Longtime celebrity hairstylist Peter Lamas details his decades working with high-profile clients—including Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn—in his new book, Jackie Kennedy’s Stylist, providing a rare look inside high-society beauty routines and private conversations with American royalty, according to an account published by Town & Country.
From Madison Avenue Apprenticeships to High Society Salons
Peter Lamas launched his career after moving from Cuba to New York in his teens. According to his interview with Town & Country, he secured an apprenticeship on Madison Avenue working alongside mentors Vidal Sassoon and Paul Mitchell. Lamas later joined Kenneth Battelle’s celebrated salon, describing Kenneth Salon as the primary hub for high society, models, and cultural figures during the era.
When Battelle was unavailable to style Jackie Kennedy, he assigned Lamas to fill in. Lamas recalled feeling intimidated by the assignment. As paparazzi aggressive tactics made salon visits difficult for the former first lady in the late 1960s, Lamas became her go-to mobile stylist, eventually traveling to Skorpios island in Greece for her 1968 wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
Pro Tip: According to Lamas, achieving classic styles like the pixie cut requires careful consideration of facial structure and frame, as daring cuts can strongly accentuate round faces or large frames.
Reflections on Jackie Kennedy and Celebrity Circles
Lamas’s new book captures the nuanced shifts in Kennedy’s public persona after her second marriage. Writing in Jackie Kennedy’s Stylist, Lamas observed complex emotions during the Greek wedding celebration, contrasting the reserved demeanor of the Kennedy family with Jackie’s serene expression.
Over years of appointments, Lamas developed a close confessional relationship with Kennedy. He recounts an evening preparing her for a Lincoln Center event honoring President Kennedy, during which Kennedy spoke about the assassination. According to Lamas, Kennedy expressed fear during the Zapruder film moments that her children would be left as orphans and shared her belief that Lee Harvey Oswald acted as a stooge rather than a lone gunman. Lamas also noted in the interview that Kennedy believed Marilyn Monroe was murdered by the same individuals responsible for President Kennedy’s death.
Did You Know? Peter Lamas also styled Judy Garland’s hair for her wake at the request of her daughter, Liza, who asked him to make her mother beautiful one last time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Peter Lamas?
Peter Lamas is a celebrity hairstylist known for working with high-profile figures such as Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Diana Ross. He details these experiences in his book, Jackie Kennedy’s Stylist.
What does Peter Lamas’s book cover?
According to Town & Country, the book chronicles his humble beginnings as a Cuban immigrant in New York, his mentorship under Vidal Sassoon and Paul Mitchell, and his decades-long professional and personal relationships with elite salon clients.
What did Jackie Kennedy tell Peter Lamas about the JFK assassination?
According to Lamas’s account in the book and interview, Kennedy discussed her fears during the assassination and stated her belief that Lee Harvey Oswald was a stooge who did not act alone.
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