Alright, let’s talk about something I spent some time on recently. I got really interested in Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s style, but specifically from when she was younger. We all know the iconic minimalist look, right? But I was curious about what came before that, maybe her college days or early career vibe.
So, the first thing I did was pretty straightforward. I sat down at my computer and just started searching. Typed in things like “Carolyn Bessette young,” “Carolyn Bessette college,” stuff like that. You know how it goes, just casting a wide net initially.
I spent a good chunk of time just scrolling through images. Lots of pictures came up, many I’d seen before, mostly from when she was already with JFK Jr. I had to really sift through them, looking for clues that suggested they were from an earlier period. Sometimes the photo quality gave it away, or the context mentioned in captions, if there were any.
Finding the right stuff was harder than I thought. A lot of search results just show the famous later-years photos. I had to refine my searches. I tried adding “Boston University” since I knew she went there, or “Calvin Klein early days.” That helped a bit to narrow things down.
I started saving a few photos that seemed genuinely from her younger years into a folder. Not looking for anything specific, just building a small collection to look at later. Some candid shots, some slightly more posed, but definitely pre-super-fame.
Looking Closer at the Vibe
Once I had a little collection, I took a closer look. What was she actually wearing?
- Definitely still simple, clean lines. That seemed to be there from the start.
- Maybe a bit more casual stuff? I saw more photos with simple sweaters, t-shirts, classic jeans.
- The color palette was still very neutral – lots of black, white, beige, navy. No surprise there.
- Her hair and makeup seemed even more natural, if that’s possible. Just very fresh-faced.
It felt… attainable. Less about specific high-fashion pieces and more about well-fitting basics and a certain confidence. It wasn’t wildly different from her later style, but maybe less intensely curated? More relaxed.
Then I tried something practical. I went to my own closet. Could I put together an outfit inspired by one of those earlier photos? I grabbed a simple black turtleneck, my favorite pair of straight-leg blue jeans, and some basic loafers. Nothing fancy. I wasn’t trying to be her, obviously, but just capture that easy, classic feel I saw in those younger pictures.
Putting it on, it felt pretty good. Comfortable, simple, kind of timeless. It made me appreciate that her style wasn’t just about expensive clothes, especially early on. It was more about knowing what shapes worked for her and keeping things unfussy.
So yeah, that was my little exploration into young Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s style. It was interesting to see the foundations of her later iconic look were already there, just maybe in a slightly softer, more accessible form. It was a nice reminder that great style often starts with simple, classic pieces.
