This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/16/2021
Historic Paul McCartney stage and TV-worn "Vivian Lawrence Tailored" collarless dark blue jacket (size 40). Custom-made for McCartney, this new style documents the end of the Beatles' leather jacket and blue jean phase, right before D.A. Millings & Son of London took control of the Beatles newly refined dress style in the fall of ’63.
This incredible piece was stage-worn over the period of a six-night show set at Bournemouth, England’s Gaumont Theatre—the very stretch of time when the Beatles' first #1 hit, “She Loves You” was released. As they played there from August 19-24, 1963, photos from these shows clearly show the band wearing this style of jacket; a show the prior night, Aug 18, for The British TV show “Summer Spin,” additionally cements this jacket as being worn by Paul as crystal clear photos were unearthed clearly identifying this garment, even further, showing the dark navy color and silver buttons. Jacket measures 31” long and 19.5” between the shoulder seams, and remains in excellent condition.
Bolstered by impeccable provenance, including a personalized autograph from Paul himself, which he signed for his chauffeur driver’s niece, “Estelle,” when he left the jacket on the back seat of the car. In the 1980s, the jacket made its way from the limo driver to “Bizarre Bazaars,” a vintage clothing shop in Bournemouth, and eventually became part of Tom Fontaine’s notable collection. Accompanied by Frank Caiazzo & Beckett (BAS) LOAs for the autograph. The jacket itself is accompanied by LOAs from “Bizarre Bazaars” owner James Hardy, and Tom Fontaine of the Fontaine Collection who wrote “Rare, The Memorabilia Collection of a Lifetime,” and his book, which features the jacket, is included.
Monumental offering—one of the Beatles' earliest stage-worn garments ever to come to market—and especially notable as a distinction in style from the band’s leather jackets to refined collarless suits.