Some couples make every cover for a couple of summers… and then vanish without a trace. And then there are John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who nearly thirty years later still pop up on our feeds as if they had just stepped out for a stroll in New York.
To put it simply, he was John F. Kennedy Jr., son of the most famous president in the United States, raised among politics and cameras from childhood, a lawyer and magazine editor turned New York’s ultimate bachelor. She was Carolyn Bessette, a Calvin Klein publicist, without a historic surname but with a style that defined the 1990s. Together they blended power and discretion, American myth and minimalist elegance.
They had it all: a legendary surname, film-star looks, impeccable wardrobes and that air of “I’m not even trying” which is, in truth, the hardest thing to achieve. Their story mixes fashion, Nineties nostalgia and a tragic ending that turned them into legend. They are back in the spotlight thanks to Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, available in Spain on Disney+, as part of Ryan Murphy’s new anthology series. And so the question returns: nearly thirty years on, what is it about them that still makes it impossible to look away?
Street style before street style existed
The curious thing is that they did not become famous for red carpets, but for something far simpler — walking down the street. The pavement was their stage. Cycling, leaving work, heading into a restaurant, enduring photographers outside their front door. No grand runways or glossy set-ups, just everyday movement from one place to another.
That is the trick. They lived with maximum fame but longed for a private life, and that tension fuels the myth. Today’s celebrity couples share everything, even breakfast; they were almost the opposite, a kind of anti-influencer duo. And as we all know, the less you’re told, the more you imagine. That is why Murphy’s series is so compelling — it attempts to imagine what happened between one iconic look and the next, when the flashes faded and real life began.
Her: chic minimalism (with apparent ease)
For many, Carolyn Bessette is the definition of 1990s New York chic: polished yet natural blonde hair, clean cuts, muted tones and outfits that seem simple until you pause and realise every detail is considered. Nothing shouted, but everything spoke.
Her formula was almost mathematical. In 1996, Michael Kors put it plainly — mix a cheap T-shirt with a very expensive jacket and make it look effortless. That “I just threw this on” effect, when in fact it is carefully thought through, is what made her style so powerful. She did not look dressed up, she looked like herself.
During her time at Calvin Klein — where she began as a shop assistant and eventually worked as a publicist — she refined her wardrobe down to the essentials, in line with the Nineties minimalism also associated with Prada and Jil Sander. Crisp white shirts, black or camel midi skirts, Levi’s jeans, tailored coats, understated dresses and clean lines that would not look out of place in any editorial today.
It is also said that she avoided accepting gifts from brands and did not turn her image into advertising. She repeated outfits, took care of her clothes and kept a surprisingly small wardrobe. In an era of sponsored looks and constant newness, that attitude feels almost radical.
Him: the American prince who dressed in a hurry
JFK Jr. was the “last prince” of a family the United States turned into national legend, yet his style had an unexpected edge. One day he would appear in a perfectly cut suit, the next with a rucksack over his shoulder, a backwards green cap, shorts, Champion socks and Nike trainers like any neighbour popping out for bread. Even that much-discussed image of him cycling with his tailored trousers rolled up to avoid oil stains says more than a thousand interviews.
That contrast was his strength. He had elite schooling, a historic surname and photographers trailing him from childhood, yet in pictures he looked like a man simply trying to get somewhere on time. The mix made him relatable without losing his aura. A man raised in protocol and flashbulbs attempting to live like an ordinary citizen.
A tragic ending — and fuel for theories
Some stories end abruptly. Theirs did on 16 July 1999, when the plane piloted by John crashed into the Atlantic near Martha’s Vineyard, killing John, Carolyn and Lauren Bessette. The tragedy shocked the world and sealed their status as myth.
Added to that is the symbolic weight that has long surrounded the Kennedy family, including the popular notion of a supposed “curse”, as well as the speculation that has grown around the accident over the years. One does not need to believe in any of it to understand its effect.
Why ‘Love Story‘ arrives at the right moment
The miniseries arrives at exactly the right moment, riding a wave of Nineties nostalgia, a renewed craving for authenticity and a fashion landscape that has fallen back in love with clean, essential design. Its casting has already generated plenty of buzz, with Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Kelly stepping into the roles with an uncanny physical resemblance. Across the episodes, the story traces the key milestones of their relationship, from their first meeting in 1992 to going public in 1994, their 1996 wedding and the relentless media scrutiny that followed them everywhere.
The fascination with JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette is not only about the clothes, though they mattered, nor solely about the tragedy, nor just about the Kennedy name. It is because they embodied something rare today — elegance without excess, luxury without boasting and a way of being that did not require constant explanation. The series captures that spirit, paying close attention to fashion, with carefully recreated looks that are integral to the narrative rather than mere decoration. If you want to see it for yourself, the first three episodes are now available on Disney+.
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