Jenni Kayne (Q3195)
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Jenni Kayne is a fashion house from FMD.
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Jenni Kayne |
Jenni Kayne is a fashion house from FMD. |
Statements
Earlier this spring, Jenni Kayne launched her first campaign in almost 17 years in business. Titled “Find Your Uniform,” it featured three stylish, well-rounded women—Phoebe Tonkin, Lara Worthington, and Tylynn Nguyen—in their version of a JK uniform (i.e., a T-shirt or cashmere sweater and jeans). It was the final push in the shift her brand has been undergoing for a while now, moving away from “fashion-forward” collections toward a lineup of classic, keep-forever pieces you can reach for all the time. That means lofty cashmere knits, her best-selling mules, satin slip dresses, silk button-downs, flannel shirts, and very excellent coats. They’re the items that have always performed best for Kayne, because they’re simple but executed in a way that feels luxe and thoughtful.As such, her Resort collection mainly included tweaks on those signatures: a glossy deep-teal slip, a turtleneck in a cozy new waffle knit, oiled leather boots, and a herringbone double-breasted coat that could persuade you to give up statement outerwear for good. She also reintroduced her slides and flat mules in plush chocolate mink. Essential? Not really—but considering they’ll arrive in stores around the holidays, they’d be a seasonally decadent splurge.
19 June 2018
Jenni Kayne is a woman with a uniform. That doesn’t mean her closet is hyper-edited with boring black and white basics; rather, her look is warm and a little rustic. It’s mirrored in her namesake collection, naturally. Fall 2018 is centered around soft flannel shirts, suede boots, corduroys, and ribbed knits—keep-forever pieces you would wear on a trip to Lake Tahoe or the Catskills.Compared with her Fall 2017 collection, which we saw this time last year, it’s a lot less feminine and a lot more casual. Kayne is in expansion mode, having recently launched a home collection, a baby line, and tableware, and for Fall she’s adding furniture to the mix. This is what people mean when they talk about “lifestyle brands”; the fashion isn’t necessarily taking a back seat, but Kayne is zeroing in on the truly essential, must-have things in every corner of your life. The customer looking for new wardrobe essentials will be happy to see Kayne’s first-ever sweatshirts. The soft gray crewneck will be her go-to when she isn’t in a cashmere sweater.
15 February 2018
Jenni Kayneoften cites a place as the starting point for her collections, rather than a muse, exhibition, or film. A few seasons ago, it was Newport Beach, California; for Spring ’18, the desert was on her mind. There were safari shirts, leopard prints, and lots of khaki in the new collection, each with just a touch of grit. Kayne isn’t the type to design an overliteral cargo jacket or baggy camo pants; instead, she tweaks her own uniform of button-downs, high-rise trousers, and striped sweaters, then experiments with accessories. Her mules have been a best-seller for years now, and her latest came in plush shearling.Kayne also introduced canvas espadrille sneakers—a cute alternative to seen-them-everywhere Stan Smiths and Converse—and a brand-new range of handbags. Her saddlebags, leather clutches, and rope-trimmed cross-bodies in black, cognac, and cream are as classic as they come, and most of them ring in under $500, a fraction of what most It bags go for these days.
11 September 2017
A sweet thing to know about Jenni Kayne is that every collection is her favorite collection. “I say it all the time, but I think this really is my favorite one yet!” she said on the phone from Los Angles. Kayne fortuitously dodged the New York blizzard on Wednesday in favor of a dinner party in L.A., where the likes of Mandy Moore and Minka Kelly wore pieces from her Fall ’17 collection. Moore chose a new black-and-white striped turtleneck, a staple in the minimal, cozy world of Jenni Kayne; her fans will be happy to know it will retail for under $200. A more competitive price point was an important shift this season, but the luxurious fabrics and attention to detail were still there.As for the sultry-meets-utilitarian mix of clothing, Kayne was thinking about gardening, specifically the pioneering female gardeners of the ’40s. A few looks evoked a woman of that decade waking up, throwing a Sherpa jacket over her nightgown, and venturing out to check on her produce. Kayne added a few tongue-in-cheek gardening references, too, like the pops of bright yellow (in the form of classic rain slickers) and patent leather boots, which nodded just slightly to wellies. As always, there was a touch of ’90s minimalism—plaid slip dresses, velvet trousers, silk boiler suits—as well as newness in the form of velvet pajamas and top-stitched separates. Gardening not your thing? Take comfort in the fact that you don't need a green thumb to pack the ruffled blush dress and lacy slip for your next long weekend upstate.
