Nudie Rodeo Tailors on Ebay
Jamie Nudie was the original Rhinestone Cowboy. He became a tailor in the 1930s, and was the first person to put rhinestones on menswear. After traveling around the country, he and wife set up shop and approached Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to be their exclusive tailors. The desirability of Nudie Rodeo Tailors rose even higher after designing Elvis’ gold lame’ suit.
Today, items crop up for sale at auctions and online. Because they sold a complete line, you will see more basic items. What made them famous and what goes for the big bucks are when you can find a Nudie that was documented to have been custom made for a name of note.
Right now, there is a suit on ebay that was made for Rick Danko for his appearances with Bob Dylan, so the auction says. However, there is a photo of Montie Montana wearing the same or similar suit, and the tailor tags of the outfit say Montie Montana as well. Because the history is a little anecdotal, could the suit have really have preciously been Montana’s that Rick had worn? One may never know. But it is authentic Nudie nonetheless. Maybe someone will come forward with photos of Danko for the seller.
Check the auction out HERE.
There is another Nudie of note this week on ebay. This one has a “Buy It Now” option. I have only included a small snippet. You will have to go to the listing to see it for yourself! Click right HERE.
This suit even comes with matching boots. I don’t know it this was something made for someone, or it was a style that was “off the rack” but it sure is a suit that will never be forgotten if you wear it. Many collectors choose to display their suits only to reduce the wear and tear, but the choice is yours.
1970s | Comments (3)
3 Responses to “Nudie Rodeo Tailors on Ebay”
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I have a Stetson 5XXXXX Beaver felt hat, with engraved sterling hatband (Bohlin?) on what looks like a leather belt, with sterling buckle engraved also. I got the Stetson in my uncles things, he was a 30+ yr actor
in Hollywood, and starred in numerous western TV shows, ads and was the Tijuana smalls man when the ads were legal in 69-70, you can youtube Tijuana smalls man, and theres a 1970 commercial with Joan Baez driving a dune buggy!, Cass Elliott and Janis Joplin also appeared with him in other Tijuana smalls ads. Anyways I saw the Nudies Rodeo Tailor of North Hollywood, in addition to the Stetson emblem on the interior band
I Googled Nudies Rodeo 5X Beaver Stetson with engraved sterling hatband,
and never found one , Except John Waynes, given to him by Nudie , and it sold at auction for over $70,000!! I saw others in museums and exhibits, but never ever anywhere else! Everyone famous had one! but never ever see a history of even one other ever!! I also saw that Mr Waynes hat was beautiful and really shined compared to the other more rustic looking examples of Nudie Stetsons, This hayt is truly the double of John Waynes visually except for Nudies handwritten note to the Duke. I am not saying its worth close to that hats value, however as a piece of extremely rare Nudie original wear for sale ever , this is the only other on the net that was ever sold or for sale!! If I am wrong , sorry! please forward the relevant data on this Hollywood historical piece, its size 7.25 and I am 73/4, I would love to wear it, And actually felt a performer would want to don an original Nudies Stetson equivalent to the $70K model down to the sterling band!!
I would try to gather as many artifacts/documents as possible and pair it up with the hat. I would try to get photos of your uncle in the hat such as an advertisement. Any scrapbook type of items that he had received over the years in relation to it and connecting him as the Tijuana smalls man would be good to have too. For example, if he worked with those folks, are there snapshots of them together as well.
I usually assess this type of thing two ways – the value of the piece as is with no provenance – is it rare? How is the condition? Is it complete? If it is fairly plain it may not command what the more outlandish ones did. Also, as far as the provenance, your uncle’s hat is not nearly as valuable as Wayne’s but certainly there is some nostalgia there. Some people don’t care who owned the hat, but rather that there is documentation on it.
What you are in competition of, if you sold it, is that there are many hats out there that were worn by or given to folks, and unless someone was on the caliber or John Wayne or Elvis, the name in itself is not going to tip the scale to make the item go for thousands.
If the hat were my uncle’s I would, like I say, gather up all the information that comes with it and keep it together. It sounds like a nice piece to have in the family. I always tell people to think about the memories. While it may not be practical to keep a great aunt or uncle’s entire wardrobe, there may be those one or two pieces that has history behind it that are worth keeping in the family and handing down and this may be one of them. I know you say a performer might love it, but I am pretty bummed about the things that ended up getting pitched or sold that I would have loved to worn from a relative whom i was fond of, either a generation, or many, removed.
If I find out anything, I would let you know – but that is just my gut.
I just acquired a Bohlin Stetson that is new in the box. It also a 71/4. Too small for me also. I can’t find any info on it. WOuld love to see if yours and mine are similar.