How To Channel The Classic 90s Style Of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
CAROLYN-CORE
By Cali Westmoreland | 3rd March 2026Ever since the first episode of Love Story graced our screens on February 12, we have been irrevocably infatuated with the passionate romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
Whether you’ve been glued to your screen every Friday like me, or you’ve just absorbed the aesthetic via doomscrolling, you’ll know that everything from Sarah Pidgeon’s and Paul Anthony Kelly’s (the actors who play Carolyn and John) incredibly chic style to their lustful on-screen yearning has us completely enamoured. However, in all the frenzy, it’s Carolyn Bessette’s (later Bessette Kennedy) iconic style that has been the biggest takeaway – and has completely consumed our thoughts.
Before Carolyn and JFK Jr. became one of the most photographed couples of the 90s, Carolyn worked in publicity at Calvin Klein, which is a detail that feels less like trivia and more like her origin story. Known as the queen of quiet luxury, she embodied the brand’s stripped-back sensuality long before “capsule wardrobe” became a term.
Carolyn would rock a uniform made out of neutrals, thick Alice headbands, some slim sunnies, and her natural, wavy hair and call it a day, all while looking like a model off duty. Think barely-there sandals, bias cut skirts, and black sleek slip dresses, and you’ve got the right idea. In a decade defined by excess on one end and grunge on the other, she became the token ’90s chic girl in NYC: polished but unfussy, romantic but never over-the-top.
Not sure about you guys, but this Carolyn Bessette Kennedy fascination has me staring into my closet with existential dread. Suddenly, logos feel loud, and colour feels chaotic. Since watching, I’ve found myself reaching for nothing but basics. Everything from black midi skirts to boatneck quarter sleeve tops, to ballet flats – that’s right, I’ve fully committed to the neutral renaissance. And I know all you girls have too. I’ve seen the TikToks!
But if you haven’t joined the bandwagon just yet, don’t fret. Here is a curated array of pieces that will help you rock the modern Carolyn capsule with Kennedy confidence.
So, maybe what we’re really craving isn’t just the romance of the ’90s, it’s the style. The confidence of knowing exactly who you are and dressing like it. And if that means we’re all leaning into a Carolyn’s neutral capsule wardrobe for the foreseeable future? Honestly, we’re not mad about it.
Imagery: @modaem360, @cranberry_chic, @minimal.issimo