11 February 2017
Many designers will tell you their goal is to create a true lifestyle brand, but few are as successful asJenni Kayne. Her brand goes beyond her signature mules, knitwear, and shirting: Kayne’s stores are filled with home goods by L’Artisan Parfumeur, jewelry by Sophie Buhai, and all-natural skin products by Earth Tu Face, and she also runs her own blog about fashion, cooking, and motherhood. Women are loyal to her brand because it all feels of the same minimal, laid-back California world—and because they relate to Kayne herself.As such, they don’t go to Kayne for flash-in-the-pan trends; you can guarantee she won’t be trying Spring 2017’s neon colors. Instead, she specializes in luxurious, ’90s-tinged staples that leave room for interpretation. Each collection usually conveys a specific mood or destination; for instance, she envisioned Pre-Fall as the ideal capsule for a spontaneous camping trip. Kayne described the mix of buffalo-check jackets, ’50s-inspired eyelet nightgowns, ringer tees, and button-front shorts as an “improvised wardrobe,” because when you’re waking up with the sun and hiking through the Catskills or the Sierra Nevadas, who’s stopping you from wearing a nightie with your hiking boots? It’s a fantasy Kayne’s busiest customers will likely feel drawn to; as our lives get more hectic and we become more dependent on technology, nothing sounds better than a quiet weekend in nature. If a few of the pieces are too pretty to wear into the actual woods—or a weekend trip isn’t in the cards—Kayne’s clothes will look even better in the urban jungle.
16 December 2016
Jenni Kayne is a designer who likes contrasts, whether it’s contrasting textures—such as satin and wool—or the juxtaposition of unlike things, like a lacy lingerie top with mannish trousers. For Spring, she drew masculine vs. feminine inspiration from Rudolph and Pauline Schindler, the architect-and-educator couple who settled in Southern California in the early 1900s. Rudolph built the spare, modernist Lovell Beach House in Newport Beach, which stands out as a minimal masterpiece against the wild shoreline. Kayne twisted that idea into a collection of super-simple, menswear-inspired pieces paired with items that had a softer, more sensual feel. She called out a crepe top that wrapped around the back as a favorite, as well as the puffer jackets designed in collaboration with Crescent Down Works. They were just right for a crisp April morning, particularly after living in oversize, down-filled coats all winter.On the girlier side of things were the soft, finely ribbed sweaters—always a strong suit for Kayne—and lots and lots of satin. A slightly retro satin dress with bow-tied straps had a little more finesse than your straight-and-narrow ’90s slip, while a heavyweight satin trench with zero hardware had the makings to become your new go-to spring jacket. It might have been nice to see all that satin in a wider range of colors, though—it mostly came in navy, cream, or black, but other neutrals (like olive, taupe, and rust) look just as great with a little shimmer.
13 September 2016
Women rely onJenni Kaynefor luxe basics—she makes beautiful sweaters and button-ups—but in recent seasons she’s been experimenting with more romantic flourishes. For Resort even the simplest pieces had a bit of lace, fagoting, or ribbon, suggesting that her minimalist clients are looking for clothes with a special touch these days.Kayne drew inspiration from the chilled, “misty” beaches of Inverness, California, where cozy layers are essential. Lace-trim slips and polka-dot wrap dresses were styled under slouchy cardigans and blazers, but would look just as lovely by themselves when spring rolls around. For extra-cool days—in Inverness or New York—Kayne showed a great double-breasted cashmere coat and a thick ribbed-knit poncho that even the poncho-averse might have trouble resisting.Kayne’s shoe business continues to grow, and she added a few new styles to her lineup, like a nice pair of hiking boots, studded sandals, and, best of all, an update on her signature pointy-toe mules: Here, they came in croc-embossed leather with matching removable ankle straps.
25 May 2016
It’s easy to draw a line between East and West Coast style, but for women who can’t choose between prep school staples and a rock-chick look, there’sJenni Kayne. The designer resides in Los Angeles, but she’s always married her laid-back California roots with the tonier. For Fall, she combined both worlds: There were rugby-striped knits, suede dresses, and riding boots on the one hand, and slinky slip dresses on the other.Kayne’s devotees will no doubt gravitate toward her familiar sweaters and shirting, but what felt newest were the intricate, featherweight lace panels on a square-neck dress and cropped blouse. Almost completely sheer and more feminine than anything Kayne’s done in recent seasons, they were right in step with fashion’s current obsession with Victoriana. Also noteworthy, but not pictured in the lookbook: the shoes. Women who collect Kayne’s signature d’Orsay flats will delight in a new block-heel version as well as a sweet round-toe Mary Jane ballet.
8 February 2016
To understand the world of Jenni Kayne, you have to visit one of her stores. She just opened her first New York outpost on Harrison Street in Tribeca, arguably one of the most charming streets in the city; it’s happily a little off the beaten path. Inside, there’s a sense of calm and warmth you don’t often find in New York shops; it’s all pale wood, lush wildflowers, and simple, yet desirable pieces like leather boots, cashmere sweaters, and silk button-downs.Kayne’s collections have become increasingly more about a lifestyle than trends or even “seasons” at all. She envisions women like her—professional women, working moms, 30-something California types—wearing her clothes like a uniform. After 16 years in business, she could experiment with trends and wild prints if she wanted to, but she prefers a slow and steady model. Consider the latest addition to her ready-to-wear collections: T-shirts. They’re a dime a dozen elsewhere, but Kayne spent a considerable amount of time perfecting hers.The rest of the collection read almost like a summer capsule wardrobe: Here’s the only linen button-down you need; a nice cropped cotton sweater; a sundress in a cute navy plaid. It’s not an accident that her store feels like the apartment you wish you could afford in Manhattan, too. Wooden benches are draped with sheepskins, and there’s a dining room table covered in simple linens and matte-finish ceramic cups and bowls. They mark Kayne’s expansion into tableware, following her recently launched home line of pillows, blankets, and candles. It’s a 360-degree approach, because if you’re a fan of Kayne’s cashmere pullovers and slides, you’re probably going to like her taste for home stuff, too.
