Discover the story of the pioneering hairstylist who obliterated the once-omnipresent hat and transformed the fashion industry through his A-list clients at his iconic 54th Street Salon. Kenneth Battelle, known simply as “Kenneth,” started his 50-year career in the early 1950s in New York City and built a loyal client list who swore by his skills, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Countess Consuelo Crespi, Diana Vreeland, Lucille Ball, and Gloria Vanderbilt. This biography not only celebrates his extraordinary talent but examines his behind-the-scenes life and career struggles, including the disastrous fire that destroyed his salon, and his perseverance moving forward. Through personal memories of those closest to him, including friends, clients, and former employees, the man who created a cult of classic, timeless ladies comes to life. Previously unpublished photographs, notes, clippings, and original Joe Eula illustrations richly exhibit both his myriad achievements and America's 20th-century high-fashion scene.
Giuseppe Longo spent nearly 10 years at the Kenneth Salon in New York City—formerly at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue—where he was introduced to clients, employees, and Kenneth’s fabled history.
The day I told Marilyn Monroe to bleach down under: Celebrity hairdresser Kenneth Battelle -- who also styled Princess Margaret, Lauren Bacall and Jackie Kennedy reveals how he saved the Some Like It Hot stars modesty in a new book ... Considered by many to be the first celebrity hairdresser, such was Kenneths fame that, in 1961, Vogue magazine declared that almost every famous female head in the world has gone or will go to his salon, which was just off Fifth Avenue ... The stylist died in 2013 at the age of 86 while preparing to work with writer Giuseppe Longo on his biography. Now, through his notes and the memories of those close to Kenneth, Longo has written Shear Elegance, which traces Kenneths compelling story and legacy. -- Kathryn Knight, Daily Mail, 13 November 2020