Charlie Watts

Late Rolling Stones Drummer, Charlie Watts, Used To Wear Suits Fit For A King ... Literally

Home / Fashion / Late Rolling Stones Drummer, Charlie Watts, Used To Wear Suits Fit For A King ... Literally

By TheBlast Staff on September 6, 2021 at 9:49 PM EDT

Charlie Watts was potentially one of the quietest members if not the most private of the Rolling Stones band members. In many ways, the general public is finding out a ton more about him now that he's recently passed away. Then we ever did when he was still around. That's the mark of a great artist! One of the things that people probably didn't realize is that Watts really enjoyed being dressed to the nines. So much so that he went out of his way to purchase suits that were literally fit for a king. That king, in question, was the infamous Edward VIII!

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Why The King's Suits Were Up for Sale

//prince of wales and george webster alberta fedf

Prince of Wales and George Webster Alberta

Most of the "royal attire" worn by past and present members of the Royal Family remains within the family. The royals sometimes use these garments to put on art exhibitions. Like we saw recently with the wedding dress of the late Princess Diana. If they don't use the clothes for art galleries the clothes are more than likely passed on from generation to generation. Like the famous gown that numerous royal babies were "christened" in for generations. Edward VIII had a pretty famous falling out with the family. After he gave up the crown. That's pretty much why his clothes ended up at an auction.

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He Didn't Just Buy The Suits He Wore Them

Charlie Watts Rolling Stones
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According to close friends Watts purchased the suits at an auction in Paris. There's no clear indication from sources as to when the auction actually took place. In any case, by the time that the former king had passed away in the early '70s the Stones were already coming into their own as one of the biggest bands in the world. Although it's more likely that the suits were put on auction around the mid-80s when Wallis Simpson passed away.

There are actually pictures of Charlie Watts wearing the suits. It wasn't like he kept the collection just to admire it because he happened to be a big fan of the late former king. He was able to incorporate suits made potentially in the 40s and 50s to his fashion sense and looks even into the 2000s!

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His Hidden Fashion Sense

Charlie Watts drummer for The Rolling Stones arrives at Elton John apos s 50th birthday party at the Hammersmith Palais
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Charlie Watts drummer for The Rolling Stones arrives at Elton John apos s 50th birthday party at the Hammersmith Palais
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Watts was apparently a big fan of fashion. It was just that his brand of fashion was old school all the way. Many people probably were not aware of this side of him just because Mick Jagger and Keith Richards always got all of the attention. However, it's now estimated that Watts potentially owned a collection of over 100 suits. Including, of course, the ones formerly belonging to Edward VIII. A close friend recently talked to GQ, about Watts' eye for fashion,

"[He would] spend an equal amount of time discussing fabrics and finishings with his tailor. His pleasure was always palpable as I watched him wade through swatches; appreciating, feeling and considering."

A Family Man In The Rolling Stones

Archive Charlie Watts Rolling Stones drummer dies at 80
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Most of the members of the band are well-known party animals. Both Mick Jagger and Richards are nearing their 80th birthdays, so they naturally live a more laid-back life these days. However, Watts was living the quiet life even in his younger years. It's not just old-fashioned suits that he was into. It was also old-fashioned family values. He'd been married since 1964, and he even once said that the reason his marriage worked was that he, "wasn't really a rockstar". Knowing all of this, the statement put out by his family on the day of his passing is just so fitting as they mentioned,

"Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation,"

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https://twitter.com/RollingStones/status/1431274250984427525

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