22 January 2018
Jenni Kayne likes to create not just a mood with her collections, but an entire world. So, it was fitting that she presented Resort ’18 in one of the cozy, velvet-curtained suites in the Greenwich Hotel. In the sitting area, there were racks of her new flannels, silk wrap dresses, and mink sandals, and in the bedroom was her debut home line, one of the final pillars of Kayne’s luxury lifestyle vision. She worked with female artisans in Peru to hand-knit the super-soft alpaca throws, pillows, and beanies (made from the same wool used in many of her sweaters), and teamed up with a charity in California that employs disabled adults to make beautiful candles in scents like musk, cedar, and currant.Kayne approaches clothing with the same warmth and subtlety. Her coats, mules, and cashmere turtlenecks are comforting, no-brainer pieces that elevate your wardrobe and are meant to be truly lived in. That’s why you’ll never find stiletto heels in her lineup, and why her dresses come not with trendy corsets or boning, but in easy wrap silhouettes. Kayne said those dresses, in navy polka-dot or with lacy trim, were loosely inspired by Lauren Bacall and her singular take on Hollywood glamour: simple, womanly, yet slightly masculine. That look is trickling back into the zeitgeist after years of streetwear and deconstruction, and modern-day Bacall types should take a page from Kayne’s lookbook and wear their ’40s-ish dresses with hiking boots or cropped trousers.
21 June 2017
Women all over the world rely on Jenni Kayne for chic basics like cashmere sweaters, crisp shirting, and pointy flats, but the heart of the label is pure California. Kayne's new Resort collection felt especially in tune with her laid-back SoCal surroundings—where else but the West Coast are striped linen trousers and eyelet blouses considered staples? She pulled inspiration not from the beaches of Malibu, however, but from the dry Joshua Tree desert, which informed a hazy color palette and bohemian touches of fringe, suede, and tassels.Those details felt new for the brand, which has always leaned toward a clean, approachable minimalism. Customers can expect more flourishes like that in the future: "I think this is my favorite collection to date," Kayne said. Thanks to a light hand, a tufted blouse or fringe-trimmed tunic will still feel subdued enough for her client. Those in search of something a little richer and more evening-appropriate should take note of the silk foulard pajama sets—just add a pair of Kayne's best-selling mules and you're out the door.
9 June 2015
Lovers of Jenni Kayne's signature d'Orsay flats are in for a treat: The L.A.-based designer is introducing a full shoe range for Fall '15. She originally designed the slip-on in 2011 to fill the void between flimsy skimmers and painful stilettos, and that comfy-chic philosophy extends to her clothes as well. Where ready-to-wear is concerned, Kayne isn't one for hard lines or structured materials; her specialties include soft sweaters, cropped trousers, and easy plaid shirts. In other words: the classics. "I just want to design pieces that can hang in a woman's closet for years," she said. "My customer is in her 30s, maybe 40s, and she's probably a mom." Kayne isn't trying to grab needle-moving millennials, but they'll probably respond to her minimal, cozy aesthetic. It's "no fuss" to be sure, but never sloppy. The best look included what was essentially a massive gingham blanket, but it still felt sharp with cropped pants and mules. Other items were less directional but still appealing, like lofty cashmere turtlenecks layered over plaid tunics and floor-grazing dresses. "My inspiration really came from the idea of spending a weekend in Maine," she said. Even the sexiest slipdress would feel appropriate up north with her nubby fleece jacket and a pair of her brand-new leather boots.
31 March 2015
Jenni Kayne built her business on easy-to-wear clothes with a distinct West Coast flavor, but for Pre-Fall she found herself dreaming of a distant land: Scandinavia. After helping her parents decorate a new home chock-full of Scandinavian antiques, Kayne became obsessed with the idea of a summer on the peninsula. Her presentation started with a custom Swedish striped print, which felt breezy and a little nautical on featherweight silks. Silhouettes were soigné and a touch slouchy—anything stiff would feel wrong in the Nordic countryside, after all.Lace-trim slipdresses dipped well below the knee. "I keep waiting for it to stop, but I can't help going back to the '90s," Kayne said with a laugh. The decade has been a key influence for her since she started out, from those signature d'Orsay flats (which turned up as slip-on mules for this outing) to maxi skirts and plaid blouses. Here, the designer sourced a black-and-blue checked linen that looked charmingly androgynous on a pair of wide-leg pants. And gingham appeared on snug blouses, up-to-there shorts, and a relaxed cami-and-trouser combo. The pattern made a comeback last spring, but if Kayne's take is any indication, cool girls will be wearing it for seasons to come.
