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?

Ahh, thank you @GloriaMonday and @clipboardz 😊

I'm almost the same age as Carolyn would have been too (I'm 11 months older). Poor lass.

CBK was definitely a fashion icon. She was supremely stylish and her style still looks current 30 years later.

I'm younger than you then.
I first realised I was old when the Prime Minister was younger than me. Then briefly there was one younger. And then an even younger one. 😢

Oh, everybody's younger than me (at least that's how it feels!).

I refuse to call myself old though. I'm a recycled teenager. 😁

Amazing to hear from people who met her and I'm glad she was extra-lovely in person. I remember when she was all over the papers being intoxicated by the images of her - she always wore something so different to what anyone else was wearing, but so unimaginably chic and desirable. Just a truly stunning and talented woman.

I too have a Buff and I have always just stuck my head through it and gone skiing. I had no idea there was a pamphlet of styling options. Pauw would probably kick me out of Amsterdam but I reckon CBK would approve.

Bean soup theory! This place would be a tumbleweed zone without it.

I was in the USA on holiday when JFK Jr and CBK died, it was the biggest story by miles. It was very sad indeed but I was busy pushing a shopping trolley round Old Navy and enjoying athletic action with DP on the motel 'two queen' beds.

I like a pared back nylon tote, that's very NYC in the nineties isn't it.

Oh, who said that? That would be really over the top?! I just thought it was a fun discussion on the Style and Beauty board about somebody who’s been discussed in the past as a style and beauty icon.

I'm glad she was extra-lovely in person

Recollections may vary. And she was, according to many sources, a cocaine addict and she and John Kennedy were cheating on each other.

But, yes, CBK and I both wore jeans and jumpers in the 90s.

Is that bean soup theory?

I find her outfits dreary, although her beautiful figure does mean she pulls them off. Was never a fan of Calvin Klein and even less so when told by an art director friend that, when working on a commercial for CK ONE, the great CK dismissed his showreel with "I don't give a damn, it's all rat's piss, just sell it."

It sounds as though you had an amazing time! Would love to hear more .

What strikes me about her style is that it’s still so current .. truly timeless and that’s fab.

A fun discussion was what I had in mind when I started the thread.
If however someone had said her clothes aren’t that innovative because this or that person did it better then that would be interesting.

@Tinymrscollings , they came on a card and it had about 6 different suggestions. True Originals | Original BUFF® | BUFF®️

I just stick my head through it too.

A fun discussion was what I had in mind when I started the thread.

It all went AIBU which is a shame.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s Best Style Moments Of All Time

A fun discussion was what I had in mind when I started the thread

Your title asked if CBK was a style icon and people have given their opinion.

She was quite a tragic figure during her marriage who died needlessly because of her husband's arrogance so "fun" doesn't spring to mind when I think of her.

We can discuss the iconic style of Princess Diana and Princess Grace without focussing on their tragic deaths.
Grace Kelly Style: Her Most Memorable Looks | Who What Wear UK
The Most Iconic Princess Diana Fashion Moments | Marie Claire UK

I’ve just looked at the photos linked. She was chic, in the preppy way every other NY woman like her was at the time. Nothing special or original and she was no beauty.

Her wedding dress though. It was sublime.

I liked looking at those photos.

Thing is - her look is absolutely doable. You can take inspiration from her without spending a bloody fortune. She is wearing her clothes, they aren't wearing her. And they are simple - 'chic' if you want- enough that they are completely achievable.

She obviously had a certain indefinable something that was totally her and individual. But her 'look' is certainly something that I think even I could emulate in my own small way. Today I am wearing navy blue jeans, a blue long sleeved tshirt and a long belted pale grey cardigan. . If I go out I have a pair of navy faux-sude ankle boots I will wear. I think that is something I could imagine would be within shooting range of an outfit she might have worn.

No, it’s ok to have a fun thread discussing her style. She wasn’t just speculation about her marriage and death.

That's definitely part of the attraction. I think her street style is very practical as well. I love the sound of your navy suede boots.

Interesting thread. Around the time of her marriage and then death I had 2 friends who were from New York. They identified her style leading early on and absolutely loved her unique look and if they complimented you …..it’s very CBK…that was high praise indeed. I liked mixing brown and black them which was not popular.

CBK always looked slightly unfinished to me…the scraped back hair or mussy hair even on her wedding day. It was a very 90s waspish look which held great allure.

sadly there are recurrent threads on IG showing many of these same pictures showing how sad and seemingly unhappy she was with and while married to JFK jr. each image depicting someone whose light has gone out. The eye of the beholder I suppose.

I often wonder about her parents. To lose both daughters Carolyn and Lauren in the plane crash. The papers kept reporting Lauren was late to the plane due to New York traffic they got off later than intended and glossed over JFKs inexperience and poor decision making in even taking off that evening due to weather.

Didn't he have either a broken leg or newly healed broken leg also? Or did I mis-remember that. Reaching into the depths of my memory I seem to recall it was suggested he ought not to have been flying anyway.