Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy: The Ultimate Minimalist Icon
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was one of the biggest style influences of the 90s, known for her minimalistic outfits that made her look effortlessly chic. Her outfits consisted of elevated basics that made her a style icon that continues to inspire today.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was a Calvin Klein publicist who was brought into the public eye through her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1996. She knew exactly how to take a basic item, and create the perfect outfit. She could dress up a simple white button up or style a basic dress to look like she just walked off the runway. Bessette-Kennedy also knew the impact of accessories, constantly wearing her tortoiseshell headband and her staple sunglasses.
Photo: Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images/Vogue
Photo: Getty Images/Vogue
Bessette-Kennedy’s style continues to inspire people because of the simplicity of her looks and how easy they are to recreate. Her outfits consisted of everyday basics that most people own, which make the looks easy to recreate. These simple looks have led to love of her style all of these years later because her outfits are easy to recreate and they continue to look as stylish as they did in the 90s.
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In the sneak peak of FX’s American Love Story, Sarah Pidgeon, who portrays Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, was seen in her costume consisting of a trench coat, a plain black turtleneck, and a black Birkin. Many have criticized the look and claimed that these are cheap recreations of outfits that Bessette-Kennedy would have worn, and that they lack the high quality that her looks contained. Many question why the show did not stay true to her style, when they could have instead used archival pieces or created recreations of her actual wardrobe.
Photo: Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images/Vogue
Photo: Evan Agostini/Vogue
Regardless of the show’s portrayal, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy has inspired generations on how to create minimalist wardrobes that exude an effortlessly cool tone. She was a master at styling outfits and knew exactly how to create outfits that would inspire generations.
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Cover Photo: Evan Agostini/Vogue
Editor: Annaliese Persaud
