Capris, Sunglasses, Scarves—Jackie O’s Summer Style Has Never Been More Relevant

No one mastered the art of the glamorous summer style quite like Jackie O. Long before Instagram influencers packed their woven totes for the Grecian aisles, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was already commanding the Aegean in crisp white trousers and oversized sunnies, cocktail in hand, mystery intact. Her post-White House summers were less about political power plays and more about power styling—silk Hermès scarves tied around her head just so, a rotation of canvas Gucci bags (including the one that would eventually be named after her), and sunglasses so dramatically bug-eyed they practically commanded the room. Although she was known for her stylish suits and couture gowns during her time in the White House, my personal delight around Jackie O’s chic style comes from the moments when she lived outside of the walls of the people’s house.

It was the late ’60s, early ’70s, and Jackie had shed her First Lady sheath dresses for a wardrobe that reflected her post-political socialite duties and her new marriage to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. She split her time between Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she worked as a publishing editor and summered under the Grecian sun aboard the Onassis family yacht. Every look, from the sweltering New York heat to deck-side in the Mediterranean, was pure, unadulterated chic. (And, of course, her younger, fashionable sister, Lee Radziwill was her second best-dressed in command.)

Jackie’s post-White House style was never loud or trying too hard, though. That was her magic—she understood the power of restraint; A silk button-down, collar popped, and a scarl lazily tied around her neck. She wasn’t dressing for photographers anymore (though they followed anyway); she was dressing for herself. In the world of rich-looking summers in the South of France, where patterns and logo-mania feels inescapable due to the influencer and celebrity circuit, ask yourself: WWJD (What Would Jackie Do)?

Below, shop the best easy staples the queen of summer dressing, Jackie O, swore by.

Head Scarves

Jackie didn’t just wear head scarves—she authored the look. In the summer, she tied them over her hair to shield from sun and paparazzi flashes alike, always with a pair of dark glasses and an effortless smirk. Whether silk, printed, or nautical chic, the scarf was her stealth accessory—glamorous, a little mysterious, and undeniably practical.