Why Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's style still captivates almost three decades after her death

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was a master of effortless, minimalist '90s style.

She was a true fashion girl from the start, having worked as a publicist for Calvin Klein before her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr, the son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in September 1996.

Tragically, her life was cut short in a plane crash in July 1999 that also claimed the life of her husband and her sister Lauren Bessette.

Carolyn's classic and elegantly simple style legacy has lived on, decades after her death.

Her penchant for neutral colours, lean silhouettes and clean lines made her a favourite among the American fashion industry.

Cuban designer Narcisco Rodriguez became a household name after she said 'I do' to Kennedy Jr in a sophisticated white silk slip dress of his design.

She made it acceptable for brides to wear something refined down the aisle, instead of layers of princess tulle.

READ MORE: How John F. Kennedy Jr found his 'equal' in Carolyn Bessette

READ MORE: The famous women JFK Jr dated before he fell for Carolyn Bessette

READ MORE: How one stark headline dashed the hopes of Kennedy fans

Her everyday style was just as sleek, with pencil skirts, Mary Jane shoes, black coats and headbands worn on rotation.

As Ryan Murphy's series Love Story: John F Kennedy, Jr and Carolyn Bessette puts her back in the spotlight, we look back on the iconic fashion looks that still inspire us today.

Watch the video above

Even before she was a global household name, elements of Carolyn's famous style were clear.

She's pictured below in 1993 – during her time working for Calvin Klein and before she began dating JFK, Jr – teaming a black leather jacket with a matching beret.

For her more formal looks, the ex-model would often opt for an all-black aesthetic.

The ensemble she wore to the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation dinner in May 1999, comprising a cinched jacket and a long skirt, is one of her more memorable looks.

Here's another of Carolyn's most memorable looks, one that captured the essence of her style ethos.

Attending a benefit in March 1999, she tucked a men's white shirt into a long black skirt with a ruffled hem, carrying a simple gold sparkly bag.

The top and skirt were both designed by Yohji Yamamoto.

It seems Yohji Yamamoto had become a favourite designer of Carolyn's in the months before her death.

She's pictured above in another look from the Japanese designer at a New York gala in 1999.

Though she kept her wardrobe fairly simple and elegant, Carolyn did like to add interest with texture and details, like the ruffled neckline on her jacket.

For a gala held in 1998, Carolyn teamed a black strapless dress with black opera gloves, creating a striking horizonal line across her body.

Carolyn tended to keep her jewellery and accessories simple, if she wore them at all.

Here, she teamed the black opera gloves with a gold bracelet, but wore no other jewellery.

Her hair and makeup styling was similarly minimal.

Carolyn usually wore her silky blonde hair in a neat updo or worn down, and for makeup, a red lip was a go-to.

We saw this in action at the Fire & Ice Ball in Los Angeles in 1998.

The figure-skimming cream Versace dress she wore to the ball, featuring a full-length front zip and bateau neckline, is another fan-favourite.

Another glamorous event, another striking all-black outfit from Carolyn.

Attending the White House Correspondents Dinner in 1999, just three months before her death, she wore a Jean Paul Gaultier ensemble with a striking fanned neckline.

A black dress, a red lip and a chignon: the combination that always worked for Carolyn.

She wore this classic look for a reception held in Boston honouring the 80th anniversary of JFK's birth in 1997.

Here, Carolyn put a silky spin on her go-to look as she attended an event in New York in 1998.

She's pictured with Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy.

Here's a sight we almost never saw: Carolyn wearing a patterned, colourful garment.

She wore this floral white Chanel dress for a memorial in 1996.

After secretly marrying on Cumberland Island in 1996, JFK Jr and Carolyn greeted members of the press who'd gathered outside their New York apartment after hearing about the wedding.

The newlywed wore a characteristially chic ensemble, pairing a long camel skirt and black jumper with a Prada handbag and long boots.

While she could certainly bring the glamour for a gala or charity benefit, Carolyn is equally beloved for her street style.

Here, she teams straight-leg jeans with a black jacket and sandals.

She also loved to add a finishing touch to her casual outfits with accessories like a bandanna or an Alice band, as well as a chic pair of sunnies.

In fact, many of Carolyn's casual ensembles wouldn't look out of place in stores in 2026.

Here, she teams a simple black tank top with straight-leg jeans, sandals and the ultimate accessory – her beloved dog Friday.

Her individual style was iconic, but Carolyn and JFK, Jr also had 'couple dressing' nailed.

Here, his beanie and scarf complement Carolyn as she wears one of her more colourful garments – a long red winter coat – in 1997.

And finally, another casual look from the couple, with Carolyn rugged up in a red coat and patterned beanie.