Nutter, Tommy (1943–1992)

English tailor. His trend-setting suits became famous in the 1960s and 1970s. Although employing conventional techniques, he made a distinct break with many traditions of tailoring when he produced suits with wide lapels and flared trousers and experimented with fabrics, for example cutting pinstripes on the horizontal and mixing gamekeeper tweeds in three-piece suits.

In 1969 he opened his own tailoring shop in Savile Row, London, where he attracted many celebrity clients such as the Beatles, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Elton John, and the fashion designer Hardy Amies. Among his designs are the suits worn by the Beatles on the cover of their Abbey Road album.

Nutter started out working for a traditional tailoring company, situated in Burlington Arcade, London, and studying at the Tailor and Cutter Academy. However he drew inspiration from the popular culture and nightclubs of the early 1960s. Despite financial difficulties in the early 1970s he launched his first ready-to-wear line for Austin Reed in 1978, and in 1980 signed a five-year contract to design fabrics for a cloth manufacturer in Japan. He also produced two menswear collections for the Japanese department store Hankyu. In 1989 he created the outfits worn by the actor Jack Nicholson when he played the Joker in the film Batman.

Following his diagnosis as being HIV-positive, he campaigned actively in AIDS-related charity work.