Twenty years after her tragic death on July 16, 1999, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy remains one of the most admired — and referenced — style icons of the Nineties. The wife of the late John F. Kennedy Jr. and onetime director of public relations at Calvin Klein Inc., Bessette Kennedy cemented her fashion icon status with her minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic with sleek black dresses and casual button-down shirts that many consider as a signifier of Nineties’ style.
Though tragedy struck in July 1999 when the couple were killed in a plane crash in Martha’s Vineyard, along with Carolyn’s sister, the couple lives on in our minds — and Bessette-Kennedy’s personal style is still fawned over. Her minimalist aesthetic — see: men’s blazers and crisp white shirts, bandanas, and tiny sunglasses — stood in stark contrast to the glamour of her mother-in-law and other famous politico wives of the time. Her loose hair and barely-there makeup, Alice bands and pencil skirts, all embodied the effortless and moderate look of the decade.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite Carolyn looks, from slick workwear to weekend casual get-ups. Scroll down to find all the minimalist inspiration you need.
Though tragedy struck in July 1999 when the couple were killed in a plane crash in Martha’s Vineyard, along with Carolyn’s sister, the couple lives on in our minds — and Bessette-Kennedy’s personal style is still fawned over. Her minimalist aesthetic — see: men’s blazers and crisp white shirts, bandanas, and tiny sunglasses — stood in stark contrast to the glamour of her mother-in-law and other famous politico wives of the time. Her loose hair and barely-there makeup, Alice bands and pencil skirts, all embodied the effortless and moderate look of the decade.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite Carolyn looks, from slick workwear to weekend casual get-ups. Scroll down to find all the minimalist inspiration you need.