Fashion
Kenneth Jay Lane
1932–2017 · costume jewelry designer
Detroit-born designer whose glamorous costume jewelry was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, the Duchess of Windsor and Barbara Bush.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
New York City, New York
aged 85- Also known as
- KJL
- Detroit years
- 1932–1950s
- Field
- Fashion
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Lane was born in Detroit, the son of an automotive parts supplier, and studied at the University of Michigan before moving on to the Rhode Island School of Design. In New York he worked in the art department of Vogue and then designed shoes for Delman and Christian Dior, where he began decorating footwear with rhinestones and beads. In 1963 he launched his own line of costume jewelry, bold, witty and openly fake pieces modeled on the grand jewels of the past. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the Duchess of Windsor, Audrey Hepburn and Diana Vreeland wore them, and Barbara Bush's famous triple-strand faux pearls at the 1989 inauguration were his. He liked to say that he made fakes for the rich and the famous and for everyone who wanted to look rich and famous, and his line was later sold through television shopping and department stores worldwide. He died in New York in 2017.
Highlights
- Born in Detroit, son of an auto parts supplier
- Studied at the University of Michigan
- Launched his costume jewelry line in 1963
- Made Barbara Bush's signature faux pearls
- Clients included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Duchess of Windsor
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · 1950s
University of Michigan
Where he studied before transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design.