- Carolyn and John F. Kennedy Jr. tragically died in a plane crash in 1999
- But some of her looks have continued to impact the fashion world decades on
- Many of here style staples have popped up on the runways at NYFW recently
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has once again set a new standard for fashion lovers – by becoming a ‘ghost influencer’, with top fashion brands once again touting her iconic style, 24 years after she and husband John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash.
When Carolyn and JFK. Jr – the second child of late President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – started dating in the early ’90s, they quickly became one of the most talked about couples on the globe.
Of course, the public already had an immense fascination with the Kennedys, but Carolyn’s bold fashion choices and her ability to turn even the simplest looks into a chic ensemble only drew people in even more.
Not only did Carolyn – who worked as the director of publicity for Calvin Klein’s flagship store in Manhattan – dominate the red carpet any time they attended an event, but she would also turn the New York City streets into her own personal catwalk when running errands or walking their dog.
Paparazzi would often camp outside of the couple’s New York City apartment in the hopes of catching a glimpse of them, and many became obsessed with seeing what she’d wear next.
Unfortunately, the pair tragically died in a horrific plane crash in 1999 – three years after they tied the knot – but some of her looks have continued to impact the fashion world decades on.
The New York Times pointed out that many of Carolyn’s style staples – like pencil skirts, slip dresses, loafers, and overcoats – have popped up on the runways at New York Fashion Week recently, while branding her as ‘the ghost influencer of the season.’
Carolyn famously wore a white, button down top tucked into a figure-hugging, floor-length black skirt during one of the last appearances she made before her death.
And now, multiple brands – including Peter Do, Dior, and Fendi – have showcased similar looks in their latest collections.
In addition, the clothing company Sporty & Rich re-created some of her and JFK Jr.’s most well-known paparazzi shots as part of a campaign last month.
‘She was minimalism with character – she wasn’t sterile or boring,’ Wes Gordon, the creative director of Carolina Herrera, told the outlet of Carolyn’s sense of style.
Elizabeth Beller, an author who is set to release a biography on Carolyn next spring, called Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, added, ‘She resonates with the cultural vibe of “stealth wealth” and interest in sustainability.’
What made Carolyn even more enviable was the fact that it usually seemed as though she had put minimal effort into her looks.
They were understated – something fashion brands are now desperate to achieve with their clothes.
‘She only had, like, 30 to 40 pieces in her wardrobe,’ another biographer, named Sunita Kumar Nair, shared.
‘One of her friends said, “You’d open up her wardrobe, and there’s like, five black pants, a selection of really well-fitted shirts.” The rest sometimes she would borrow if she needed to go to gala events.’
Since the couple was notoriously private – they hardly ever did any interviews or discussed their romance with the public – Sunita pointed out that Carolyn ‘used fashion as her way of having a conversation’ and ‘dealing with the public.’
Carolyn’s status as a fashion icon was only cemented when her life was cut short and she was killed at age 33.
‘She will never age, get Botox, post an unthinking comment, get messy — or change her style,’ the Times explained.
‘Like Diana, Princess of Wales, whose royal status, beauty and untimely death made her into a legend, Ms. Bessette Kennedy exists less as a person than an idea.’
She, her husband, and her older sister Lauren were traveling over the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Martha’s Vineyard when their plane went down. JFK Jr. was piloting it at the time.
‘The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were haze and the dark night,’ read a report on the crash.
