Selected items from the wardrobe of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, an American 1990s style icon and wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., have gone to an online auction. Items for sale include her favorite coats and iconic evening gowns. The phenomenon of her minimalist elegance continues to inspire designers and is often referenced in the context of contemporary trends. Simultaneously, the media notes increased interest in her persona in popular culture.
Online wardrobe auction
Selected clothing items belonging to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, including her distinctive coats and evening gowns that became part of her iconic image, have been listed in an online auction.
Phenomenon of minimalist style
Bessette-Kennedy's style, based on simplicity, high-quality fabrics, and perfect tailoring, is considered a model of timeless elegance and continues to be a reference point in fashion.
Growth in media interest
The figure of the American fashion icon is returning to the media not only due to the auction but also in the context of new cultural productions referencing her history.
Personal wardrobe items belonging to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, one of the most recognizable style icons of the late 20th century, have gone to an online auction. The items for sale include her favorite coats and iconic evening gowns, which helped shape the image of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife. The auction has become a pretext for re-analyzing the phenomenon of her minimalist aesthetic, which contrasted with the baroque trends of the 90s. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy worked in the 1990s as a public relations specialist for the Calvin Klein fashion house, where she developed her distinctive, refined style. Her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr., son of the assassinated US president, in 1996, and the couple's tragic death in a plane crash in 1999 cemented her figure in the collective imagination as a symbol of an era. Bessette-Kennedy's style, described as quiet luxury, was based on a combination of simple forms, a subdued color palette, and perfect fit. This aesthetic, promoted by the Calvin Klein fashion house where she worked, became her trademark. Today, this type of elegance is often invoked as a counterbalance to more extravagant trends. Parallel to the auction, increased interest in her person is observed in the media, reflected in emerging references in popular culture. Some news outlets point to a certain renaissance of interest in this figure, which may be linked to the cyclical return of 90s fashion or the universality of her style. It is worth noting that celebrity wardrobe auctions are a commercial phenomenon that often serves not only to sell items but also to sustain or refresh a person's legend. In this case, we are dealing with a combination of sentimental value, historical value (as an element of the heritage of a specific era in fashion), and purely market value. The Bessette-Kennedy phenomenon extends beyond fashion, touching on the mythology associated with the Kennedy family and nostalgia for the end of the 20th century. Her style is often analyzed today through the lens of the contemporary pursuit of sustainable fashion, based on fewer but higher-quality and timeless wardrobe pieces.
Mentioned People
- Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy — American 1990s style icon, wife of John F. Kennedy Jr.
- John F. Kennedy Jr. — American lawyer, publisher, son of President John F. Kennedy