This week marked 25 years since Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s untimely death – but her fashion influence remains as strong ever.
The 33-year-old, who lived in New York and worked as a publicist for Calvin Klein, was thrust into the spotlight as a result of her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr, who was the only son of the late US President.
As a result of the intense media interest in their relationship, Carolyn was often photographed on the streets of New York – and unintentionally became the poster girl for minimalist 90s style.
In recent years, Carolyn’s understated street style looks and her elegant occasionwear has seen her being rediscovered as a fashion ‘it girl’ for millennials and Gen Z on TikTok.
Currently, there are over 20,000 videos on the video-sharing platform devoted to CBK’s style, which have amassed millions of views.
Earlier this year, TikToker Kate Kope recreated one of Carolyn’s New York street style looks, which consisted of a minimal black coat, white t-shirt, blue jeans and some circular sunglasses.
She captioned her video: ‘Forever loving [Carolyn’s] style.’
Meanwhile, social media star Andrea Ricci posted a video of herself modelling a black strapless gown similar to the one the late fashion icon wore to the Grand Central Gala in May 1998 and described how she is in her ‘Carolyn Besette era’.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Giorgina Ramazzotti – a London-based fashion expert and stylist – explained how Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s style was at the forefront of a ‘revolutionary’ minimalist fashion movement.
The expert said: ‘Early-nineties fashion was still emerging from the hangover of the eighties.
‘Loud Versace prints, oversized gold jewels and the original supermodels ruled the airwaves, so when this ethereal, make-up free girl – who never wore jewellery and only donned understated separates – captured the heart of arguably America’s most eligible bachelor, she also captured the world’s attention.’
Describing why Carolyn has had such a resurgence among millennials and Gen Z, Giorgina added: ‘Fashion designers such as Gabriela Hearst and Michael Kors still admit to looking to Carolyn for inspiration today, and Anna Wintour said the Kennedy had ‘fabulous modern style’, so it’s unsurprising that she is back on the radar of young fashion fans as the 90s once again rises in popularity.
‘For a woman with every designer at her disposal, and all the financial means to be as bold as she liked, her quiet style and understated clothing was easy to copy and still resonates with the young today.
‘2024 has seen Gen Z and millennials embrace ‘quiet luxury’ and ‘old money aesthetic’, with TikTok flooded with ‘how to’ videos and tips on emulating the trend. It’s number one requirement? Subtlety.
‘What we’re seeing is a backlash to the pandemic’s exercise clothes and untailored sportswear. Where they were unable to leave the house, get dressed up or truly express themselves, Gen Z and millennials are now spreading their wings and embracing self-expression through fashion.
‘From going back into the office, to seeing friends on the weekend, travelling abroad, or for some; going into a work environment for the very first time, they are moving away from the memories of sofa-bound lockdown and into their shiny new lives filled with elegant, polished styles with the freedom of expression.
‘Large logos, garish t-shirts and battered trainers have been shunned in favour of tailored separates, classic accessories and fresh-faced makeup. Their poster-child? The understated, fresh-faced and independent style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.’
What’s more, Giorgina said Carolyn’s wedding dress – a minimal white silk slip – has had the greatest lasting impact on fashion.
The expert said: ‘Designed by her friend and then-unknown designer Narciso Rodriguez, Carolyn’s 1996 dress, accessorised only with Manolo Blahnik sandals and a slicked back hair, was an understated masterpiece.
‘With new husband John on her arm, the photograph of Carolyn descending the steps of an unassuming African Baptist Church in the backwoods of Georgia, surrounded by unkempt greenery just 40 guests, it was the outfit that launched a thousand replicas.
‘From Kate Moss’s John Galliano designed slip dress for her wedding to Jamie Hince, to Meghan Markle’s halter-style reception wedding dress by Stella McCartney, Carolyn’s legacy lives on.
Additionally, marketing and fashion expert Josh Neuman highlighted how Carolyn’s ‘timeless sophistication’ has also made her a source of inspiration for millennials and Gen Z.
The expert continued: ‘While CBK’s closet may seem quite simple at first glance – crisp button-downs, pencil skirts and slacks, ballet flats – she had an uncanny gift for coaxing maximum impact from minimal accoutrements.
‘She let the purity of fine fabrics shine through rather than relying on flashy prints or cuts. And that discipline of letting quality essentials stand on their own communicates a certain confidence and sophistication.
‘What always intrigued me most was how she subverted feminine expectations by mixing presumed “masculine” silhouettes with intimate styling details. Shedding typical feminine ornamentation also made room for bolder accessories – oversized shades, striking brooches, vibrant nail polish. That playful defiance of binary stereotypes continues to excite many fashion rebels today.
‘Of course, her most famous hallmark was cultivating a “French girl” allure with effortless wearability. While socialites of her era might have fussed over fits, Carolyn proved luxury could feel approachable and lived-in.
‘You might say Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy proved less can indeed be more if the basics shine in their simplicity. And that spirit of thoughtful restraint combined with rule-breaking details is part of why her style legacy lives on today with fans like myself. Her influence is ever-present to those seeking chic essentials with an intriguing twist.’
On 16 July 1999, Carolyn, her husband John and her sister Lauren were killed when a plane JFK Jr was flying plunged into the Atlantic.
They were supposedly flying to Martha’s Vineyard first to drop off Lauren, before continuing on to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, to attend the wedding of John’s cousin Rory the next day.
According to a new book, JFK Jr: An Intimate Oral Biography, Carolyn’s mother had warned her daughters against both about boarding his small Piper Saratoga in 1999.
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‘She was panic-stricken,’ RoseMarie wrote of the grieving mother in the book. ‘She said something like, “I told him never to take two of my girls up at the same time.”‘
The author said Ann was ‘angry’ after her daughters’ deaths. ‘Crying. It was panic, shock. Disbelief,’ she recalled.
Even though it was an inexperienced 38-year-old pilot at the controls of a complicated plane, Carolyn is often blamed for the accident.
In the aftermath of the aftermath of the ‘Kennedy tragedy, Carolyn was blamed for leading an inexperienced pilot to crash into the ocean.
This is despite Carolyn often telling friends and family she ‘didn’t trust’ her husband’s flying skills, as noted in DailyMail.com columnist Maureen Callahan’s book Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed.
Carolyn believed JFK Jr. lacked the patience, diligence and attention span to be a good pilot.
He didn’t take his training seriously, hadn’t logged enough hours to fly alone, and regularly broke the rules by sneaking in solo flights when he was supposed to have an instructor with him.
On the night of the fatal crash, another small-plane pilot had told JFK Jr. he was alarmed by the worsening visibility of the sky, suggesting he should wait.
However, the eager pilot replied: ‘No chance.’
A flight instructor offered to go up with him, but he had refused. ‘I want to do it alone’, he said.
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