Before nonchalant dressing was a thing, it was a Kennedy. Our algorithms have been bombarded with tributes to the style, aura and essence of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, thanks to Ryan Murphy’s new series Love Story, which, according to Murphy himself, has broken records as the most watched limited series ever on Hulu and Disney+. From every corner of the internet, people have been lauding them both for their impeccable style and effortless air. New Yorkers turned out in droves for the JFK Jr. look-a-like contest recently with Washington Square Park awash with the signature suit and backwards hat combination. Suffice to say, interest in arguably one of the most tragic, potentially toxic (we all remember that notorious tussle in Battery Park, right?) and tantalising love stories has been reignited, with a pointed spotlight on their aesthetic. Having turned Downtown into their personal runway, theirs is arguably the most copied closet in America. A couple so cool, their sartorial choices were always destined to be immortalised on Pinterest boards.
View this post on Instagram
While no “swag gap” has been detected here, they did have complementary, yet distinctive sense of styles. Refined meets rugged, if you will. As a publicist for Calvin Klein, CBK was the poster child for understated, chic Manhattan minimalism and JFK Jr. was synonymous with tailoring meets athletic effortlessness. He really had the essence of a “lived-in”, slightly locker room, preppy look, thanks to the unexpected lineup of Giorgio Armani or Calvin Klein suits, mixed in with everyday Asics joggers, seasoned knits and washed canvas baseball caps (worn back-to-front, of course).
A large, current sentiment is that he encapsulated a line of masculinity that was discontinued in the 90s—a strapping handsomeness, unabashed hairy chest and zero shamelessness in man-blading across town. For someone who was considered American royalty, his fashion had a sense of approachability and inexplicable magnetism in equal measure, which was very appropriate for his “Golden Boy” status.
CBK’s uniform was a capsule collection of modern basics, peppered in with architectural clean line moments of Yohji Yamamoto and Narciso Rodriguez. Ornamentation was not a thing for Bessette Kennedy, with her signature Selima Optique sunglasses, a headband or occasional scarf bandana as far as adornments went. But quite honestly, who needs accessories when you have America’s most eligible bachelor on your arm? She was ‘quiet luxury’ before people even understood its very concept. Restraint, simplicity and an array of neutrals were the staples for her. Bessette Kennedy basked in the subdued, and the timelessness of her edits have proven to be just that—abiding.
As a pair, their enduring style authority should be studied: a masterclass in je ne sais quoi. When you look back at the archives, it’s little wonder they captured the essence of a zeitgeist with such force it was like a fashion eclipse, seen only a few times in a generation. If we really tried to unpack their visual language, it could be surmised as almost a palette cleanser to two sub-genres of fashion at the time—the messiness and unruliness of grunge and the loud, logo-centric glam opulence that was defining that decade. Their wardrobe was also the apex of ‘hi-lo’ dressing. Aristocrat meets accessible.
Him: a comfortability in a sharp tuxedo as much as a worn out sweater, gym shorts and a flat cap. Her: just as assured in a black scoop neck dress or opera gloves as much as jeans and a white tee. In short, they came across as unbothered, yet refined. In this day and age where we are bombarded with ephemeral trends and even micro-trends that flash by us like JFK Jr. riding by on his bike down a TriBeCa road, this power couple truly had a clear sense of non-performative personal style that never seems to antiquate.
If you’re after that Kennedy allure when it comes to dressing, Vogue has you set with our curated style guide.
1 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: New York frame of mind
CBK was frequently spotted in the Aldo style shades by Selima Optique. The Aldo comes in Black, Auburn Tortoise, Olive and Tokyo Tortoise. Selima Salaun, a licensed optician and an optometrist, brings a French sensibility to New York with her classic frames. When Aldo is out of stock you can look to her twin sister style, Carolyn, which is slightly bigger.
3 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A headband a day
Carolyn’s favourite headbands were purchased at New York pharmacy C.O. Bigelow. This charming tortoise option from Jennifer Behr, also based in NYC, just might be your next best alternative.
5 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: Denim energy
Levi’s denim, and in particular the 517s were CBK’s go-to cut. While the 517s aren’t available on our sunny shores, the 315 boot cut is a good alternative and even comes with a built-in tummy panel that smoothes. A classic wash is the most Bessette Kennedy-coded in our opinion.
7 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: Pumps, or Manolos
Step aside Carrie Bradshaw, Bessette Kennedy really put Manolo Blahnik’s ‘Carolyne’ pump, a sleek slingback, on the map. Crafted in 1986 and known as the “eternal shoe”, it’s an elegant heel that is rather timeless. Styling rule: remember minimal makeup, bar a swatch of red lipstick for evening looks. Slick back low bun or messy, tussled hair for a sense of casual naturalness.
8 / 25
Manolo Blahnik leather slingback pumps, $1,490
Available at Manolo Blahnik.
9 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: Nothing like a white shirt
The “no pocket” white button down shirt in a crisp poplin was a well documented CBK look. We are assuming that Bessette Kennedy would’ve loved The Row. Take a peek at the ‘Sadie’ button-down, but go a little larger than usual for that oversized fit. For a more high street option, look no further than Massimo Dutti.
12 / 25
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: The dress of her dreams
When it comes to Bessette Kennedy, a slip dress always hits the mark. We think of bias cutting, draping that never fully clings to the body in black. You could try Toteme’s spaghetti strapped silk-satin dress.
14 / 25
John F. Kennedy Jr.: Blue blood
If we are to decode Kennedy’s style, we can’t ignore his nod to his blue-blood roots with the classic navy double-breasted loosely draped suit. The boxier the better for that ultra masculine, broad-shouldered, V-shaped silhouette with a non-tapered waist. For the modern version, check out Suitsupply’s Havana style. And if you really want to keep it authentically of that decade, a search on vintage websites like The Real Real or Vestiaire Collective for suits with the 90s standard 6×2 button configuration will point you in the right direction.
16 / 25
John F. Kennedy Jr.: Snap it back
The cap, famously worn backwards. A distressed hat was the secret sauce of Kennedy’s wardrobe—the strategic scuff that prevented his gentlemanly tailoring from looking too polished and perfectly complemented his more sporty ensembles. Polo offers a cotton-twill baseball cap in an olive tone, similar to what JFK Jr. was papped in, or you could go down the Yankees route in a denim snap cap.
19 / 25
John F. Kennedy Jr.: Shrug it on
To fully capture JFK Jr.’s style, we need to mention his fondness for a waistcoat. Matched with a patterned button-down, some camel chinos and a random sports sweatband on your head and you’re good to go. Invest in the vest. Linen is the ideal way to work it into a humid Singapore, but for a more formal option, Ralph Lauren has you covered with suede.
22 / 25
John F. Kennedy Jr.: Flat cap society
For an off-duty Kennedy aesthetic, look no further than JFK Jr.’s signature flat cap to set an urban, cool tone. The Kangol in style 504 is our pick. This accessory is already on the uptick in the East Village if TikTok is anything to go by.
24 / 25
John F. Kennedy Jr.: A set of wheels
Honourable mention: rollerblades. According to an unnamed friend of Kennedy, he was “congenitally incapable of standing still.” When he wasn’t throwing a football in Central Park or cycling to the George magazine office, he was spotted blading, sometimes shirtless, across the city.
