Edward Sexton was a tailor and fashion designer whose work, sometimes in collaboration with Tommy Nutter, helped define the look and style of late 1960s and early 1970s British rock.
- Died: July 23, 2023 (Who else died on July 23?)
- Details of death: Died after a short illness at the age of 80.
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Edward Sexton’s legacy
Sexton began his training at the East London suit manufacturer Lew Rose, then apprenticed with coat maker Jerry Vanderstine. In 1961, he jumped to celebrity tailor Cyril A. Castle, then finished his training with Kilgour French and Stanbury. In the mid 1960s, he even spent time cutting military uniforms at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. However, it was his meeting with salesman Tommy Nutter in 1967 that would propel his rise to stardom in the fashion world.
Nutter saw talent in Sexton, so the pair collaborated to open Nutters of Savile Row in 1969, with Nutter as the public face of the establishment and Sexton as the “wizard with the scissors” behind the scenes. The central London location made a splash and changed the face of Savile Row. Before long, Sexton was dressing The Beatles for the cover of “Abbey Road,” tailoring bespoke suits for the likes of Mike Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Elton John, and overall shifting the kind of fashion embraced by British rockers of the era.
Over the years, Sexton continued to enjoy respect and success in his field, designing costumes for television productions, collaborating with Saks Fifth Avenue on clothing lines, and mentoring future design stars such as Paul McCartney’s daughter, Stella McCartney, and his own daughter, Petra Ecclestone.
Tributes to Edward Sexton
Full obituary: GQ Magazine UK
