Barry Kieselstein-Cord .. fashion legend

For me, Barry Kieselstein, as he was known when he started, was the man who elevated the belt to new heights of status without using a logo. His logo or logos were his signature pieces/styles which became status symbols for both men and women starting in the late 70s. His sterling designs not only elevated the belt to a new apex of fashion but he became the “it” designer as well as the designer of the “it” belt that went on for decades.

As time passed, Mr. Kieselstein-Cord as he was later known went on to develop classifications that went far beyond a mere belt! There were free standing stores that housed everything from bridge jewelry to croco handbags to sunglasses to an incredible collection of signature 18k jewelry. As the classifications grew so did the BKC vocabulary. He maintained his shop within Bergdorf Goodman for decades.

 

At present, Mr. Kieselstein-Cord has been slowly reemerging as a fine art photographer as well as re positioning his brand for those who are woefully uninformed of what a long term seismic effect this man had within the fashion compendium. In other words he is someone you should know about...past, present and future!

 

Take a peek inside the head of BKC as well as the visuals that only represent a bird’s eye view of his body of work ….

1-What is the most treasured possession in your wardrobe?

My leather jacket collection

2-What is your most sterling trait and what trait do you treasure most in your friendships?

Loyalty

3-What is your bliss?

The beauty of all living things

4-What is your guilty secret?

none

5-Where is your ideal home?

Where ever I am really comfortable

6-If you could not be a designer/retailer/etc.: what would you be

Philanthropist

 7-What is on your bedside table right now?

books

8-What do you wear to bed?

Dependent on company

9-What if any, book are you reading now or last read?

Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Tatiana by Martin C. Smith, The Plantagenets by Dan Jones and assorted R.L.Stevenson’s books

10-What’s your advice to the “newcomer?”

What’s a new comer?

11-Who or what is your inspiration/style icon?

myself

12-What is the best advice you ever received?

Be true to your heart, but take in a business partner to run your operation

13-In 3 words or less, describe the current state of fashion.

Mis-dir-ected fun.

14-If you were a retailer; would you wear your own designs or shop in your own store? Or where would you shop?

own

15-If you won a $200,000,000 power ball (lottery), what is the first thing you would buy or do?

Give away 25%

16-If you could invite up to 4 people for dinner, who would they be…dead or alive?

The Pope, The President, Putin, head of the largest anti West leadership

17-What is your favorite movie /or movie star?

Angelina Jolie

18-What is the one thing you would change about yourself?

Not be so loyal

19-Whose opinion do you value most and why?

My daughter’s, smartest person I know

20-What store or which designer do you most like to shop in or wear?

none

21-What’s your take on magazines, books versus the internet?

All are equally important and have their place

22-Do you have a dream collaborator?

none
23-What is your crowning achievement thus far in your career?

Never at a loss for creating original new concepts and executing original new ideas

24-What’s your music library like?
Eclectic

25-What and where is your favorite meal?

Japanese in New York City