15 January 2015
Fatigued by the prospect of more nineties-flavored fare? Jenni Kayne's not. Kayne, for whom the decade's more minimal leanings have long been a touchstone, happily distilled some of the era's chicer elements and spun them into an eminently wearable and well-edited Resort collection. "It's a combination of clothes to pack for your vacation," said Kayne, "and then something new to flow into your fall wardrobe during the November and December holiday season." That meant breezy polka-dot prints (the designer's California upbringing lends her clothes a consistently flirty edge), some well-priced handsome knits, and crisp silk-linen tailoring. Standouts included a luxe, long take on the T-shirt dress and a belted vest, both in black crepe, both with an appealing ease. "After having two kids," Kayne said, laughing, "fashion for me has become about wearability." There was plenty of that here, and it's a wearability of the sort that should appeal to New Yorkers if Kayne opts to bring her recent expansion efforts (three California boutiques and counting) to the East Coast.
10 June 2014
"This season I was inspired by English manor-country dressing and 1930s femininity," said Jenni Kayne, on the phone from her house in Los Angeles. "For Fall, I always think of the countryside and hunting and cozying up by the fire." Amanda Brooks' Instagram was another point of reference. (The fashion insider, who up and moved her family to Oxfordshire a couple of years back, chronicles her glorious life in the country on the social platform.)But Kayne is a modern designer whose aesthetic is rooted in nineties minimalism, so her interpretation of the idea was anything but fusty. For instance, a hunter green moto vest was styled over a button-up that was printed with tiny leaves, as well as a navy and green pullover. Those were paired with cropped black trousers and a lug-sole slingback in waxed leather. (The shoes, with their practical nylon laces, added just the right woodsy feeling.) The collection's standout print—a blown-up orange blossom—was a nod to Kayne's 1930s notions, whether used on a sharp collarless coat or a sleeveless floor-length gown. A dusty rose, which Kayne is calling "rosewood," also played a big role. A hidden-placket blouse with rolled sleeves was paired with single-pleat tapered trousers in the same shade for a new take on suiting. While Kayne sees fashion through the lens of a tomboy, the bias-cut gowns with handkerchief hems were ultrafeminine in that nineties-minimalist way.Kayne and her team are eager to point out that her pricing is extremely competitive: There's always a gown for less than $1,000. And even her long, layer-able rabbit-fur vest hovers below that number. She's smart to be so price-conscious without going too down-market. Her pieces, particularly this collection, look like they're more than worth the cost of admission.
7 February 2014
With a new home boutique and recently launched lifestyle Web site, Jenni Kayne's audience is larger than ever. Pre-Fall found the California designer in fine form with a wearable collection that nodded to Boy Scout sportiness and forties-inspired silhouettes. Updating her signature tailoring, Kayne added slight padding to the shoulders of a double-breasted vest for a more structured look, and teamed that with a below-the-knee pencil skirt or high-waisted trousers. Other highlights here included a crisp trench and matching skort cut from a washed python jacquard, as well as a Liberty-print twill parka jacket and a belted rabbit-fur vest (priced to sell around $1,050). For evening, she showed a puddled, shirred georgette tank dress paired with a soft camel sweater, raccoon scarf, and a pair of shades. That look nicely encapsulated Kayne's approach to casual elegance, as did her new lug-sole saddle shoes and oxford heels, which will appeal to fans who already have a closetful of her best-selling d'Orsay flats.
9 December 2013
Ever the sportswear aficionado, Jenni Kayne was inspired by a mix of nautical and military elements for Spring 2014, designing a capsule of separates that play to her customers' love of preppy silhouettes with a distinctly Californian ease.Blazers have always been a big part of Kayne's repertoire, but this season she lengthened them—a navy double-breasted version was draped over sailor-style trousers and a stripey shirt. "Everyone already has a boyfriend blazer in her closet," Kayne said earlier this week on the phone from Montecito, where she's prepping for the opening of two new namesake boutiques. "But as long as you offer a new take, people keep wanting it."Another piece her customers are sure to want is a silk-wool housedress in a very pretty lavender verging on pink. Worn with a pair of rusty-brown loafer heels and a circle pendant necklace by Mannin, it's the perfect look for shopping at L.A.'s famed Brentwood Country Mart, where Kayne's own store exists alongside a hip juice bar and cold-press coffee shop.There were some "ethnic influences" mixed in there too—a blazer-and-skort combo printed with a copper-and-black pattern, for example—but they were subtle enough not to detract from Kayne's straightforward vision.
5 September 2013
Crinkled duchesse satin might sound like a hippie bride's dream fabric, but for Jenni Kayne's Resort effort, it's every woman's reality. Rendered in a bra top and pencil skirt, that old-fashioned material was quite hip—and a nice foil to Kayne's otherwise dark collection. "It was a rigorous color palette," said Kayne of the black, red, rust, and hot-pink scheme; that rigor gave the North African–inspired wardrobe a strong identity. Not only was it cohesive, it was smart looking, too. A burgundy plaid sheer button-up and trousers were pulled together by black leather trimming at the waist. And a leather dress in oxblood was more earnest than wild thanks to its modest wrap silhouette."For resort, it's always a mix of real clothes, clothes for parties, and clothes that girls pack on vacation," said Kayne. She folded the latter two into one, pairing her maxi dresses with a sheer black capelet that worked just as well with a maillot.
