Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was the “It Girl” of the 90s. She had the “Carolyn Effect” coined after her classic, timeless style. She is often the picture of effortless 90’s minimalism and here’s why:
She put less-known designers like, Yohji Yamamoto, on the map
Bessette is known for her classic style. She stuck to neutrals, often seen in all-black ensembles. She popularized the Yohji Yamamoto brand by wearing a slew of looks, including her famous organza black tailored suit set (pictured right). In addition to many other classic looks, like the black strapless dress, she wore to the Municipal Art Society Gala in 1998. Yohji Yamamoto was not often worn on red carpets at the time, and Bessette is largely responsible for the notoriety the brand has today, and popularizing that minimalist style.
She popularized capsule wardrobes and everyday basics
Although she was known to wear designer brands, like Prada, from head-to-toe, Bessette would often wear plain button-down shirts, white T-shirts, and her classic Levi 517’s. Even though she was able to wear higher end brands, and straight off the runway looks from Calvin Klein, she generally kept it simple with easy, accessible basics. She did have unique pieces, but the core of her wardrobe came from interchangeable pieces. This is why she has such a distinct style. It is something that can be easily recreated and mix-and-matched, one of the key characteristics of her iconic wardrobe.
Virtually anyone can recreate her common look of a white button-down shirt and blue Levi’s. Even when she wore high-end pieces, they were simple black skirts, sweaters, and plain, tailored black dresses. Some might argue how she could be known for such a generic style, but it’s all in how you wear it. Even just wearing a plain T-shirt and blue jeans, Bessette paired it with her famous Selima Optique sunglasses, a cleanly styled bun, and a patterned silk scarf. Or how she famously tied cardigan sweaters around her neck (pictured above) rather than wearing a shawl or the sweater over her shoulders. Once again, she typically only wore basic, buildable pieces, but had the creativity and confidence to make it her own.
She pioneered major campaigns for Calvin Klein that are still resonant today
While working at Calvin Klein as a publicist in 1992, it was Bessette who influenced their choice in using Kate Moss for their infamous campaigns. Moss was a known name at the time, but her work with Calvin Klein put both her and the company in headlines, especially the 1992 campaign with Mark Wahlberg. This campaign is still recreated today and widely recognized. She is known for her embodiment of the minimalist aesthetic Calvin Klein emphasizes, and is known for inspiring this internal culture.
Carolyn’s butter blonde chunks
Bessette was a natural brunette and often highlighted her hair. After marrying John F. Kennedy Jr. In 1996, her hair got progressively lighter, ultimately to the buttery blonde streaked hair she is recognized for today. Her colorist, Brad Johns, became very popular at the time, and often had people asking for the same chunky highlights. Bessette has become synonymous with the 90s-style thick blonde highlights.
She epitomized quiet luxury
It’s no secret that Bessette often toted around her classic black Birkin bag and an assortment of Prada bags, however she was very particular with her pieces. She would wear her Prada pieces so that the logo was hidden, and is known to even have had logos and embellishments removed from designer items. She would wear head-to-toe Prada, like in her classic look with the black sweater, camel skirt and brown boots that is often recreated, though you would never know it was designer. Bessette even once asked for the Prada logos to be removed from a snowsuit she had bought (according to Sunita Kumar Nair in her book, CBK: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy: A Life in Fashion).
Ella Parastaran 
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