Everyone is obsessed with the new JFK Jr/Carolyn Bessette show. And for good reason! Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is one of the most fascinating fashion icons of all time. Her signature style is as fresh and relevant as ever. Shop our moldboard to get a piece of her style for yourself. JFK Jr. not included, unfortunately.
If you’re reading this site regularly, you’re probably old enough to remember the Carolyn Bessette craze when it was happening in real time. It was a time of Calvin Klein, 90s minimalism, and Gwyneth Paltrow. How do we recreate that today? It’s easier than you think. The beauty of Carolyn’s style is how truly timeless it is.
Let’s start with the foundation! One of her favorite tops was the humble white button down. Sometimes oversized, sometimes fitted, always perfectly lived-in and effortless. Banana Republic’s oversized cotton poplin shirt hits the ‘just rolled out of bed’ insouciance at a $60 price point. If you’re looking to splurge, Brochu Walker’s Everyday Shirt is just the right amount of crisp. If she wasn’t wearing white, she was usually in the fashion girl’s go-to: black. A fitted black longsleeve goes with everything, like this Banana Republic cotton silk crewneck or J.Crew’s cashmere sweater.
The best thing about formula dressing? Everything works together easily. Have a more formal day ahead of you? Pair that white button down with a black pencil skirt for a polished, pretty vibe. Are you running errands around the city? Put that black crewneck with a pair of bootcut jeans in a sporty mid-wash, like these Mother kick flares.
When your wardrobe is as tightly edited as Carolyn’s was, the accessories make all the difference. Like her clothes, she favored fashion-friendly classics like oval black sunglasses and a confident red lip. When she was off-duty, I loved her preppy staples like an LL Bean Boat and Tote. The more beat up, the better!
Shop the rest of our Carolyn Bessette Kennedy style edit below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
