Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy a style icon?

[narniabusiness]

Recently I’ve seen a lot of references to Carolyn B-K as a style icon and I’m not sure that I fully understand the love. For those who are unfamiliar with her she worked for Calvin Klein, married a Kennedy and died tragically young.
Since the Kennedys seem to be the American equivalent of our Royal family, is it that the gives her a touch of glamour? Especially when combined with her tragic death, like Princess Diana?
Or is it that she really did look more stylish than her contemporaries? Does her frequent referencing in style guides mean that minimalism is having a moment?
Anyone else noticed these frequent references to her style and do you like it or think its unremarkable?

She was elegant, graceful and had a good sense of her own style. She knew what worked with her body type & colours and she always looked effortless. Very glamorous in a low-key way.

Knew what suited her or played it safe? I'd say the latter.

As I remember, she always looked great and they were an incredibly good looking couple. But with her physique, I imagine she could have carried off pretty much any look with panache.

She reminds me more of Kate Middleton than Diana (who made loads of gaffes but was undeterred). That's not intended as a dig at the Princess of Wales - I understand why she plays it safe but in CBK's case, not so much. But, if anyone has evidence to the contrary, I'm happy to have my mind changed.

She looked so effortlessly stylish/class. I remember her beautiful, simple wedding dress.

She was a style icon back in the day.

Personally I never understood it because I thought she looked incredibly boring. However she was consistent in her look and I guess it was in at the time.

I knew her well and worked closely with her. I was Calvin Klein’s fit model and did a lot of work with his then wife Kelly. I was really influenced by Caroline, who was breathtaking in person. I don’t think the photos quite capture the magic she held. Clothes fell on her beautifully and at a time when grunge dominated fashion, she was iconically cool, chic, and simple in that way that Audrey Hepburn or her MIL Jackie O. was. Her clothing was about good silhouettes, quality fabrics, simple, crisp, and clean outfits that would be pulled together by the perfect pair of shoes… very French/European in her approach to dressing, yet all American.

You had to be there.
I was.
She was iconic and absolutely lovely!
If social media were around, you’d see better outfits than the few that exist online.
JFK and CBK were truly Manhattan’s King and Queen during a brilliant era- 90s Manhattan was real. Loved it!

That’s amazing @DorisTheFinkasaurus!

I don’t know much about her, but I loved her wedding dress (but not the gloves) and their low key wedding ceremony.

We lived near them in Tribeca and I was at university with him, although I was a few years behind. It's hard to describe how stunning they both were in real life. I agree, the photos don't do them justice.

And I also agree that in some ways choosing to be so classic made her stand out at the time.

user464632168
It was, to put it in today’s terminology, a vibe, right? The fantasy of living in a Manhattan that is seemingly only captured on screen in so many films and shows was a reality during their era. She had a real presence… the ‘it’ factor for sure. And they were a beautiful couple.
And although JFK Jr’s magazine George is seen through today’s lens as somewhat of a failure, it too was so cool and unique for its time.

Hah. I haven't revisited George, but I was working in publishing at the time and it was pretty widely mocked.

Honestly, it feels like a totally different world.

I can also say, Tribeca was pretty gritty at the time.

user464632168 I suppose being in the fashion industry, I thought it was kind of cool to smarten up fashion by mixing it with politics- which, in reality, meant simply placing beautiful supermodels on the magazine's cover. 😁I was young and easily impressed! And also... I think I was just plain ol' starry eyed for JFK Jr. They were great days. And Tribeca had grit in a good way. Enough grit to keep it real. It really is a world away... truly a bygone era, right?

I think CBK's scent was Egyptian Musk and eventually, she had become Narciso Rodriguez's muse (he designed her wedding dress). I think his first scent that he came out with (Her in the black bottle) was definitely an ode to CBK.

That’s it isn’t it. A vibe. She was effortlessly cool.
I personally didn’t think she was very pretty but then again I don’t think Kate moss is pretty either. But they have that effortless charisma that you can’t manufacture.

It's interesting you mention Kate Moss, BananaPeels.
Carolyn worked incredibly close with Kate, who was Calvin Klein's biggest muse at the time. She really was Calvin Klein, the brand. And the two of them, Kate Moss and CBK were really in lockstep as New York fashion icons... they epitomised Calvin Klein's brand, even though they were quite different from a fashion perspective.

That’s fascinating @DorisTheFinkasaurusthank you for sharing your memories. At the time I was far more aware of Kate Moss, I presume because she appeared more in the British press. Interesting that Carolyn was the American equivalent to some extent.

I think you have a point @FloismeHer style is quite ‘safe’. I gravitate to some of the same things that she is wearing in those paparazzi photos I posted but I’m sure no one is going to think I’m a style icon. So maybe it’s not what she wears so much as the way she wore it.

I’m not sure I can forgive her for that one.I got married two years before and she made my wedding dress look so ridiculous and dated by comparison. 🤣

She had a great look, the hair was a major factor, and her face. The style worked well.

She could probably have made leg-warmers look stylish.

I was in my early 20s when they died and I absolutely loved her style. I think I've subconsciously aspired to her clean lines and simplicity ever since. Gwyneth Paltrow's look at that time was similar. It's one of the reasons I am so fed up with the current, seemingly endless, fashion for clothes with frills and shirring and cut outs and ditsy prints.

Oh Wow @DorisTheFinkasaurus
what an interesting life you’ve had.
I think she had a real sense of style.
Glad to gear she was lovely too.
When she comes up in the media I think of her parents and family and how utterly heartbreaking to lose two of their beloved daughters.

I’m also very fond of a ditsy floral dress and a sling back , and now I’ve just found this photo of her that I’d not seen before

She was tall and thin and a Kennedy, forever in that magazine that was like Hello (can’t remember the name of it). It was quite shocking when she died in the plane crash.

I remember running into JFK jr on a street in a Dublin suburb in the 90s. He was tall and very good looking, loping along in a relaxed manner.

It was a very sad end for that couple and her sister.

That to me isn’t ditzy but floral. Not me either but better than the smaller prints.

I didn't realise the impact the 2 of them must have had at the time, their deaths, as well as her sister, must have really shaken New York up.