Discover one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and modern classics from one of the most influential costume jewelers of all time. We journeyed through the archives of Kenneth Jay Lane to offer this exclusive selection from an exceptional artist whose creations have been adorning royal beauties, first ladies and iconic celebrities for over five decades…

He started out as a shoe designer for Dior, but his calling was in costume jewelry. From early experiments using leathers traditionally found in footwear alongside metals and gems, his jewels have become collectors’ items coveted by women the world over as though they were the real McCoy. In Kenneth Jay Lane’s hands, costume jewelry has become a style statement, reflecting its era, sparkling forever in our collective imagination.

Audrey Hepburn’s iconic necklace in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The pearls that First Lady Barbara Bush chose to complement her Inaugural Ball gown. The necklace Jackie O asked him to copy from a Van Cleef original bestowed upon her by Aristotle Onassis (available in the yoox.com selection).  Other illustrious devotees have included the Duchess of Windsor, reportedly laid to rest wearing his jewelry, legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, and Elizabeth Taylor, whose stones of choice matched her violet eyes. Like his jewels, his fan base has stood the test of time and grown as successive generations have discovered him, with Madonna, Mischa Barton, and Sarah Jessica Parker proudly flaunting his fakes.  The New Yooxer met Kenneth Jay Lane for an intimate one-on-one chat recalling the magic behind the jewels and some of the women of style who throughout the years have worn his designs with such inimitable elegance.