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American fashion pays tribute to some of the best figures who crafted their lane in style and personality. Not to be morbid, but when one passes an untimely death or suffers from a tragedy, those figures become immortalized. Their fashion has been talked about for ages and often mimicked in brands and on the streets. Branding the immortalized version into a fashion icon. Due to popular opinion, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy represents a fashion icon. Her mysterious nature and coy street moments captured by the paparazzi in her minimalistic garbs are circulating on Pinterest boards and in fashion magazines 26 years later. Kennedy’s influence over the 90s in pop culture is always in fashion discussions, but it shows you – a girl who knew what suited her and didn’t care about what the next person would think.
Kennedy was a popular person who was Voted “Ultimate Beautiful Person” at St. Mary’s High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her fashion sense had to have made some contribution, right? Attempting a modeling career in college, she stumbled upon one of Calvin Klein’s stores in Massachusetts, which made the Carolyn Bessett we know today. She eventually made her way up the ranks and became Director of Publicity for Klein’s flagship store in Manhattan. Kennedy’s style and attention to detail garnered attention from Susan Sokol, a traveling sales coordinator who recommended Kennedy to style Klein’s high-profile clients like Annette Bening and Diane Sawyer. Becoming a director of publicity and styling clients gave Kennedy a key to using her creative talents and letting those in the industry know she could run with the icons if given the opportunity. Kennedy showed that you must start somewhere to get where you’re going. Many people working retail now wonder if they will have the same chance as her. Her career start gives a slight shimmer to fashion icons in the making.
Formerly known as Carolyn Bessett – she met John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1994, and the two later wed. During their dating stage, many tabloids and paparazzi paid attention to them. This frenzy became an obsession; all eyes were drawn to Kennedy’s fashion. Kennedy often chose minimalist clothing to attend events and walk around New York. The classic niche look- she wore a white tee shirt with her adorned Levi 517 vintage boot cut jeans and pointed-toe heeled boots. In the fall seasons, she wouldn’t be caught without a tailored longline coat, either beige or black, with her familiarized ovalvular Aldo frames in black from Selima Optique Shades. Like Calvin Klein, she kept it simple but elevated just a touch. For evening events, Kennedy donned black off-the-shoulder dresses with pointed heels. Her standout outfit made an appearance at the Whitney Museum event. The outfit featured a white blouse, a ruffled black maxi skirt, and black slide sandals with a gold clutch. Kennedy became consistent with the style, and it worked for her. She began to outshine other celebrities because her look looked effortless.
“Her influences came from designers “Yohji Yamamoto and Japanese avant-garde fashion houses like Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo.” Trill Mag. She admired Japanese creators for their intricate designs.
A unique and pivotal moment in Kennedy’s style was her wedding dress when she married John John. She worked with an upcoming designer who is now globally known, Narcisco Rodriguez. The dress was unlike the million-and-one dresses from Princess Diana’s era. It was the opposite. A silk gown with a cowl back accessorized with a long tulle veil, sheer gloves, and Manolo Blahnik satin sandals. Her hair stayed simple in what you would call today the “sleek low bun.” A few years ago, silk dresses came back, and Kennedy inspired many on their wedding day. It was the proper transition into 90’s sleek minimalistic style.
Designers she wore ranged from her OG, Calvin Klein, Prada, Jill Sander, and Yamamoto. She was such a figure in fashion that she sketched a Birkin bag creation when she met Hermés executive Jean Louis Dumas on a plane. Speaking of accessories, Kennedy loved her L.L. Bean boat and tote bag when she was seen on boat trips or in the streets of Manhattan. Shown often with a Cartier Tank Louis watch, some thought it was a gift from her mother-in-law, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. No one can forget her headband of choice from Charles J Wahba in tortoiseshell.
She was known not to wear a lot of makeup, but if she did, her friend said she would apply Bobbi Brown lipstick in Ruby, which reminded the socialite of her black cat named Ruby. Kennedy styled her hair free-flowing, in a bun or pulled-back pony. She kept her long length and avoided hair accessories for the minimalistic style.
Carolyn Kennedy was before her time. Thrown into the spotlight, Kennedy kept it private, but her mystery allured people anyway. Her fashion spoke for her. Becoming a trendsetter with looks still in rotation 20-plus years later, adopting a style of her own, and inspiring minimalists with goals to show up as they are and still make people do a double take.
