FASHION
Remembering The Impeccable Style Of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Violaine Schütz - Madame Figaro
23-August-2021
When we think of ‘90s golden couples, the first names that pop up are: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. And their tragic love story is the subject of the upcoming American Love Story by Hollywood mega-producer Ryan Murphy. Twenty-two years after their premature death in a tragic plane crash, we look back at Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s lasting impact as a style icon.
Not only she oozed charisma, poise and cool, the legendary blonde beauty who never dressed for attention, quickly rose the status of fashion icon, and her minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic is still an inspiration.
A graduate of Boston University in education, Carolyn Bessette was passionate about fashion. She worked as a Calvin Klein publicist before being thrust into the limelight as she started dating America’s golden boy JFK Jr., son of President John F. Kennedy and, incidentally the ex-boyfriend of other blonde girls like Daryl Hannah, Sarah Jessica Parker and even Madonna. Her wedding dress in 1996 by her friend (and back then emerging designer) Narciso Rodriguez was and still is one of the most sought-after gowns of all time.
Her very New York minimalist silhouettes and simple make-up - a manicure could take her up to three hours - left their mark in people's minds to inspire designers like Michael Kors.
The anti-Kardashian
White button-down shirts, pencil skirts, slip dresses, black pants, flared jeans, block-heeled boots, strappy sandals, headbands... The young woman from Connecticut loved simplicity and minimalism, but always made sure her low-key outfits were luxe: Prada, Yohji Yamamoto, Hermès and Manolo Blahnik.
A timeless and impeccable allure that is reminiscent of Céline and The Row and that we’re coveting this fall, as an antidote to the flashy and maximalist style of the Kardashians and others.