Channeling your inner Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the queen of 90s basics and a fashion icon to many – the definition of modern day ‘effortless chic’. She is the blueprint to 90s fashion and we all need to take a page or two from her classic lookbook. Having worked in the field of fashion herself as a fashion publicist for Calvin Klein in Manhattan, she was more than familiar with making the most simple and ordinary look chic and put together. In remembrance of her stylistic legacy, here is your guide to elevated basics, as demonstrated by the legend herself.
Jeans + tee/jumper
A jeans and tee combo may seem straightforward, but Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy mastered it in a way many people struggle. Have you ever tried on a jeans and tee combo and wonder why it looks nothing like how celebrities wear it? The secret is in the fit of the tee and jeans – they need to compliment your body type. Proportions that come into play make a significant difference to the outcome of an outfit. Carolyn was always a fan of ankle-length denim with a slight flare – not baggy, but not too tight either – a comfortable fit. As for a top, dependent on the weather – she often reached for the colour black in the form of a modest, classic top.
SHOP THE LOOK:
2. Black coat
Black coats are a staple in many of our closets – another step closer to channeling the Carolyn Bessette-Kenedy in ourselves. But to truly take a page from her book, we have to take from how she wore it – with intention. From what we’ve seen, the coat is always the outfit. We often throw on a black coat simply to keep warm or for the ‘just-in-case’ but this is where we go wrong. For Carolyn, nothing ever diminishes the statement of the coat itself, it is always the center of attention. Pair it with boots, jeans, heels, bags. But regardless of what it is, if you’re going to put the coat on, put it on because you want it to make a statement.
SHOP THE LOOK:
3. Pencil skirts
Pencil skirts seem to have gone quite out of style lately, but if we truly want to channel our inner Carolyn Bessette-Kenedy, it is crucial to dig into our closets for that pencil skirt we never thought we would wear again. The 90s icon knew that the pencil skirt is strong enough to speak for itself. Despite their often plain, stiff, simple look, Carolyn specialized in pairing them with basic tops and heels that complimented, but never subtracted from the authenticity of the look. Today, if and when pencil skirts are worn, it is instinct to pair them with a top that is more interesting than the skirt to add visual interest, but we often forget, the skirt itself is interesting — it needs nothing more.
SHOP THE LOOK:
4. Minimalistic evening wear
Of course, as the spouse of a high standing attorney, as well as just being an emblem of fashion herself, Carolyn Bessete-Kennedy was bound to be invited to several high profile, black tie events. At these events, there was no chance of missing her – she was the epitome of class and minimalistic fashion and her outfits said no different. Her time at Calvin Klein paralleled her evening-wear fashion choices: simple, elegant, soft, and modest. She stuck to whites and blacks, often dabbling in cream and off white colours, but she never strayed away from what she knew best: elegance. Nothing ever too over the top, but just enough to make her stand out in a crowd.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES:
5. Corduroy
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was usually not one for texture, but one texture she definitely wore is corduroy – specifically, her coffee-coloured corduroy jeans. She has been seen wearing them on multiple occasions – yes, even a fashionista like her is an outfit repeater – which has almost become one of her signature casual wear outfits. Following in Bessette-Kennedy style, she made sure the corduroy is the center of attention, pairing them with black tops, black shoes and black bags. Again, just like denim, corduroy comes in many shapes and sizes – it is important to pick a fit that compliments your body – she may have enjoyed a straight leg, but make sure you know what works for you!
SHOP THE LOOK:
6. Statement colours and patterns
Just like texture, Bessette-Kennedy usually wasn’t one for colour and pattern either – her palette is refined and simple – but when she decided to wear patterns and colour, she turned heads (yes, in a good way). A few of her most memorable outfits: a leopard print coat, a long-sleeved scribble pattern dress, and of course, her bold red coat. She is a perfect example to never be afraid of colour and patterns, even though it may not always be your style. Learn from Carolyn, you never need an excuse to wear a bit of colour!
SHOP OUR FAVORITES:
7. Loafers and sandals are your best friend
When you think of a Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy outfit, it is not unusual to envision her with boots, but come spring and summer, she was undoubtedly a loafer and sandals gal. Always in either black or dark brown, she wore them with intention: to casualize an outfit. Contrary to popular opinion, she was a loafers with no socks type of girl. It may not be the most comfortable (despite what she may make it look like), but fashion is fashion, and fashion is Carolyn. Often paired with a denim jean, or on occasion, a slip dress, loafers and sandals were worn as a statement rather than convenience.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES:
8. ACCessories
If there’s one thing you take away from the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy style, it is the importance of accessorizing. No matter the circumstance, you would never catch her without her sunnies and/or headband and bandana ready on standby. What’s more with her ability to accessorize, is she knew that the staples are enough – she wore the same pair of sunnies almost daily, and alternated between a few colour rotations for her bandanas. If she was not feeling her bandanas, she opted for a headband instead. She knew what colours worked for her and she stuck to them – they are her staples – with the ability to elevate an outfit just enough to make it interesting.
SHOP OUR FAVORITES:
*SOME AFFILIATE LINKS ARE USED IN THIS POST, WHICH MEANS WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION ON ITEMS PURCHASED*WE COULD NOT FIND THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF SOME IMAGES USED IN THIS BLOG POST. PLEASE EMAIL INFO@ASTYLESET.COM FOR IMAGE CREDIT OR REMOVAL.