Kenneth jay lane rings
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A few years before his passing in 2017, I had the opportunity to meet Kenneth Jay Lane in his New York showroom. Even though my visit was impromptu, Lane graciously greeted me as a fan of his early work. I had the good fortune to follow that meeting with a phone conversation about his life, passions, and work as a jewelry designer. Before I share some of that experience with you, here’s a little background on his career.
An Intro to K.J.L.’s Career
Lane began his jewelry career working with fashion designer Arnold Scassi making pieces to coordinate with a line of faux gem-studded footwear. When his designs caught the eye of the Duchess of Windsor in 1963, and society reporters began signing his praises thereafter, stylish women the world over wanted to own his jewelry.
Since he “fell into” the business more than 50 years ago, Lane’s fabulously fake costume jewelry has been owned, worn and collected by celebrities, the wives of American presidents, and royalty alike. He saw his jewelry as “art that becomes reality when worn by people.” Lane’s pieces from the 1960s are cov
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Kenneth Jay Lane: The Master of Costume Jewellery
Kenneth Jay Lane, the renowned American costume jewellery maestro, left a glittering legacy in the fashion cosmos. Celebrated for his audacious and pioneering designs that seamlessly married the opulence of high fashion with the accessible allure of costume jewellery, Lane's creations are still highly coveted and adored by collectors and fashion connoisseurs alike. His jewellery, once the darling of both the fashion aristocracy and the everyday aficionado, continues to adorn collections worldwide, a testament to his enduring appeal.
The Genesis
Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, born in 1932, Lane's fashion journey commenced post-graduation from the Rhode Island School of Design. Embarking on his career in the swinging '60s as a shoe designer for Delman and Christian Dior, Lane soon found his true calling in costume jewellery, initially crafting whimsical and eye-catching pieces for friends as a pastime.
1963 marked the year Kenneth Jay Lane leaped into the spotlight, launching a brand that would quickly captivate the fashion wor
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Undoubtedly, Lane knew best. As a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design (Class of 1954), who moved to New York for a brief stint at Vogue’s art department; he found himself designing shoes for the likes of Christian Dior, amongst others, all while quietly conceiving ideas for jewelry in his spare time. He bore a love for bold yet eloquent creations, often choosing unusual color combinations and shapes for his prototypes.
This part-time pursuit ultimately led him to a life’s career of building a brand that revolutionized the design and sale of jewelry, altogether.
Still, as impressive as it is that royals, celebrities, and socialites continue to choose Kenneth Jay Lane as some of their favorite wears, it was never Lane’s primary focus. In fact, his designs were, and still are, created with the everyday woman in mind. This was a deliberate effort made by the not-so-everyday man from Detroit (or “De-twah” as he liked to say). Most notably, his decision to partner with the QVC shopping network, making Kenneth Jay Lane collections accessible to every woman who fel
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