Kenneth Jay Lane: The Famous Designer and His To-Die-For Duds

If you’re like us, your jewelry drawer, closet and chest are stocked with stylish baubles and pieces that don’t exactly count as “fine jewelry” but are nonetheless fantastic, fashionable and complimented by friends. In short, you’re a costume jewelry connoisseur. Well, for this, you can thank Kenneth Jay Lane, the famed pioneer of couture costume jewelry. “Elegance, good taste, and luxury never go out of style,” says Lane, the man who popularized the fashionable costume jewelry craze. Lane landed on the fashion scene originally as a shoe designer (he had stints at houses such as Delman and Dior), and dabbled in baubles in his free time. Lucky for us, he went full-time into accessory assembly and is now one of the most celebrated costume jewelry designers in the business. His stylish and creative costume concoctions range in taste from classically elegant to progressively trendy and even cheeky at times. His designs have adorned American royalty, the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O, and Audrey Hepburn. Despite his couture CV, his pieces remain affordable (truth be told, we can’t get enough of his gems and have our own selection of Kenneth Jay Lane quietly collecting in our closet). Here, some of our favorites from this influential jewelry genius. Flip through the slideshow and find the piece that speaks to you.