The world’s most stylish women often have things in common, but rarely is one of those things a surname. But it’s true of the case of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the woman who captured her son’s heart.
Both Jackie and Carolyn married into the Kennedy dynasty, catapulting them to a level of fame neither anticipated nor sought out – not to mention the public’s enduring fascination with their respective wardrobes. And it’s easy to understand why.
Jacqueline, who spent just two years in the White House, first became known for her pillbox hats and natty skirt suits, before transitioning into post-First Lady life. The shift saw her move from ’60s prim to a more relaxed and bohemian ’70s mood befitting her new life away from politics, but never out of the public eye.
Carolyn – who began dating Jackie’s son, John Jr, shortly after Jackie’s death in 1994 – was a Calvin Klein publicist whose personal style embodied its era-defining minimalism, while simultaneously dabbling in the intelligent designs of Japanese designers such as Yohji Yamamoto.
While both women’s tastes were entirely representative of their eras, looking back they each make a strong case for a capsule wardrobe of enduring pieces that transcend trends. Much of what Jackie wore, Carolyn also did. And you can too. Think splashes of leopard-print, statement sunglasses and elegant tailoring.
Here, Vogue explores the wardrobe essentials the women had in common.
The bandana
For Jackie: a jaunty folded fabric representative of her more bohemian lifestyle as she stepped away from America’s political landscape and into Europe’s one per cent during the ’70s. For Carolyn: a relatively measured take on the ’90s bandana, worn with indigo denim and strappy sandals for summer in the city.
The belted coat
Carolyn also owned this belted wool coat from Prada in camel – a testament to her love of the silhouette. The style was a subtle homage to her mother-in-law, who regularly wore similar styles.
The signature sunglasses
Jackie’s preference for oversized shades changed the way women wore eyewear. Gore Vidal is said to have encouraged Jackie to try bug-eye glasses that allowed her to observe, whilst simultaneously remaining hidden. Early in her relationship with JFK Jr, Carolyn was often photographed wearing Selima’s Aldo frames, which spawned countless imitations in the decades to follow.
The strapless black dress
As beacons of pared-backed style, it’s no wonder both of these women appreciated the allure of a great black dress. Carolyn was a devotee, regularly choosing the darkest of gowns for benefits and galas (and even, controversially, for weddings). And while Jackie played with colour in typically mid-century fashion, she also did black brilliantly. See the strapless Valentino gown she chose for the Costume Institute Gala (later the Met Gala) in 1979.
The evening dress coat
In 1963, Jacqueline arrived at Boston’s Symphony Hall wearing a floor-length satin dress coat by Karl Lagerfeld for Patou, fastened with a bow at the chest and finished with embellished cuffs. Carolyn’s take for a 1998 charity event in Los Angeles was, of course, perfectly minimalist: a sleek off-white zip-up style by Versace.
The camel skirt
As seen on the autumn/winter 2023 catwalks at Miu Miu, Hermès and Saint Laurent, a camel skirt is a new wardrobe hero for the season ahead. It’s a piece the Kennedy women were wearing decades ago. Jackie opted for a linen style during the early ’80s, and Carolyn wore a gently A-line style for one of her first appearances as Mrs Kennedy in October 1996.
Flared pants (worn with boots)
Jackie and Carolyn both understood the laid-back appeal of a block-heeled boot worn with a gently flared trouser leg. To emulate this look, pay particular attention to length – note how both women ensured their trouser hem sat neatly across the foot, and never dragged on the floor.
The leopard-print coat
A leopard-print coat might feel a little outré for a capsule wardrobe, but it’s an enduring piece that outlives passing fads with flair. Look to mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for two equally alluring, definitely different ways to wear a printed coat. Carolyn’s was a flea market find, while Jackie’s came via her “secretary of style” Oleg Cassini.
The navy shirt
A white shirt? Sure. The appeal has long been understood – but look to the Kennedys to reconsider the inky appeal of a navy shirt, whether worn against crisp white or so-wrong-it’s-right black.
The pearl necklace
Every generation has its own way of making a pearl necklace feel fresh. Where Jackie preferred longer necklaces with multiple strands of pearls, the younger Mrs Kennedy kept hers short and simple.
Ruffles
At the start of the ’70s, the new Mrs Onassis favoured evening looks featuring a plethora of neck ruffles. In red, in black, in polka dot, Jackie wore her frilly looks for dinners at legendary restaurant La Côte Basque in New York with a side order of cocktail earrings and waist-tie belts. Almost 30 years later, Carolyn was emulating her mother-in-law once again by choosing the cerebral ruffles of Yohji Yamamoto.
Summer prints
Another thing these Kennedy women shared was a measured approach to prints, preferring block colours instead. Yet, in the summer months, both Jackie and Carolyn would occasionally reach for an evocatively patterned piece – particularly natty shifts and tea dresses.
