Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Iconic '90s Style Moments
No one did '90s minimalism quite like the era's biggest style icon, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy embodied a classic American style that many now admire on Pinterest and Instagram. The '90s were defined by a myriad of aesthetics, including the ultra-girlish look complete with butterfly slips and baby tees; others partook in grunge or punk-inspired fashion; but Bassette-Kennedy represented the elevated taste of an ultra-chic and independent working woman of the '90s. Complete with silky satin shirts, practical mock-necks, and sleek black dresses, she embodied uptown glamour.
In the midst of fashion's undeniable '90s love affair, no one defined the era more than the it-girl herself. The impeccably dressed Calvin Klein PR executive first entered the public eye when she began dating JFK Jr. in 1994. A darling on the city's social scene, Bessette-Kennedy quickly carved out her unique minimalist style. Soon paparazzi shots of her navigating the streets of New York in a pair of Levis and a basic white tee were tacked to the mood boards of stylists and designers alike, and her Narciso Rodriguez slip wedding dress inspired generations of brides, including Meghan Markle. If you weren't already privy to the fun fact, Bessette-Kennedy and Rodriguez were actually friends who met during the executive's time at Calvin Klein.
“She loved him,” said close friend Paul Rowland to Town & Country. “She wanted the best for him, as she did for everyone. She always championed the underdog, and we all were in some way. That’s what made her so special.”
Echoing a regal Princess Diana aesthetic, Bessette-Kennedy's ability to make the most basic and humble pieces covetable took the media by storm. Muted colors and simple, androgynous silhouettes made the American princess a '90s-style icon. It's no wonder why a former Calvin Klein employee once told the New York Times that she was "The Look." Though Bessette-Kennedy’s life tragically ended in a plane crash in 1999, her fashion legacy lives on. Here, L'OFFICIEL rounds up the It girl's best '90s-style moments.
