By Abby Thompson
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“It’s not a style that calls for attention. It is a style that tries to deflect attention, and by deflecting attention, she’s making people pay more attention.”
This quote by fashion designer Gabriela Hearst explains why Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, otherwise known as CBK, remains a fashion icon to this day. In the 90s, CBK rose to socialite fame for her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr., though she is so much more than that connection. Her true notoriety comes from her quiet luxury style, a blend of Parisian minimalism and timeless pieces. Her influence on pop culture endures; Rosamund Pike’s character in Gone Girl is based on CBK, and Duchess Meghan draws on CBK’s style for her fashion inspiration.
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Every fall, I try to emulate CBK in how I dress. To do so, there are a few rules to follow. For starters, she never wore visible labels—a big reason her wardrobe has stood the test of time. “I like very classic colors: black, navy, gray, and white. If I want to add variety, I’ll do it with texture,” CBK once said. This neutral, classic color palette is easy to emulate and makes ordinary pieces look elevated. Another of CBK’s fashion rules was to rarely wear socks with loafers. Her staple pieces included jeans, loafers, quality shirts, and sweaters. While most of her pieces were designer, their timeless nature makes them easy to replicate today.
I have sourced replicas of some of CBK’s pieces to add to your fashion wardrobe this fall. For accessories her L.L.Bean Boat Tote tortoise headband and sunglasses. For clothes she wore a lot of were black turtlenecks, Levi’s Jeans, white button downs, black coats and slip dresses. For more Fashion Inspiration from CBK check out CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion by Sunita Kumar Nair and the podcast episode “The Style and influence of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy” by the Kennedy Dynasty podcast.
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