Education and Career
Gillaspie earned a full scholarship to Volunteer State Community College, where he studied pre-veterinarian medicine. While working at a veterinary clinic for four and a half years, he took a second job as a sketch artist at a local pageant boutique in Tennessee. Gillaspie quickly became enamored with fashion, changed his major and transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. In 2002, he won the Critics Choice Award at FIT for evening wear and graduated magna cum laude. He moved back to Nashville after graduation and opened Kayne's Clothing Boutique, where he created custom ballroom dance costumes, evening wear, and wardrobe for the country music industry.
In 2003, the openly gay Gillaspie and his former partner bought Southern Charm/Alter Ego, an established formal wear and pageant store in Norman, Oklahoma. Gillaspie and the store were both featured on an episode of the MTV reality series Tiara Girls. In December, 2005, he dressed the entire top five teens and the winner and first runner up in the Miss Oklahoma U.S.A. pageant.
Gillaspie is no longer associated with Southern Charm/Alter Ego. He now works out of his studio in Norman and travels extensively showcasing his private collection, his exclusive line with WOW prom and pageant, and his shoe line through Benjamin Walk.
For the 2008 Miss America Pageant, in Las Vegas, Gillaspie had several designs featured on contestants, including the talent costume for first runner-up, Miss Indiana Nicole Rash.
On April 28 and 29, 2008, Gillaspie was a guest star at the Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet Competition. The competition, which is reputed to be the hottest ticket on Broadway, is held in New York City at the Minskoff Theatre, home of The Lion King (musical).
Gillaspie has been featured in numerous magazines, and is on the cover of the May 2008 edition of Distinctly Oklahoma Magazine with a feature story inside. On April 30, 2008 he was interviewed on KWTV News 9 talking about his career, article in the magazine, and also announced being involved with an upcoming television show on E! Television Network.
On October 24, 2008, Gillaspie launched his newest line, called Kayne9, dog couture. The line is made in Oklahoma and is currently available for purchase from the Johnathan Kayne Studio located in Norman, OK
Read more about this topic: Kayne Gillaspie
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