As a fashion editor with a longstanding love for ’90s minimalism, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is rarely far from my mind, and never missing from my moodboard.
With a background in publicity at Calvin Klein, Carolyn’s personal aesthetic closely mirrored the brand’s sleek, polished silhouettes that defined an era. Clean lines, muted palettes and impeccable tailoring ran through her wardrobe, but I find the most compelling thing about Carolyn’s style is that she understood restraint in a way that still feels instructive today.
As FX releases its highly anticipated Love Story, chronicling Carolyn and JFK Jr.’s relationship, I’ve found myself revisiting her archive once again. Below, I’ve pulled five enduringly chic looks that feel just as relevant now as they did in the mid-’90s.
Discover some of Carolyn’s chicest looks below.
5 Archival Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Looks to Copy Now
Style Notes: Knee-length pencil skirts have enjoyed renewed relevance in 2026, but Carolyn was already paving the way in the mid-’90s. Wearing hers with a fine knit and a pair of knee-high boots, despite the strict skirt, Carolyn’s outfit felt perfectly coordinated yet pleasantly unfussy—as all of her looks managed to do.
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