Richard Tyler

Richard Tyler was born in Sunshine, Australia in 1946. He is the son of a dressmaker who also designed theatre and ballet costumes. At 16, he left school to work for a Savile Row trained tailor.

In 1964 he opened his own shop called "Zippity-doo-dah, in Melbourne, designing clothes that were made by his mother.

In the 70's he became a designer for rock stars. He became so successful that he was able to move to Los Angeles, California, USA in 1984. He met his wife Lisa Trafficante in Los Angeles, she was an actress who had just come back from Edinburgh, in Scotland. Lisa inspired him and encouraged him to get his career as a designer going.

He started a boutique in Los Angeles for mens clothing in 1987 and his womens wear boutique opened in 1989.

He has built his name designing clothes for celebrities like Elton John, Cher and Diana Ross. Tyler's celebrity clientele appreciated his exquisitely tailored clothes, many styled on updated 40's fashions. Sophisticated, sculptured and somewhat theatrical, his designs - even his romantic evening wear for women - are always rooted in masculine tailoring. He is famous for meticulously crafted jackets, lined with silk.

From 1993 to the end of 1994, Tyler was head designer for Anne KLEIN. In 1996, he was made design director of BYBLOS. He remained there till 1998, after which he designed under his own label.

Tyler has won the Costume Fashion Designers of America Award for his collections in 1993, 1994 and 1995. He won the Michaelango Award in 1996.

After making a licensing agreement with Gruppo Nadini, in Italy, he produced the Richard Tyler Collection - his Sportswear line - and his menswear line, in Italy. His couture collection is produced in Los Angeles, California and all work on those clothes is "in house".