With the success of the new FX series by Ryan Murphy, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette, everyone is quickly falling in love with the ultimate 90’s it couple. Especially with Carolyn’s effortlessly minimalistic style, and how she still influences the fashion world over thirty years later.
FROM CALVIN KLEIN FASHION PUBLICIST TO THE REAL FASHION ICON
Bessette-Kennedy worked as a fashion publicist at Calvin Klein in the late 90’s. The brand that shaped minimalism at the time. Through her role, she became completely immersed in the fashion world and had everyday connections with designers, models, editors and professionals, making her deeply connected to the decade style.
WHY IS GEN Z SO OBSESSED?
Long before “clean girl aesthetic” or “quiet luxury” turned into trends, Carolyn was already embodying her signature natural, casual and clean style.
With all these movements on social media to bring minimalism back, it couldn’t be a better time for the Gen Z, and those who didn’t know her, to discover the original it girl and her unique approach to fashion.
On platforms like TikTok and especially Pinterest, her old paparazzi photos have become inspirations. Influencers, stylists, and even major brands look back at her outfits as an example of what modern elegance should look like.
THE OPPOSITE OF THE 90’s STYLE
What made her so iconic? It was definitely how sharply it contrasted with the common aesthetic of that decade . Maximalism, visible logos, crop tops and naked dresses were never part of her everyday wardrobe. Mrs. Kennedy, however, always embraced the opposite: Neutral palettes, clean silhouettes and an effortless sense of cool.
THE KEY PIECES THAT DEFINED HER LOOK
She’d rather walk through New York City streets like SoHo or Fifth Avenue wearing her key pieces: Oval sunglasses, Tortoiseshell headbands, bootcut jeans, all black dresses and elegant outerwear coats.
Elements that polished her style so well in a way that many girls are constantly searching for the same sense of pieces.
IT GIRL MINIMALISM IS STILL ON THE RISE
It’s honestly not even a little bit difficult to see why everyone is suddenly so obsessed with Carolyn Bessette’s style. She always existed alongside fashion without trying to look effortlessly cool and natural.
In a time when celebrity culture is built on constant exposure, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy represented the exact opposite. She rarely gave interviews, avoided the spotlight whenever possible and never tried to build a public persona. That sense of distance only made her more intriguing and, in many ways, more powerful. Today, in an era of oversharing, especially on social media, her mystery feels refreshing and perhaps even more aspirational.
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The article above was edited by Larissa Buzon.
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