When developing this new body of work, King has worked with an eye towards creating designs that, though not mass-produced, could be made in limited editions.

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King’s move to New York matched his desire to form new techniques and designs, to make a complete departure from what he had done in the past. Most of his previous work involved many layers of fabric and innovative engineering to get certain effects. By choosing a transparent fabric, he had to create garments in which the construction, now completely on view, was as attractive as the design.

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The research to develop this body of work took nearly three years of making what Kenneth calls “lab notes”. This rigorous, evolving series of samples and notes finally yielded the techniques he sought. They also offer a rich library of ideas to draw from. The permutations are almost endless and will keep his work fresh for years to come. This work satisfies Kenneth’s desire to create proprietary techniques and designs. In the long view, his goal is to be the 21st Century’s answer to Mariano Fortuny.

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King decided to focus more on private clients. A chance remark from one of his favorite clients turned him in a new direction. “One spends all this money on the dress,” she asked, “what does one wear over it?” King had experimented with wraps in the past, but this client helped him understand uses and types of wrap needed for the spectrum of events his customers attend. This started him on a new direction technically as well as aesthetically. King’s relationship with Maxfield had lasted nine years. During and beyond that time his designs were carried at Wilkes Bashford, San Francisco, and Ultimo in San Francisco, Dallas, and Chicago.

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During the time King spent selling to Maxfield, his work and reputation grew with museum curators and private collectors. His work is in the permanent collections of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the L.A. County Museum of Art and San Francisco’s DeYoung Museum, as well as many private collections.

 

The Mermaid Gown shown below is in the permanent collection of the L.A. County Museum of Art.

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It was during this time that King custom designed many pieces for Elton John. Notable were the hats that appeared in music videos for songs such as “Sacrifice” (to view, click here), and “You Gotta Love Someone” (to view, click here), as well as the red hat used in the Diet Coke commercial “Nightclub”. (to view, click here) King also expanded his line for the store from hats, clothing, jewelry and accessories, to include home furnishings. He introduced his “Marble Jewelry” – necklaces and bracelets of clear glass marbles encircled with sterling silver. These designs, both in sterling and later in 18-Karat gold, continue as popular day-into-evening accessories in King’s design repertoire.

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His hats were the first of his line of opulent, limited edition and one-off evening accessories and clothing.

 

To enhance the jewel-like nature of his pieces, he presented the designs in black velvet cases lined with black taffeta. Kenneth fully understood the importance of packaging and designed these cases to spotlight their allure. As these accessories were jewels, he felt it important to package them accordingly. This created an aura around the pieces that increased their allure. After the first cocktail hats came matching hats and muffs, followed by fur boas with concealed pockets for compact and lipstick worked into the embellishment. Kenneth’s exquisitely crafted vests and accessories found an avid clientele. The customers responded enthusiastically to his work, and began requesting other types of pieces.

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One of his early hits was the Vest.

These vests featured sterling silver knot-buttons and

matching sterling silver hardware of his own design,

and were packaged in the signature black velvet boxes.

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Vest collectors then demanded garments, which resulted in the

Dinner Jacket. This jacket featured the same distinctive lapel shape

and sterling button. A cumberbund, based on the vest,

was also introduced at this time.

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His furniture melds plush Victorian form with intricate trim and lush, vivid colors. These highly worked “epic pieces” are created as artistic statements with little mind for their commercial value. His “Footstool” appears in the book “Elton John’s Flower Fantasies”, by Carol Cass (Bulfinch Press, p.53)

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In 1986 King began selling his creations to Maxfield in Los Angeles, where the store’s Hollywood clientele discovered him. He was taken up first by Cloris Leachman; Elton John was also an early collector. Later such people as the Don Johnson and Geena Davis also became collectors.

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In 1985 he started his own business designing and making hats. This initial design experience made Kenneth focus on the wearer; his designs were created to fit the client’s lifestyle. Kenneth realized that a hat can be total fantasy, but must also be wearable. He understood that the type of customer he was aiming at would not buy a second piece if the first didn’t perform well.

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King’s designs are created so the wearer needn’t fuss. The person wears the piece, not vice versa. King says, “The process should be so seamless as to be invisible. When a piece is flawlessly finished, one then has only to consider the aesthetics. Flawless finish shows that one is the master of his materials.”

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