The original Suzy Creamcheese sprung from the wonderfully twisted brain of Frank Zappa in 1966 when a letter supposedly written by her appeared on the back of his debut double album "Freak Out", complaining that "these Mothers are crazy. You can tell by their clothes."
Within a few years, Leslie Fearon had assumed the moniker and opened a boutique in Las Vegas called Suzy Creamcheese that became legendary for selling amazing one-of-a-kind fashions coveted and worn by celebrities, show girls and strippers. Throughout the 1970s, movie stars like Ann Margaret, Shirley MacClaine, and musicians like Dionne Warwick, Cher, and Stevie Nicks, shopped at Suzy Creamcheese. Wives of mobsters loved the clothes too, a fact given a nod in the movie "Casino", when Sharon Stone's character, Ginger, talks about shopping there. Elvis Presley bought stagewear for himself from Suzy Creamcheese as well as outfits for his wife Priscilla Presley and a succession of girlfriends.
Elvis on stage in a leather Suzy Creamcheese suit
Elvis girlfriend Linda Thompson wore a hand crocheted Suzy dress
An Elvis leather fringed Suzy Creamcheese suit was worn onstage and privately.
Suzy Creamcheese label
I am lucky enough to own an original Suzy Creamcheese velvet Edwardian inspired skirt suit, available for purchase here at MagsRags.net.
Comments
My grandmother, Maria Bravo, was the designer for Suzy Creamcheese during the late 70s/ early 80s. She worked in a small room above the store in the Aladdin Hotel.
She worked for minimum wage and produced about one dress a week, which usually sold for about $800-$1,300.
Though she didn’t make as much money as I thought she deserved, she loved the freedom she had to create whatever she wanted, and loved the way the managers treated her.
My mother has many dresses that were made for during by my grandmother during that era and has finally decided to sell a few. I’m wondering if there might be any interest from people who appreciate the workmanship and design that my grandmother put in to designing and creating these dresses.
I am so blessed to know suzy (leslie Fearon) for almost 2 years now, she is in the hospital fighting for her life. She is the most inspriring person I know and she is a fighter so pray with me that she comes home and thank you for sharing your web page and story with the world , she loved her clothing designs and most of all the people that bought and enjoyed her designs bless you my sweet friend god bless her and please help her come home janet parke