9 June 2013
It's been ten years since Jenni Kayne launched her Los Angeles-based line of easy, cool-girl separates. To celebrate, she dedicated Fall 2013 to two of her favorite fashion eras: the nineties and the seventies. "Think Bianca Jagger hanging out with nineties supermodels," she told us via phone after the show, stranded in Los Angeles thanks to the blizzard threatening the East Coast.The references made sense, but not too literally. For Bianca, there were Studio 54-appropriate cummerbunds in black and white silk, and a long black dress with a V-neck to the waist. For Naomi and co., Kayne brought back her first-ever leopard print, a more abstract version than the other animal prints we've seen this week.There were mules, too, and a kitten-heel version of Kayne's popular d'Orsay flat. The shoe is the designer's first real success in brand extensions, and it's easy to see why. Practical and elegant shoes are quicker to come by than they used to be, but still nowhere near easy.One element we could have done without? An acid green and black paisley print Kayne drew herself. While it wasn't ugly, it did look a little more like a dragon head than paisley and didn't really mesh with the rest of the collection.A strapless silk dress in hunter green silk shantung layered over cropped cigarette pants in the same color was the star of the show and could work well in either of Kayne's preferred decades. Or now. Because, after all, Kayne designs first for a modern woman, not an idea.
7 February 2013
Remember the 1991 flickDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead? The nineties getups that Christina Applegate wore in her role as teen-turned-mom Sue Ellen Crandell were reincarnated (and given a modern twist) in designer Jenni Kayne's pre-fall collection. Red and white office-appropriate jackets were cinched at the waist with chain-metal belts designed in collaboration with Lizzie Fortunato. A pair of ink blue cigarette pants found its match in a structured blazer with a white lapel and pocket detail, and the same color combo appeared on a schoolgirl vest dress styled with kneesocks and Kayne's d'Orsay flats, updated this season with silver chains.Other standout pieces spoke less to the Sue Ellen Crandell inspiration. A ponyhair dress coat and a white eyelet skirt worn with a cropped moto jacket looked right for the sophisticated set. And tailored separates done in a sky blue and black floral pattern would suit an L.A. girl from day to night. Having recently opened her second California store, it's clear that Kayne is trying to keep in mind her wide variety of clients. We'd say that this range offers a little something for everybody.
10 December 2012
Jenni Kayne carried over her Resort collection's loosely surf-inspired vibe into Spring. Prints, color-blocking, and a strong palette were the key messages here. A blue and rust ethnic pattern, developed in house, was shown neck to knee on a snug cropped top and slim pencil skirt. You could wear the pieces apart, but the prints looked chic pulled together. Kayne also made a statement with her signature four-ply suiting, done this season in hard-to-ignore pops of fuchsia and daffodil yellow. Despite being highlighter bright, a short yellow suit paired with a worn-in, painted baseball tee—a casual first for Kayne—had the refined ease the designer has cultivated over the years. Also easy: a dark, oversize poncho and matching flat-front pants. Part of the collection's first delivery, they'll make smart transition pieces when winter thaws into spring.
5 September 2012
Jenni Kayne has a reputation for laid-back California cool. For Resort inspiration, the L.A.-based designer looked to eighties beach culture and (here's the surprise) high society. Kayne stuck with her classic silhouettes—button-down shirts, slouchy pants, and short shorts, updating them in refreshing shades of sea-foam green and chevron yellow. The print story here, on a T-shirt dress and hot pants, was taken from old tiles used as the foundation in Mexican architecture. The same neon-colored pattern carried over to a pair of Kayne's d'Orsay flats, a style that's been a hit for her at retail. Kayne loves a little leather; this time it appeared in bra-top form, paired with a lady-who-lunches plaid pencil skirt and a canvas jacket. That look and a blush-tone tailored shorts suit were the obvious winners here.
6 June 2012
A "proper English gentleman's hunting wardrobe" was the inspiration behind Jenni Kayne's latest collection for cool, classy girls. If that makes you think ofDownton Abbey's Cousin Matthew, you're on the right track, but Kayne's embrace of a theme is always gentle. Classic British fabrics like tweed and herringbone made appearances, but Fall was as influenced by Kayne's favorite decade, the nineties, as it was by manor living, so a digitized Prince of Wales check in burnt orange and blue was a cheeky modern update of an old trope. If that print, on a sheer blouse and slim matching pants, looked a little like Tetris (in a good way), a purple and pale chartreuse floral print was all girly garden party. The blooms came on a long, navy, bias-cut skirt and sheer, sexily slouchy top that, worn together, passed for a dress.The idea of matching sets carried over to cocktails, a reflection of Kayne's personal preference. "I'm totally into separates for evening," she said. "I like the idea of offering something chic that's not a dress." A to-the-floor black skirt, sheer but for a mini, curve-hugging underlay, came paired with an artfully revealing black tuxedo top, sleeves rolled to the elbow. That was alluring, but the conversation pieces were two skirts—one black, one white—made from a pouf of feathers. The model in the white one wore hers with a white mohair sweater; she looked entirely at home in the tony library of the Chatwal Hotel, lounging by the couch. "I call that myCluelesssweater," Kayne said, confirming it was mohair. "In a good way."
