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Showing posts with label Kenneth Jay Lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenneth Jay Lane. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011

Why Don't You ... Think Pink?

Pink, in its many incarnations, seems to have an uncanny ability to make women happy. As Diana Vreeland once said: "I adore pink. It's the navy blue of India." I think in some parts of America, say Palm Beach, Miami, and Beverly Hills, it is equally beloved. 
Kentuckian Elva Fields, the current darling of the costume jewelry world, is hot on the heels of masters Kenneth Jay Lane and Gerard Yosca. This stunner, called "Real If You Believe," is made of carved pink coral cylinders heightened by a vintage brooch and earring set made of faux pearls and aurora borealis stones ($228.00 at shop.elvafields.com). I'm a believer. 
These champagne-and-strawberry truffles make for a luxurious nosh (Charbonnel et Walker truffles, $25, neimanmarcus.com). But every time I see the box, I just want to put rose-scented talc in it, topped by a fluffy, ribboned pouf. Qu'elle idea, non?
The opaque glass of these pink lustres from the Victorian era is so striking. I recently interviewed the grandson of the last private owner of the Hope diamond (before it was sold to Harry Winston and then donated to the Smithsonian); he had her lustres proudly displayed in his dining room. My own grandmother kept ruby ones on her dresser. So glamorous. 
What's not to love about a Tord Boontje chandelier ... except the price tag? Boontje's paper version, called "Midsummer Lights," is marked down to an affordable $69 at modernpoverty.com. 
This blush-colored room, designed by Hal Williamson for a New Orleans home, is a great example of how to make pink look sophisticated in a room. Featured in the October 2008 issue of House Beautiful.
Thursday, March 17, 2011

Costume Jewelry Designer Kenneth Jay Lane

Octogenarian costume-jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane has long held court with all kinds of ladies … including those who lunch. Mae West inspired him. He danced among society “swans” at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball in 1966 (wearing a mask of black feathers, natch). Fans included everyone from Diana Vreeland to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (whose iconic 3-strand pearl necklace he made). And he continues to make “faux bijoux” look like the real thing in a whimsical way, as with these spring looks. 
With this "Light Pink Cocktail Ring," a cluster of nude resin oval stones embraces a square pink crystal on an 18 karat gold plated base. At pret-a-beaute.com. 
This ring’s gold plated base is decorated with a gold scarab, which is adorned with small Swarovski crystals and a big turquoise stone. At pret-a-beaute.com. 
This stunner is a 22-karat gold-plated bib necklace with faceted blush resin embellishment. At net-a-porter.com.

This coral-topped coral top ring has a base of gunmetal encrusted with black and clear crystals. At maxandchloe.com.
Made with 18K electroplated gold, this cocktail ring is decorated with coral stones and small crystals. In the center sits a cabochon turquoise. At jillsboutique.com.