It speaks to the power of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy that she remains a style icon well into 2025. Her minimalist approach to fashion—full of pared-down, timeless pieces—continues to inspire and be seen on every “quiet luxury” mood board today. But if you need more proof of her enduring influence, just look to all the discourse around Ryan Murphy’s new series, American Love Story, about her romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. in which actor Sarah Pidgeon has the very difficult task of stepping into Bessette-Kennedy’s (extremely chic) shoes.
“Her style wasn’t opulent, but it was luxurious,” writer Sunita Kumar Nair told Vogue. “The fact that she only had a few pieces shows how modern she was. Her look said, ‘Here I am, impeccably dressed in a masculine silhouette, yet retaining my femininity.’ There were no frills, prints or excessive accessories, nor was it an ostensible power dressing.”
Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images
When we look back at Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s style in the 1990s, her role as a Calvin Klein executive makes perfect sense. The woman who was nicknamed “The Look” used to shape her wardrobe with simple wardrobe essentials that were all perfectly cut—an immaculate shirt, a silky slip dress, a pencil skirt—but always with a hint of New York casualness.
It’s no secret that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was a big fan of Levi’s, and she seemed to be particularly fond of the brand’s 517 bootcut model. Whether she was on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts or on the streets of New York, it was not uncommon to come across her wearing the denim classic as well as other slightly flared versions.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in New York CityLawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images
