Wedding dress of Carolyn Bessette

Last updated

Wedding dress of Carolyn Bessette
Designer Narciso Rodriguez
Year1996 (1996)
TypeSlip
Material Silk

The wedding dress worn by Carolyn Bessette at her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. on September 21, 1996 was designed by Narciso Rodriguez of Cerruti. The wedding took place on Cumberland Island in the U.S. state of Georgia.

Contents

Design

Bessette met designer Narciso Rodriguez during her time working at Calvin Klein. [1] She asked Rodriguez to design her wedding dress while having drinks at The Odeon Restaurant in New York City. [2] Two three-hour couture fittings for the dress took place in Paris, France. [3] The gown was pearl-white silk crêpe with a cowl décolletage. [2] Rodriguez said, "It's pretty seductive for a wedding dress, wouldn't you say? It shows Carolyn's personality: clean, classic, sexy, seductive." [4] The dress was a gift from Rodriguez and valued around $40,000. [5]

Along with the gown, Bessette wore a long tulle veil, sheer gloves, [6] and crystal-beaded Manolo Blahnik strappy satin sandals. [7] [8] [9] Bessette's bun hairstyle was pinned and held by a clip which had belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, John's mother. [8] Her bouquet, arranged by Rachel Lambert Mellon, contained lily of the valley. [8]

Reception and influence

Bessette's gown was positively received by the public and fashion world alike, with women desperately shopping for wedding dresses similar to Bessette's.[ citation needed ] Alan Millstein, a fashion newsletter editor, stated "Seventh Avenue hasn't had anything like this since Princess Di's wedding." [10]

The dress has been described as "one of the most iconic wedding dresses of the 90s", [2] and as having "been noted in fashion history as breaking ground for minimalist brides". [11] The dress changed the landscape of wedding gowns by inspiring minimalist designs. [6] i-D magazine said the dress' simplicity "marked a departure from the era's voluminous princess dresses and solidified an emerging trend: the understated slip-style wedding dress". [2] Vogue said the dress "may be one of the most sought-after gowns of all time. [Bessette] hands-down changed the wedding dress game—making it acceptable and desirable to wear something refined and simple: a white silk slip rather than princess-y tulle and an embellished gown." [12] Women's Wear Daily said the gown "shifted bridal fashion into a new, modernist era". [13]

The dress launched the career of designer Narciso Rodriguez. [1]

Meghan Markle described Bessette's gown as "everything goals". [11] [14] [15] Markle's wedding dress at her wedding to Prince Harry of the United Kingdom in 2018 was likened to a formal dress Bessette-Kennedy wore in 1998, [16] and her wedding reception dress was described as "reminiscent" of Bessette's wedding gown. [14]

In a 25th anniversary retrospective for Vogue in 2021, contributors praised the simplicity and timelessness of the dress, with former Harper's Bazaar editor in chief Kate Betts calling it "revolutionary". [9] Fashion journalist Zanna Roberts Rassi stated, "It has held up more than most dresses; it's perhaps better today than it was then. How many dresses can we say get better and better? It has had a massive cultural impact, particularly with the new generation." [9] Style expert Stacy London said, "Something about that dress transcends trends and time—almost no bridal establishment would say they don't have at least one dress that resembles it. It has become a cultural touchstone." [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Ferretti</span> Italian fashion designer

Alberta Ferretti is an Italian fashion designer and dressmaker. She designs for her namesake brand Alberta Ferretti, and designed for Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti until 2014. Her showroom is in Milan, Italy but her studio is in her native village of Cattolica, near Rimini, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narciso Rodriguez</span> American fashion designer (born 1961)

Narciso Jesus Rodriguez III is an American fashion designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Member of the British royal family and former actress (born 1981)

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. She is married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III.

Ralph & Russo British fashion house

Ralph & Russo is a European, privately held company owned and founded by Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo. Ralph & Russo is a high fashion house that specializes in haute couture and ready-to-wear clothes, luxury goods, and fashion accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy</span> American publicist and wife of John F. Kennedy Jr

Carolyn Jeanne Bessette-Kennedy was an American publicist for Calvin Klein. After her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr., Bessette-Kennedy's relationship with her husband and her fashion sense became the subjects of media scrutiny, drawing comparisons to her mother-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The couple, as well as Bessette-Kennedy's older sister, Lauren, died in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on July 16, 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding dress of Catherine Middleton</span> Dress worn by Catherine Middleton at her wedding to Prince William in 2011

The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton at her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engagement dress of Catherine Middleton</span>

Catherine Middleton wore a blue Issa dress during the photocall for her engagement to Prince William of Wales on 16 November 2010, at St. James's Palace. The silk wrap dress matched her engagement ring, and sold out soon after its debut. It contributed to the start of "the Kate Middleton effect", Middleton's impact on the fashion industry, and sparked a trend in "little blue dresses".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara Ralph</span> Australian-British fashion designer

Tamara Ralph is an Australian fashion designer who is the former Creative Director and co-founder of Ralph & Russo.

