To channel the elegance of a '90s icon, these are the fashion choices to make
This story is part of the June 29 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories.
Newcomers to royal-watching might consider California-born Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the ultimate American princess. Marrying the blue-blooded, redheaded Prince Harry is a step in the right direction but the former Suits actor still has to bow down to the style credentials of the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
After marrying American 'royalty' John F. Kennedy Jr in 1996, fashion executive Carolyn epitomised the international ideal of streamlined sophistication, rivalling her mother-in-law, Jackie Kennedy, and the crowned and tiara-wearing heads of Europe.
Recent images from the upcoming, Ryan Murphy-produced series American Love Story about Carolyn and John, who both died in a plane crash in 1999, caused an online uproar for not capturing the ethereal blonde's elusive essence. Here are the ingredients for avoiding the keyboard warriors and emulating and updating Bessette-Kennedy's eternal chic.
Make it sleek
Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress, by designer Narcisco Rodriguez (they worked together at Calvin Klein when she was a public relations executive), was a masterpiece of '90s minimalism. The cowl-neck white slip dress dismissed ornament and excess, making Bessette-Kennedy the star.
In a 2016 interview with Glamour, the then Meghan Markle acknowledged its impact when asked about her favourite celebrity wedding dress: 'Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Everything goals.'
To make an elegant impact in the evening, prioritise minimal draping over tailoring to create a fluid fit that skims the figure.
Make it monochrome
Black, white and neutrals were Bessette-Kennedy's preferred palette but feel free to add drama with cool creams, soothing blues and fresh greens. Discipline is key when wearing one colour from top to toe.
Update the restraint of the '90s with smooth sequins or subtle lace details for a more modern approach to minimalism.
Bessette-Kennedy would break the monochrome rule to wear crisp white shirts with skirts. A T-shirt-style blouse over a satin skirt offers the same cool contrast without drifting into officewear.
Make it look easy
Leave outrageous up-dos and complicated braids to the aspirants to your style throne. Bessette-Kennedy was the model of simplicity when it came to hair and make-up.
'Most of the girls at Calvin had similar long hair, but Carolyn never blew hers out,' former colleague Stormy Stokes told Sunita Kumar Nair for her book Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. 'She taught me how to style my own: wash it, flip it up and down twice, then tie it in a top bun, and ride the subway. By the time we would get to the office, we'd take the bun down and our hair would just be ready to go.'
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For shorter hair look to the ultimate British princess, Diana, who redefined her signature style with slick hair following her 1996 divorce from Prince Charles.
'She was a bit nervous about the slicked-back appearance,' Sam McKnight, Diana's hairdresser told The Telegraph in the UK. 'Like many women, she used to hide behind her hair. But she looked her best when she didn't do anything to it.'
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