Sometimes, paparazzi shots from a set can spoil the plot of the upcoming movie or series. But there is one advantage to losing the element of surprise: fashion inspo. A perfect example of this is a recent look worn by actor Sarah Pidgeon as she plays Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on the set of American Love Story, a new series from Ryan Murphy about the style icon and her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr.
In the 1990s, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy made her mark in fashion, becoming a style icon that designers and fans alike pinned to their moodboards. She was the original queen of what we now call “quiet luxury.” She shaped her minimalist looks without frills, prints, or excessive accessories. Instead, she focused on well-tailored wardrobe essentials. At her wedding to JFK Jr., for example, she wore a simple white silk slipdress cut on the bias.
So naturally, images from the set of Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series about the couple, American Love Story, have found their way onto every Instagram feed and fall moodboard. As a result, there’s been a renewed appreciation for the Bessette-Kennedy’s fashion.
Her minimalist style from the 1990s has proved to still be as relevant as ever, so it’s not surprising that I was recently taken with a photograph of Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette-Kennedy on the streets of New York. The actor was wearing a black knit cardigan, khaki pants, a pair of square-heeled sandals, and a Birkin bag.
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
The look is so quintessentially “quiet luxury” that I instantly added it to my fall moodboard. Assuming you’d like to do the same, I shopped out a few similar pieces for you below.
Leset Pointelle Classic Cardigan
Burberry Thin Reversible Oval Knight Stamp Belt
Old Navy Medium Carrie Tote Bag in Black
A version of this story was previously published in Vogue France.