Misha Nonoo is a US-based British-Bahraini fashion designer, best known for her eponymous line of women's ready-to-wear.

Gabriela Hearst, born November 3, 1976, in Paysandú Department, Uruguay, is a women's luxury ready-to-wear and accessories designer. In addition to designing her namesake collection, she runs and operates her family's ranch in Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</span> 2018 British royal wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family; the bride is American and previously worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate. On the morning of the wedding, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Upon her marriage, Markle became a princess of the United Kingdom and gained the style Her Royal Highness and titles Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated at the wedding using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony published in Common Worship, a liturgical text of the Church of England. The traditional ceremony was noted for the inclusion of African-American culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding dress of Meghan Markle</span> Dress worn by Meghan Markle at her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018

The wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle at her wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018 was designed by the British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The bride's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth; the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California; and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.

Clare Waight Keller is a British stylist and fashion designer, who has served as the artistic director for a number of luxury fashion houses and brands, including Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy. In 2023, she launched a collection with Japanese mass-market brand Uniqlo.2024

Steven Khalil is an Australian bridal and red carpet fashion designer, known for his bridal and red carpet gowns. Khalil launched his own fashion brand in 2003, 'Steven Khalil', and has since gained popularity. His designs have been worn by many Australian and International celebrities such as Samantha Jade, Giuliana Rancic, Dannii Minogue, Ariel Winter, Jessica Mauboy, Paula Abdul, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Preston, Emily Ratajkowski, Carrie Underwood, Princess Olympia of Greece, Georgia Fowler and Jesinta Campbell.

The wedding dress of Princess Eugenie of York worn at her wedding to Jack Brooksbank on 12 October 2018 was designed by the British fashion designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos of British-based label Peter Pilotto.

Inbal Dror is an Israeli fashion designer known for her contemporary wedding gowns. She launched her eponymously-named couture brand in 2005 and her bridal label in 2014. She designed the wedding dress of Ivanka Trump and has also designed gowns for Beyoncé, Naomi Watts, and other celebrities.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her is an eau de toilette-strength perfume launched in September 2003 by fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez and created by perfumers Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian. It has won Fragrance Foundation awards in France and the US, both at its original launch and retrospectively. The original eau de toilette is primarily a musk, amber and orange blossom scent. Narciso Rodriguez subsequently released an eau de parfum version and many other versions, known as flankers, that include other notes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion of Diana, Princess of Wales</span> Describes the fashion and style of Diana, Princess of Wales

The fashion of Diana, Princess of Wales, had a substantial impact on the clothing industry; her style in the 1980s and 1990s led her to be considered a fashion icon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion of Audrey Hepburn</span>

The fashion of actress Audrey Hepburn, both on and off-screen, has impacted trends and pop culture, and she is considered a style icon.

References

  1. 1 2 Adamiyatt, Roxanne (October 11, 2020). "Narciso Rodriguez Speaks About His Big Break Thanks to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy on PBS's 'Finding Your Roots'". Town & Country . Hearst Communications. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kendall, Zoë (February 5, 2020). "7 of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's most iconic outfits". i-D . Vice Media . Retrieved May 19, 2021– via Vice.
  3. ↑ Bumiller, Elisabeth (September 29, 1996). "Enter Smiling, the Stylish Carolyn Bessette" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  4. ↑ Abrams, Margaret (July 16, 2019). "JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy style: From wedding dress to street style, the NY couple's most iconic moments". Evening Standard . Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ Briese, Nicole (June 27, 2019). "JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Wedding Airs in 2-Hour Special". www.brides.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Thomas, Eva (December 5, 2018). "We Would Totally Wear Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Wedding Dress Today". www.thezoereport.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Best-Ever Celebrity Wedding Dresses". net-a-porter.com . October 24, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Bourne, Leah (June 6, 2013). "#Throwback Thursday: Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Jr.'s Truly Timeless Wedding". stylecaster.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Burchfield, Rachel (September 21, 2021). "25 Years Later, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Wedding Dress Still Stuns" . Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Crazy for Carolyn" . Newsweek . The Washington Post Company. October 20, 1996. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Goldberg, Carrie (May 19, 2018). "Everything We Know About Meghan Markle's Wedding Gown". Harper's Bazaar . Hearst Communications . Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ Taufield, Elizabeth (January 7, 2017). "Remembering Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Timeless Style". Vogue . Condé Nast . Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ Ilchi, Layla (July 16, 2019). "Remembering Style Icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedy". Women's Wear Daily . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Gonzales, Erica (May 19, 2018). "Meghan Markle's Second Wedding Dress Channels Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Simple Elegance". Harper's Bazaar. Hearst Communications. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lee, Esther (November 28, 2017). "Meghan Markle Once Said This Kennedy's Wedding Dress Is "Everything Goals"". The Knot News. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ Hallemann, Caroline (May 19, 2018). "Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress Pays Tribute to Her Style Icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedy". Town & Country. Hearst Communications. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.