8 February 2012
Jenni Kayne does pajamas season after season. Based on the abundance of matching silk sets we saw during Resort, it looks as though the rest of fashion has caught up with her comfy aesthetic. "Pajama dressing always had a place in my collections," she said. "For pre-fall, I dressed it up with schoolboy accents and luxe fur pieces." For day, there were relaxed tartan suiting separates that would mix nicely with one of her cozy knits in a vintage quilting pattern. After-hours, Kayne's no-frills customer can dress up the look by keeping the pullover on and adding a trumpet-flare maxi skirt cut from cerulean-colored silk. To top it all off: a classic DB trench—in British khaki or crisp denim—with an optional extra lining and fox fur collar, plus the designer's ever-present and ever-chic d'Orsay flats, which she updated this time around in embossed croc leather. Kayne's proven formula for insouciant elegance continues to work well.
5 December 2011
"Country-club chic combined with urban athleticism" is how Jenni Kayne described this season's collection, a reference point she claimed to have arrived at with a little help from Luis Buñuel'sThe Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. Kayne deals in familiar basics turned rich, like a lace pencil skirt in bright pink with a razor-frayed edge, or a black leather moto jacket soft and lightweight enough to be worn as the top of a flirty suit.At the designer's low-key presentation, where items were grouped by delivery, you had a chance to touch the fabric and see details, like the sliver of silver running through a breezy white jacket with zippered pockets. While the collection was understated as ever overall, embellishment came in the form of densely knit matte white sequins on a long, strapless dress and a tee. Easy enough to wear to the club, cool enough for a night of urban athleticism.
6 September 2011
Jenni Kayne gave birth to her second child about a month ago, and her Resort collection befits the with-it, L.A.-based mom. Her best-selling tailored trousers with a subtly tapered leg made a reappearance, and a boxy double-breasted tuxedo jacket was cut in a lighter weight than her Fall crowd-pleasers. On the more languid side of the equation, Kayne showed palazzo pants and easy silk dresses and tunics with narrow keyhole necklines.The collection's most exciting pieces made use of on-trend high slits. A soft lavender maxi skirt was split both up the front and at the sides, offering a flash of leg from every angle. Speaking of slashes, a long, cap-sleeved dress in acid yellow was about as close as it got to eveningwear. Kayne wasn't looking to make a dramatic statement here. "These clothes are made to work for you," she said. "They're not precious."
31 May 2011
A few weeks away from being a mom for the second time, Jenni Kayne stayed put on the West Coast for this collection. Her inspiration, however, was rooted in memories of East Coast weekends past—about two decades past, as Kayne acknowledged during a phone call from L.A. the day before her show. "The nineties have been leading me lately," she said. The show notes referencedSingles(swoon, Matt Dillon) and a country retreat with your girlfriends; the shift dresses and chunky knits on view would make the perfect cozy-chic gear for just such an escape. Saturated colors—turquoise, fuchsia, and a lovey deep marigold—made the simple silhouettes pop. Texture play, like a densely cabled sweater over a floor-sweeping bias-cut silk skirt, felt familiar but looked compelling nonetheless. A thigh-grazing black frock hemmed in feathers, worn with a boxy tuxedo jacket, might not be girls'-country-weekend fare, but it would be a great hit at a cocktail party, whatever the decade.
9 February 2011
Pre-fall is a mixed bag, with some designers showing chunky knits and others showing bikinis. L.A. nativeJenni Kayne's collection struck a temperate balance between the two extremes. One shift dress, for example, combined lightweight organza with cozy flannel, and her softly draped wool gauze pantsuit is one of the more wearable takes on the transparent trend we've seen. The blazer is cut more like a cardigan, and the matching trousers are just sheer enough for sidewalk passersby to do a double take, but with a lining that starts at mid-thigh so you won't get the wrong kinds of looks.Functionality is key for Kayne. A persimmon-colored "triple set" comes with a shell, a cardigan,anda roomy grandpa sweater to layer every which way. The "blown-out shearling" chubby is shorn bare along the inner arm and side seams to prevent bulkiness. And black rabbit fur d'Orsay flats look like chic bedroom slippers, and are just as comfortable. Thoughtful details like these are what keeps her fashion insider fans sweet on Kayne.
7 December 2010
At Jenni Kayne, inspirations are never painted in broad strokes, so Spring's road trip-themed collection didn't actually look too theme-y. As Kayne explained a few days before her presentation, the fantasy girl taking the fantasy road trip starts out in a big city (say, Manhattan), hops into a vintage Mercedes, and ends up in Joshua Tree. Her clothes evolve as she moves from east to west, downtown to desert.Color was a big part of the story, with the normally neutral-loving designer warming things up from cool blues (in a neat stripe) on the right coast to hibiscus and marigold on the left. The first look, a sheer blouse with simplified epaulets tucked into a mini adorned with matte white paillettes, was an ideal summer uniform: understated, crisp, and totally effortless. There was also a reinvented twinset, consisting of a reverse-stitched knit crop top worn under a slightly roomy cardigan. It looked perfect for those June nights when the air begins to cool. A short dolman jacket with oversize pockets was part of Kayne's scheme for desert living, but it had the pared-down simplicity that urbanites (in, say, Manhattan) are currently going mad for.
