Carolyn
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was an American socialite and Calvin Klein fashion publicist. After her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr., her life and fashion sense became the subjects of intense media and paparazzi scrutiny.
Bessette favored a minimal color palette (mostly black, white, and other neutrals), subtle flourishes, sleek cuts to emphasize her silhouette, strategic accessories, and textured pieces for visual interest. Above all, she utilized the coat as a focal point of her look.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy iconic style:
Many women have greatly affected fashion and style; Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Edie Sedgwick, and Catherine de Medici were before them. But even with the geniuses among them, very few women have the same influence over fashion as Carolyn Bessette did, even 25 years after her untimely death. It would be challenging to locate a street style enthusiast, a designer, or a woman in the public spotlight who hasn’t occasionally drawn inspiration from the recognizable blonde. Who could forget that Bessette was primarily responsible for making the slip-dress wedding gown one of the most iconic bridal styles ever?
But what about CBK’s_ style, which is timeless and unaffected by trends? It boils down to a couple of factors. Bessette liked to wear her coat as the main feature of her ensemble. She also liked to use delicate flourishes, sleek cuts to accentuate her silhouette, thoughtful accessories, textured pieces for visual interest, and a basic color palette (mainly black, white, and other neutrals). In light of this, the dressing guidelines provided by the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are ideal for the autumn and winter dressing seasons. Consequently, we have compiled a list of necessities so you can incorporate some CBK into your daily routine.
Style With Time:
Bodices and plain necklines make what is layered over intriguing while keeping lines straight and shapes body-skimming (never too tight or revealing). In this instance, a coat with opulent details—like suede, imitation fur, or a notched velvet collar—is the piece de resistance. Another important aspect is layering hemlines. Add a heel that’s just right—not too high or modest.
The white button-down blouse was popularized in 1999 by Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who ensured it was adopted from the boys’ mandatory formal attire. The secret? Make sure your top choice is slim-cut and not enormous, preferably without pockets, which might dress things down. Avoid wearing your shirt too buttoned up. Additionally, for a little drama, keep the fabric of your skirt or matching panties contrasting (silk works great for this), and go for simple yet feminine accessories. The formula for an ensemble of standard-setting grace and carelessness.
Somewhere along the line, we have all been brainwashed into thinking that we cannot wear black and brown together. This is not so; this look by CBK from 1996 is proof. Layer neutral colors with differing textures (peep the shine on her brown square-toe boots) and clean lines (the camel skirt topped with a black sweater). There is nothing simple about this look.
If there was one thing CBK was especially good at, it was using texture. Here, a basic black coat over a white tee is made more stylish by her fluffy scarf, tortoiseshell headband (from C.O. Bigelow), and chic Selima Optique glasses. With a few well-chosen accessories, an ordinary dress can be elevated to something remarkable.
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Ways To Emulate Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s Pared-Back 90s Style:
The 90s are still on the fashion radar, and with it comes a fresh admiration for the most prominent style stars of the time—none more so than Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. When the immaculately attired Calvin Klein executive started dating John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1994, she came to the public’s attention. Two years later, the pair married on the isolated island of Cumberland in Georgia. The bride wore beaded Manolo Blahnik sandals and a silk gown designed by Narciso Rodriguez.
This appearance became the face of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s style when it was widely publicized in global publications. Her effortlessly chic street style became the talk of the town in the years that followed. With her fresh face and messy hair, she became a symbol of modern minimalism at the turn of the century. She created the uniform of the fashion editor of today: simple, elegant separates that never go out of style.
Bessette Kennedy’s life has been overshadowed by her terrible death in an aircraft crash in 1999, yet her impact on fashion endures. For the past twenty years, she has been a mainstay on mood boards for designers, and in recent months, the industry’s fascination with her has only grown. Vogue immediately selects ten essentials to buy to channel Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s look.
Dressed up shirting:
Few could match Bessette Kennedy’s skill at enhancing classic works. She turned a white shirt into a must-have piece of evening wear for a black-tie event at the Whitney Museum of American Art by unbuttoning it to the breastbone, rolling up the sleeves, and adding a tiered skirt that hung down to the floor. Finished with a gold beaded purse and black sandals, the ensemble embodied uptown glitz without sacrificing her minimalist style. Wear a carefree With Nothing Underneath shirt and Cos’s column maxi skirt to embrace the style for summertime celebrations.
Naked sandals:
Bessette Kennedy’s favorite shoe of this season is the thin-strapped, minimal mid-heel. Its insouciant ease works just as well with denim as with a dress. For inspiration, look to The Row and Toteme.
A form-fitting LBD:
Evening gowns don’t get more classic than form-fitting black. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wore hers with velvet gloves and pointed stilettos to elevate the simple design, yet she kept her hair relaxed in a loose chignon. Versace and Wolford have similar styles.
The power headband:
Hair accessories have been hugely popular again for some time now. Still, Bessette Kennedy was among the first to support a simpler approach, frequently wearing a white T-shirt and oval shades with a wide tortoiseshell Alice band.
The slinky slip:
Bias-cut slips formed the backbone of Bessette Kennedy’s wardrobe, from her Narciso Rodriguez wedding gown to black mini dresses worn during blistering summers in the city and ribbed grey styles hidden under cover-ups on cooler days.
Beige and black:
Bessette-Kennedy, who once deemed the color combination unwearable, was a longtime supporter of beige and black in all its manifestations. Examples include a black T-shirt with camel-colored pants and loafers, a dark caramel corduroy with a black turtleneck, and a pale fawn pencil skirt.
The Bandana:
Like her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy, who frequently used loosely knotted silk scarves to hide her hair during Capri vacations, Bessette Kennedy also fonded of bandanas with block colors. They’re the epitome of city-appropriate Riviera chic paired with denim, a tank, and a longline blazer.
The floral midi dress:
Bessette Kennedy was a master at glamming up a flowy summer dress. You only need a black patent Prada purse, stilettos, and bedhead hair to achieve an effortlessly cool, sophisticated off-duty look. Find the ideal midi floral dress and accessorize it with glistening, edge-enhancing pieces.
A slick of red lipstick:
Like her clothes, Bessette Kennedy’s beauty appearances were understated but stylish. When she glammed things up with red lipstick, she preferred a rich shade applied with her ring finger to create a “bled” impression. To emulate the look, apply a slick of mascara and a red pout that has just been kissed.
A chiffon detail:
A little black dress doesn’t have to be plain. When in search of a standout detail, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy preferred to play with texture rather than print, as evidenced by this tulle overlay.
