Rich, Famous Are Big Fans of Jewelry Maker
Barry Kisselstein-Cord is her favorite jewelry designer. But when Linda Balahoutif, writer and producer, hears that his belts and jewelry are now serious status symbols among the Hollywood wives of West L.A, she cringes.
Like Chanel bags, Kisselstein-Cord belts, rings and earrings have become an intentionally telling sign of wealth, status, and trendiness.
The New York-based designer’s sterling silver and gold belt buckles range in size from normal to heavy-weight, are attached to exotic skin straps, and reek of money spent. A bit of engraving here, some extra handwork there, and a belt with buckle can cost more than $1,000.
His jewelry, in matte-finished platinum, gold and precious stones, is not as instantly recognizable to as many people, but it’s much higher priced. Rings sell for $2,300 to $4,500. Necklaces inset with diamonds can skyrocket into the six-figure range.
“I have about six belts, and 45 pieces of his jewelry,” Balahoutif said. “I know people who have more.”
The Los Angeles-based Balahoutif has become one of the designer’s personal friends, and held a dinner party for him and his business-partner wife, CeCe, when the Kisselstein-Cords were last in town, showing his newest styles at Neiman-Marcus.
Should Balahoutif or any of his avid collectors suffer buyer’s remorse, they can assuage themselves with thoughts of investment potential. His first sterling silver belt buckle, the Winchester, sold for $295 when it was introduced in 1976. It is still in the collection, and this year’s model fetches a cool $1,100.
He attracts certain types, said Balahoutif, who has a clear image of his fans, especially among Los Angeles loyalists. They frequent “important” art openings and literary events, or might be one of the younger, more artistic, actresses, she explained. The jewelry, “doesn’t seem to appeal to the Beverly Hills matron.”
Ann McKenzie, a television actress Kisselstein-Cord includes among his East Coast clients, and another eager fan, is embarrassed to admit how many of his designs she owns. Finally she’ll claim eight or 10 belt buckles, straps in every color and “almost all the important pieces” of the jewelry.
“All of my friends wear the jewelry, and all of my husband’s directors wear the belts,” McKenzie said. (Her husband, Malcolm Mellon, produces TV commercials.)
Kisselstein-Cord has a cult-like following, which includes Eddie Murphy, Anjelica Huston and Twyla Tharp. Some are more better at describing why than others.
Tyler Tinsworth, a collector from Greenwich, Conn., said she likes the jewelry because, “it’s very classic. Barry doesn’t give glitz and glitter. You don’t feel like you’re going to get mugged walking down the street wearing it.”
The designer himself is not as articulate about his work. “I was supposed to be an artist,” he said. After studying at the Parsons School of Design in New York, and working in advertising for more than seven years, he took a course in jewelry and found a true talent.
