Bill Frank Whitten
Bill Frank Whitten | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4, 1944 |
| Died | April 8, 2006 (aged 61) |
| Occupations |
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| Relatives | Jack Whitten (brother) |
Bill Frank Whitten (October 4, 1944 – April 8, 2006) was a Hollywood fashion designer who designed stage clothing and high-end fashion for musicians and celebrities.
In 1974, Whitten's custom shirt business in West Hollywood, Workroom 27, was discovered by Neil Diamond who became an advocate for Whitten's custom-designed clothing.[1] At the height of his business, Whitten had a factory with 50 employees making stage clothing for 20 groups including the Commodores, The Jacksons, and Edgar Winter.[1] He also designed Michael Jackson's famous rhinestone glove[1] and crystal-encrusted socks.[2] In 1990, he opened a store, Bill Whitten, on Melrose Avenue.[3]
Whitten died of cancer on April 8, 2006. He is the brother of artist Jack Whitten.[4]
Legacy
Whitten's highly beaded and crystal-set performance pieces remained culturally resonant decades later. In 2019, a pair of crystal-encrusted "moonwalking" socks associated with Michael Jackson and attributed to Whitten's atelier drew international auction headlines, underscoring continuing interest in his stagecraft.[5] In 2025, Levi Strauss & Co. announced that its archives had acquired an early-1970s patchwork denim tuxedo suit Whitten created for Elton John, documenting Whitten’s experimentation with denim alongside his signature embellishment techniques.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Robinson, Gaile (21 February 1990). "Whitten Time : Fashion: For a long time Bill Whitten designed in obscurity while his rock music creations stole the spotlight, but no more". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Chochrek, Ella (6 November 2019). "Michael Jackson's Moonwalking Socks Are Expected To Sell for More Than $1 Million". Footwear News. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ Louie, Elaine (27 May 1990). "Style Makers; Bill Whitten; Designer and Retailer". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "'I Am Black, Angry, Tired of Teaching, Tired of Being Poor': Jack Whitten's Newly Published Journals Reveal a Long, Painful Road to Recognition". artnet News. 2018-08-06. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ "Footwear News". WWD. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ^ Staff, Unzipped (2025-02-10). "Celebrating Black Designer Bill Whitten". Levi Strauss & Co. Retrieved 2025-08-30.