Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's minimalist 90s style is experiencing a massive resurgence, fueled by the new TV series 'Love Story' and captivating Gen Z. Stylist Liz Teich, who worked in fashion during the 90s, explains the appeal of Bessette's curated, staple-heavy wardrobe and provides actionable tips for readers to emulate her timeless look sustainably, emphasizing investment in quality basics, smart secondhand finds, and mixing high and low-end pieces.
Everyone is trying to copy her outfits after seeing Love Story,” Liz Teich, a stylist, said. She’s referring to the internet’s ongoing frenzy around Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s minimalist 90s style, made popular by the new TV series about her romance with John F Kennedy Jr. ‘The antithesis of what Gen Z grew up with’: Love Story inspires fervor for Carolyn Bessette’s style Read more Since its release, Instagram and TikTok have been flooded with recreations of Bessette’s outfits – think white button-up shirts, tan pencil skirts and small-framed black sunglasses. (Many set to the tune of Frank Ocean’s American Wedding, the unofficial soundtrack for Bessette Kennedy content.) As a high-powered publicist at Calvin Klein, it’s no wonder Bessette always knew how to dress for the office. “But what made her style so appealing was how she curated her wardrobe as a whole,” Teich continues. Like Bessette, Teich worked in the fashion industry in the 90s. She started her career at the lifestyle brand Chaiken’s Manhattan office, which designed clothes worn by Bessette herself. “I wish I could say I showed up as stylish as Bessette to the office, but I was an 18-year-old intern. On my lunch breaks, I’d scour the sales racks at Scoop and Intermix for deals,” Teich says. Jenny Landy and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in New York City, c 1995. Photograph: Patrick McMullan/Getty Images As a sustainable fashion advocate, Teich says it’s possible to learn from Bessette’s style without resorting to designer binges or terrible knockoffs. In the 90s, she became an expert at curating outfits that punched above their weight: “I had a hodge podge of finds in those sales racks, as well as a mix of trends, vintage and some pieces I upcycled or sewed myself.” Teich shows how you can bring Bessette’s knack for styling into your spring wardrobe without buying a heap of pieces destined to end up in a landfill. Our stylist’s picks for 90s-inspired spring staples A classic white button-up shirt: Sold Out NYC The Everything Shirt $195 at Sold Out NYC A pair of bootcut jeans: Levi’s Wedgie Bootcut Jeans $98 at Zappos A quality Cartier watch dupe: Heaven Mayhem The Icon Watch $280 at Heaven Mayhem Minimalist black cigarette pants: MM LaFleur Kickflare Foster Pant $229 at MM LaFleur Your closet should be 80% staples LT: I think Bessette’s closet was nearly 100% staples and that’s why you always saw it work. She styled these basic pieces in different ways, even in the limited photos we have of her. She probably had less in her closet than most New Yorkers do today, but she knew how to select her wardrobe in a way that always looked fresh. I see so many clients who buy mostly the trendy pieces and they forget to invest in the wardrobe staples, so their outfits fall flat. Your closet should be 80% staples and 20% of the fun stuff to set yourself up for success. Two important staples: a button-up shirt and good jeans LT: The great thing about a 90s-inspired wardrobe is that it can be quite timeless. Closet staples like a white button up, black cigarette pants, loafers, square-toe heels and boots, and cashmere sweaters are great for making an entrance at the office. These simple styles were far different from the showy designs popular in the 80s. Bessette was often seen in a white button up, which everyone needs. It’s one of my uniform staples, and I also love styling my clients in them. Some of my favorite brands: Sold Out NYC for the perfect crisp white button up à la NYC gal, Frank & Eileen for something more relaxed (think trips to Hyannis, the Cape Cod village where the Kennedy’s kept a home base) and Cissa for a criss-cross design inspired by Bassette’s wrapped style. No, they aren’t cheap, but you’re buying for quality material that will last. Sold Out NYC The Everything Shirt $195 at Sold Out NYC Frank & Eileen Waverly Button-up Shirt $268 at Frank & Eileen Cissa The Wrap Daily Shirt $348 at Cissa Bootcut jeans are another great 90s-inspired comeback that I’ve been loving. Bessette famously wore Levi’s 517s that she styled with blazers, button ups or a simple black turtleneck. Levi’s Wedgie Bootcut Jeans $98 at Zappos Find it secondhand: Women’s Levi 517s Varied $ at Etsy Look for designer quality at marked-down prices LT: Bessette had such a knack for mixing price points: designer items such as Prada, with vintage items and even added in bargain finds like her drugstore-procured tortoise shell headband from CO Bigelow (currently out of stock). Designer doesn’t always mean quality. I recommend covering up the logo or brand, and asking yourself: “Is this something I’d like if I didn’t know who made it?” CO Bigelow tortoiseshell headband alternatives $39 at Etsy $60 at Nordstrom When buying secondhand, you can skip the bigger, obvious designers Bessette wore such as Prada and Calvin Klein, as they’re likely picked over and marked up a bit by now, and opt for smaller brands of the era – and basically anything that was sold at Barney’s (RIP!) back then. Find it secondhand: Vintage Barney’s apparel Varied $ at The Real Real The Cartier Tank watch is another piece that’s back thanks to Bessette’s style resurgence, but it costs $8,500. I’ve been recommending this much more affordable dupe from Heaven Mayhem. It looks just as elegant, and my clients are loving it. Heaven Mayhem The Icon Watch $280 at Heaven Mayhem Splurge on classic styles with decades of longevity LT: If you do go for a leopard coat, buy a classic style, like a tailored pea coat. Avoid something trendier like a bubble hem, which won’t have longevity. I’ve had my vintage leopard coat from the 90s for years, and it’s never felt out of style. Milly Leopard Double-Breasted Coat $357 at Saks Fifth Avenue Find it secondhand: Tailored leopard coats Varied $ at Depop Varied $ at ThredUp Camel coats, which first exploded in popularity in the 1950s, will also never go out of style and are always a wise investment. Back in my internship, Chaiken generously let me buy a gorgeous camel officers’ coat with Italian wool at a wholesale price, and it’s been my favorite thing in my closet for decades. Quince Italian Wool Double Breasted Slouch Coat $175 at Quince Madewell The Alonzo Coat Photograph: Madewell $299.99 at Madewell Find it secondhand: 90s-inspired camel coats Varied $ at The Real Real I’m also kicking myself for not keeping my Chaiken pants from back in the day. Just like other designers of the era, they were minimalist, but fit women of all shapes and sizes. While no longer sold, I did find similar cigarette-style kick flare pants from MM La Fleur that have been a closet staple for years. My clients love it just as much as I do, and my followers on Instagram seem to be loving it too. MM LaFleur kick flare black pants $229 at MM LaFleur Find it secondhand: Chaiken pants Varied $ at Depop
