early 1990s navy pinstriped blazer

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 2000s bodice

Courtesy of claireshaeffer