Kenneth Jay Lane

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Kenneth Jay Lane in his apartment in New York City, 2003.

Kenneth Jay Lane (born April 22, 1930) American costume jewelry designer.

[edit] Biography

Born in Detroit, Michigan he is an alumnus of the University of Michigan and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Cover of Faking It by Kenneth Jay Lane and Harrice Simons Miller

He was first a shoe designer for Delman and Christian Dior and he used his free time to create fun and flashy baubles. They were such an instant success that Saks Fifth Avenue sold its entire initial inventory in one day. He was one of the persons included for "high fashion" in the Andy Warhol Screen Tests and a guest at Truman Capote's Black And White Ball.

He has created unique designs for Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Vreeland, and Audrey Hepburn. He is probably most well known for his three-strand faux pearl necklace worn by Barbara Bush to her husband's inaugural ball. Some say that Duchess of Windsor is buried in the jewelled belt he created for her.

His continued philosophy is that 'elegance, good taste and luxury never go out of style'^[1]. Current stars wearing his jewelry include the Olsen twins, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mischa Barton, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears.

Many of the museum stores, including the Dallas Museum of Art, The Smithsonian, The Museum of Natural History, and the Bush Presidential Library carry his line of jewelry but his pieces can also be found on QVC. His items can also be found at most major department stores. His repertoire also includes exclusive pieces only available through AVON Independent Sales Representatives. He is about to launch a line of belts as well as handbags.

His pieces are now considered by many as collectable as precious gems, with vintage pieces selling at Christie's and Sotheby's and Doyle New York.

Since 1977 his home in Manhattan has been a duplex in the Stanford White mansion completed in 1892 and one of the few surviving mansions on Park Avenue. From 1923–1977 it served as the home of the Advertising Club. At that time it was converted into a cooperative apartment house. His living room is the former club library and features an original marble mantelpiece, a wide variety of original artwork and several lamps designed by Robert Denning of Denning & Fourcade.^[2]

He was added to Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed List, Hall of Fame in 1974. His book Faking It written together with Harrice Simons Miller was published in 1996 by Harry N Abrams ISBN 0-8109-3579-1.