12 September 2010
Some designers may be coming on all high-powered for Resort of late, but it's no surprise that Jenni Kayne's collection was in keeping with the traditionally laid-back spirit of the season. Kayne specializes in clothes with a relaxed charm, and today's looks—a chambray shirt paired with a lace miniskirt, buttery leather tees and shorts—were at once polished and carefree. Another standout: a silk blush-hued blouse—a shade that's been everywhere this season—paired with tangerine cotton-canvas cropped pants.Kayne's presentation took place on her family's 164-foot super-yacht docked at Chelsea Piers (we told you she takes the Resort thing seriously), but you could happily imagine the wares transitioning from the JeMaSa's deck to the city streets.
9 June 2010
"I've always loved to see what my sister is wearing when she goes to the barn," Jenni Kayne said before her show, explaining Fall's strong equestrian bent. Turns out both Kayne girls ride—Jenni's horse, Cupid's Valentine, has a birthday coming up—and the designer called upon personal experience to craft a polished collection that isn't likely to see the inside of many stables.Although only 15 looks were shown, more variety wasn't really needed, because the numbers presented were so strong. Jodhpur shorts, in reindeer and wool, were perfect cuffed and worn a bit loose. Up top, a sheared-rabbit shell had a gorgeous tactility. Posing a lovely contrast were the slim, silky trousers Kayne envisioned as an alternative to cocktail dresses for after six. A simple T-shirt dress in forest green leather was a stunner, but the real showpiece was a mud-cloth anorak. Deceptively lightweight, the jacket had oversize pockets and exposed stitching that lent it a workmanlike feel and a patina of age. Still, utilitarian as it was, it's destined for city life, not country labor.
11 February 2010
"American sportswear with an edge." That was Jenni Kayne's assessment of her latest effort, and while it's not the most original manifesto we've ever heard, it's an apt summing up of the brand's direction over the past few seasons. Kayne has made a name for herself with leather separates, and fans will enjoy Spring's bounty: the perfect black sheath, a cream crop top and cuffed-short combo, and—for the daring or just plain gaga—cheeky briefs and a bustier. Despite the prevalence of animal hide, the print-free collection came across as light and easy—perhaps a subconscious effort by the new mom to keep life as clutter-free as possible. But while pleasing, these clothes didn't feel like a departure from past efforts; it wouldn't hurt to see a little more of that edge the designer mentioned. The shoes, however, weren't lacking. On the heels of a successful foray for Fall, the designer amped the offerings for Spring. Her sophomore effort included covetable studded mules and strappy perforated leather flats (the latter suitable for chasing after little ones, we assume).
8 September 2009
Nineties minimalism was one of Jenni Kayne's talking points for Resort, which the L.A. native explored by way of her laid-back, SoCal-cool aesthetic. Translation: oversize sheer tees, miniskirts, and tank dresses in a neutral palette shot through with Day-Glo green and yellow. Some pieces—shapeless striped cover-ups, for example—were way too casual, and Kayne was on firmer ground when she notched up the sophistication, as in a cap-sleeve button-front shirt paired with a high-waisted neon pencil skirt. Also on point were structured pieces given a twist: tailored vests worn like dresses, and a trenchcoat knotted loosely in the front to create a subtle draping effect.
11 June 2009
Jenni Kayne's goal for Fall was to go back to basics—not a far reach for a designer who's known for easy to pull on (and pull off) day-to-night separates. Standouts included a floor-skimming black dress with a lace overlay. That sounds stuffy, but the slim silhouette and the lace's geometrical design were anything but. Coats and blazers with fur- and bead-embellished sleeves (not both at once, thankfully) won't be to most girls' tastes, but there was plenty in the collection that felt young and fresh but never overly trendy. Kayne also launched shoes for the first time this season—worth a look for their below-$500 price range and sharp design. Oh, and for those of you wondering about the Kayne family Upper East Side residence where the presentation was held, let's just say: marble entryway, parquet floors, and Park Avenue views.
10 February 2009
Jenni Kayne kept things easy for Spring—understandable for a young woman about to give birth to her first child. But that doesn't mean she was about to give up on elegance. Scouring the annals of eighties and nineties power dressing, she skipped the shoulder pads but captured the mood with boxy tanks and splashes of acid hues. A surprisingly lightweight tube mini awash in gold paillettes looked fresh paired with a denim chambray button-front shirt cinched with a leather belt, and a black linen bandeau worn under a must-have deep-V cardigan was a nice alternative to a camisole or a tee. Kayne, who missed the presentation in anticipation of her due date, may not have been designing with the average first-time mom in mind: Most of them put the bandeaux and minis on hiatus around the time of their last girls' night out. But the mostly effortless pieces she showed should be welcome in the closet of any unfettered young woman with time on her hands to devote to the pursuit of chic.
