Item 2022.62.1 - Mr Freedom Striped Suit Jacket

2022.62.1

Mr Freedom Striped Suit Jacket

Item

1

Single breasted satin jacket with notched lapels. The jacket has vertical stripes, just over 1cm in width, in red, yellow, purple, teal, pink, and navy, with black stripes of just over 1.5cm in-between. At the centre of each black stripe is a fine, vertical stripe of black stitching, about 3mm in width, which gives a slight pinstripe effect. Jacket fastens at the front via three pink plastic buttons [one button is missing]. On each side of the waist are two large patch pockets with welted, angled openings. There is contrasting, white stitching around the edge of these pockets. There are no buttons at the cuffs and no breast pocket. At the reverse of the jacket there is no back vent. The inside of the jacket is lined with turquoise satin fabric. There are no internal pockets.

Label: Mr Freedom / 38 / This garment is dry clean only
Materials: Satin, Plastic [Buttons]
Measurements: 47cm [Chest]; 75cm [Length]; 86cm [Arms]
Details: Single breasted; plastic buttons
Physical Condition: Small holes in sleeves. staining to lining, one button missing.

This multicoloured striped satin suit was purchased from Tommy Roberts' boutique Mr. Freedom, which opened in 1969 at 430 Kings Road in London and was named after William Klein's spoof anti-war film of the same name, which was released earlier that year. The store’s location was previously occupied by the menswear boutique Hung on You. The store became well-known for its bold pop-art style, which was graphic, vibrant, and favoured satin and other shiny fabrics. It carried both men's and women's clothing by Roberts and other designers, and customers included Elton John, Mick Jagger, and Marc Bolan. The shop was extremely influential, and in 1971, Cecil Beaton's ground-breaking exhibition 'Fashion: An Anthology' at the V&A museum dedicated an entire section to Mr. Freedom, displaying 24 garments from the store. Roberts closed the Mr. Freedom boutique a year later, in 1972, and opened City Lights Studio in Covent Garden, where he sold dark, tailored suits for men and women.