Dr. Stephanie Lake

The fifth scholar in the world to earn a Ph.D. in Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture, Dr. Stephanie Lake’s opulent, sustainable, and one-of-a-kind jewelry is informed by her work as a curator, archivist, auction specialist and fashion heir. Her jewelry designs reflect a commitment to wonder, joy, and purpose in the objects we select to wear. This perspective centers on this history of adornment as a personal source of power, and the relentless pursuit of beauty as an act of rebellion.

Lake’s academic focus on decorative arts from the 18th century to the current day centered on personal adornment and aesthetic choices made by elite and intellectual circles. Lake’s curatorial work included stints in Paris, London, Istanbul, Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles, working with some of the world’s most extraordinary collections and collectors.

While living in New York, Lake worked as a research consultant in the Sotheby’s Fashion Department where she studied couture while earning her master’s degree and doctorate at the Bard Graduate Center. Her scholarly interests led to a friendship with the “mother” of American sportswear, iconic fashion designer Bonnie Cashin (ca. 1908-2000).

Heralded as a classic New York Story, the fashion fairy tale that ensued includes inheriting the designer’s personal effects and entire personal design archive, the publication of Lake’s Bonnie Cashin monograph with Rizzoli, and ongoing exhibitions of Cashin’s work around the globe. 

Lake’s work has been featured in VogueHarper’s BazaarElle, highlighted in fashion and design podcasts including Dressed, and showcased in a historic commission from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, in which Lake’s work was placed in the museum as a prelude to the acclaimed centennial exhibition “Hapsburg Splendor: Masterpieces from Vienna’s Imperial Collections.”  

Each Stephanie Lake piece is one of a kind and sustainable, featuring centuries of found source materials. Lake’s jewelry is sold online and by appointment.