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One thing about me is that I RARELY watch TV (mainly because I don’t have the attention span to which is probably an issue in itself), but the more I kept hearing about Love Story on podcasts, I was intrigued to learn more about JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. AdmittedlyI was just 7 years old when the couple shot to fame and the tragedy happened, so I was going in with a clean slate, knowing very little about the couple.
Within the first 20 minutes I was googling if Paul Anthony Kelly (JFK Jr) was single (he’s not), and Carolyn Bessette Kennedys style. Clean lines, tailored pants, and neutral tones. I instantly noticed how chic capris actually were and wondered how this style icon had somehow missed me.
It also hit home that she was only 33 when she died. I started googling her style, looking up images on Pinterest and quickly purchased CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion.
I then determined that I had to do a complete closet makeover and invest In staple pieces. So let’s just jump right into it.
1. The Perfect Slip Dress
- Bias-cut silk or satin
- Ivory, champagne, or black
- No embellishment, no lace overload
- Worn with simple heels or sandals
2. Tailored Camel or Black Coat
- Long, structured, slightly oversized
- Sharp lapels
- Neutral colors only
Carolyn would throw this over literally everything — jeans, suiting, slips. I’m a strong believer that coats, shoes, and accessories are always worth splurging on, especially because in the winter the main thing people see (in the outside world) are these three things.
3. Straight-Leg Blue Jeans
- Mid-rise
- Straight, not skinny
- Dark or classic wash
- Slightly stiff denim
4. Crisp White Shirt
- Men’s-style button-down
- Slightly oversized
- Worn tucked loosely or half undone
5. Black Knit / Cashmere Sweater
- Crewneck
- Soft, fine knit
- Worn with jeans, trousers, or silk skirts
6. Slip Skirt or Silk Midi
- Bias cut
- Black, ivory, champagne
- Paired with oversized knits or crisp shirts
Soft + structured = her formula.
8. Minimal Heels & Sandals
- Barely-there straps
- Black or nude
- Kitten or slim heel
There’s something powerful about not over-explaining yourself. About choosing a small color palette and repeating it. About investing in pieces that feel like you five years from now, not just this season. Carolyn’s style was never about trends. It was about alignment. The clothes matched the energy: self-contained, elegant, slightly mysterious.
That’s the kind of aesthetic that never expires.
If you’re building your wardrobe — or even refining your personal brand — this is such a grounding place to start. Fewer pieces. Better fabrics. Simple silhouettes. Neutrals that work together without effort. It isn’t minimalism for the sake of being minimal. It’s minimalism because you’re secure enough not to need excess.