4 September 2008
To achieve her goal of "timeless and simple" resort clothes, Jenni Kayne looked to her greatest hits—a sensible approach for a young designer in a highly commercial season. Among Kayne's recast best-sellers are the skinny leather jacket, the boyfriend blazer, and the maxi dress—cut in black jersey for evening and for day in a poppy print inspired by her home state's scenery, the California desert.
5 June 2008
She might be from sunny Los Angeles, but Jenni Kayne's Fall collection showed she could cope with the cold—and turn on the heat. The show's moody palette and menswear fabrics, like a blue and black check, referenced grunge, as did the slouchy shape of the blazers. Kayne's second touchstone was the forties, which explains how a flannel jacket with a silver fox collar that radiated old-Hollywood élan came into the mix. What stood out most were the dressier pieces, like a color-blocked jersey scoop gown, because she is too into pretty to doreallygrungy.
7 February 2008
Jenni Kayne traded the tents for a two-hour afternoon tableau vivant in a midtown penthouse, citing the "crowded schedule" and a desire for editors and buyers to see how precise her message is. The celebrity eye candy (Mischa Barton, the Olsens) that this L.A. native's shows are usually good for was missing, but it seems like the prospect of presenting in such a relaxed setting helped the designer clear her head. Kayne has fumbled in the past when she's tricked things out for the runway, and for Spring she pared back and returned to an era that's interested her since her beginnings about five years ago—the seventies, or more precisely, the seventies with a thirties twist.A long sundress in a cheery yellow ikat print stood side by side with a raglan sleeve Greta Garbo gown in moody peacock green. Pinching and tucking at the neckline turned a glorified silver jacquard T-shirt dress into something memorable. The collection was also strong on tailoring. Kayne's boxy boyfriend blazers looked right over both a jersey T-shirt and trouser shorts, as well as a cocktail dress—that is, until you saw the cropped jacket and low-slung pleated trousers worn with flat sandals, which somehow seemed newer. A loose scoop-neck tee and a glossy black high-waisted skirt had not much to do with either of Kayne's favorite decades, but nonetheless, the combination looked like a winner.
5 September 2007
With her new husband, Richard Ehrlich, watching from the front row, along with Mischa Barton and Jared Leto, L.A. up-and-comer Jenni Kayne sent out her most focused collection to date. It was long on short shorts, cardigans, and brief little dresses that don't work any place but the beach (and why should they?). There were also numerous chiffon camis with delicately twisted straps. For after dark, Kayne made belted caftans of the sort that pleasantly evoke Malibu evenings in the seventies—a decade she's not old enough to remember.A true California girl, Kayne isn't afraid of prints—for spring she did an oversized floral that appeared on everything from ruched maillots to pleated gowns. She's also comfortable with color: The runway was a swirl of chartreuse, teal, navy, aubergine, and brown, as well as salmon, saffron, mustard, and black. It could all have been much too much, but it worked, as did Kayne's leathers. She showed trenches (cropped and knee-length), motorcycle jackets, and a cocoon coat with a pin-tucked hem—every piece was buttery soft, but tailored sharp as a blade, and each one was more covetable than the last.
8 September 2006
At Jenni Kayne's last L.A. show, Jared Leto and both Wilson brothers sat in the front row. Fast-forward a year and a half to her sophomore New York fashion week effort, and the eye candy was confined to model Jessica Stam and a pair of Hearst sisters—a lovely enough sight, though not on the level of that Left Coast trio. But what Kayne has lost in celebrity sparkle by bringing her collection east, she has gained in editorial attention. Backstage before her presentation, the 23-year-old Angeleno appeared happy, if a little nervous about the tradeoff. "I want to do this like a real New Yorker," she said, alluding to her new focus on outerwear but also implicitly acknowledging the increased spotlight.How did she fare? Well, that outerwear stood up. A navy leather trench and a brown leather bolero with short sleeves looked great, and should the gods of global warming allow the temperature to dip below freezing next winter, her woolen coats with mink collars (these much more uptown in feeling) will keep the chill out. A fox vest, with the laid-back seventies vibe she worked for spring, was equally luxe. If her collection lacked focus, especially the suiting, which veered from a sleek update of YSL's smoking to flaring gauchos, blame it on growing pains. That, and perhaps listening to too many voices other than her own. Her dresses, on the other hand, were on message. They appeared in miniature prints for day and beads for night, and were belted in a way that these days spells cool everywhere.
2 February 2006
Jenni Kayne brought her spring collection from her native L.A. to New York in an effort, she said, "to be taken more seriously." The clothes had a more focused look than her previous efforts, in part because she staged a well-edited presentation of just 16 looks rather than a star-studded fashion show. As the familiar saying goes, though, you can take the girl out of California, but you can't take California out of the girl. Inspired by seventies beach club culture, she started with a U-neck, long jersey dress, and from there matched smart knits with lovely lace skirts and of-the-moment cuffed shorts. A fitted blazer and cropped trousers in tweed, along with a bronze sequin apron dress, gave a nod to the show's cosmopolitan location, but most of the colors had a warm, beachy feel: navy, white, sandy beige, and sunny yellow.
13 September 2005