Four Things Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Never Wore
Four Things Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Never Wore
By: Brooklyn Hoffmann
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. and one of the most influential fashion icons of her time, with a legacy that remains today. Between college and her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr., Bessette-Kennedy worked for American fashion label Calvin Klein and went on to become the director of publicity for the company’s flagship store in Manhattan. After leaving Calvin Klein, she was the director of show productions, earning a six-figure salary. Bessette-Kennedy was known for her grace and elegant style, often compared to mother-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Fashion and Creative Director Sunita K. Nair paid homage to the style icon’s distinguished beauty and legacy in the first book of its kind, titled Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. The book goes into great detail on the intricate science behind Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s fashion sense, including her attention to detail, strict color palette, and unique looks. One of the most intriguing pieces of information included in the book is four things Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy never wore.
The first, and perhaps most shocking, thing listed never to be seen on Bessette Kennedy was logos. In Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion, Nair wrote, “She was reported by New York Magazine to have asked the staff at a Prada store to remove the distinguishable trademark label from a ski outfit she purchased. Even when skiing, she was on guard, never needing a crutch from a label to identify her sense of style.” The pure rejection of designer labels showed the icon’s persistence to build a style that was uniquely hers.
The second thing Bessette-Kennedy hardly ever wore was jewelry, even at the fanciest galas and red carpets. At her own wedding, there was not an earring or necklace in sight. Bessette-Kennedy was even gifted Jackie Kennedy’s Van Cleef ribbon diamond necklace but was never seen with it on in public. Her college friends confirmed that she had never worn jewelry, the reason being not to draw undue attention towards herself.
The third thing Bessette-Kennedy strayed away from was mixed prints. She rarely wore prints, but if she did, she never wore more than one print at a time. If she was wearing a patterned dress or jacket, she would often pair it with all black.
The last thing Bessette-Kennedy never wore was head-to-toe runway looks, despite having access to them through her job at Calvin Klein. Her friend and colleague, Stormy Stokes, said in Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion, “Carolyn never really liked wearing full Calvin Klein looks so she would always make it her own with less obvious labels, such as TSE Cashmere, Katayone Adeli, and Chaiken.”
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy created her own personal style through diligent attention to detail, leaving many fashion icons still trying to emulate her classic look today.
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