Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, pictured here with husband JFK Jr., was photographed wearing the leopard-print jacket often.
Photo: Globe Photos/ZUMA
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Iconic Fashion Looks Head to Auction
Selections from the collection of JFK Jr.'s wife will be on sale November 27 – December 17 at Sotheby’s in New York
The vintage double-breasted faux leopard fur coat. Photo: Sotheby's
Few American women have captivated the American fashion imagination in the way that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy–wife of publisher and attorney, John F. Kennedy Jr.–did in the 1990s. A publicist for Calvin Klein at the time of her tragic passing, Bessette-Kennedy was synonymous with understated luxury, always opting for exquisitely made garments by a variety of designers with a shared minimalist aesthetic.
For the second annual “Fashion Icons” auction in New York, Sotheby’s will offer three of Bessette-Kennedy’s most prized pieces–a vintage double-breasted faux leopard fur coat, circa 1969; a Prada single-breasted black double-faced wool coat, 1997; and a black Yohji Yamamoto black wool double breasted jacket, also from 1997. These three signature garments were worn–and photographed–extensively, before being given to close friend and personal assistant, RoseMarie Terenzio. The iconic outerwear hasn’t previously come to the market, so the sale marks a rare opportunity to own a piece of sartorial American history.
Bessette-Kennedy gifted the pieces to her close friend. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
Terenzio has referred to Bessette-Kennedy as her “fashion fairy godmother” and the stories of friendship behind these coats adds a special element to the sale. The vintage double-breasted faux leopard fur coat (estimate: $20,000-$30,000) for example, was given to Terenzio for a special date night occasion: “It looks perfect on you,” said Bessette-Kennedy at the time. “You should keep it. I’ve been photographed in it so many times the media will start making fun of me.” The statement-making coat has been treasured by Ternzio for the past 25 years.
Another sale highlight is sure to be the Prada single-breasted black wool coat (estimate: $15,000-$20,000) that Bessette-Kennedy wore to Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration, complete with her signature narrow oval sunglasses and a Prada Spazzoloto bag. A favorite for dog walks in Tribeca, the tailored silhouette is evocative of late 1960s designs. The final item is a Yohji Yamamoto black wool jacket ($15,000-$20,000) which she wore to a formal Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal event in New York City in 1997. With padded hips and fitted waist, the jacket was paired with a Junya Watanabe for Commes des Garçons skirt that was uniquely constructed to be worn back to front.
The Prada single-breasted black double-faced wool coat, 1997. Photo: Sotheby's
The black Yohji Yamamoto black wool double breasted jacket, also from 1997.
“There is no greater expression of someone’s life than their clothes,” says Lucy Bishop, Sotheby’s Fashion Specialist. “Countless articles have been written about Carolyn’s life and era-defining minimalist style, yet relatively little exists on public record of her own voice. These garments speak volumes about her tragically short but remarkable life. They reveal a woman who made considered choices, navigated public scrutiny with intelligence and grace, displaying a generosity and kindness that touched those around her. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy understood the power of dressing well, and this belief is forever reflected in these clothes.”
The Fashion Icons auction will be open for online bidding from November 27-December 17, with garments on view at Sotheby’s New York from December 5-10.
Cover: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, pictured here with husband JFK Jr., was photographed wearing the leopard-print jacket often.
Photo: Globe Photos/ZUMA
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