The "Fashion Icons" auction by Sotheby’s is set to take New York by storm, celebrating fashion’s finest creations. This exceptional collection brings the evolution of style to life, showcasing garments worn by legendary figures and featuring designs from iconic fashion houses. Sotheby’s carefully curated platform provides a unique opportunity to acquire historically significant, museum-quality pieces, ranging from haute couture masterpieces to innovative works by the most influential designers of the 20th century. Highlights include an iconic John Galliano coat from his “Afghanistan Repudiates” collection, a circa 1927 Chanel couture day dress, and breathtaking eveningwear by Alexander McQueen and Versace.
This remarkable event has drawn global interest from museums, private collectors, and connoisseurs who seek the world’s finest fashion. However, the spotlight will undoubtedly focus on Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s wardrobe, with three of her iconic pieces taking centre stage as the auction opens for bidding on 27th November.
The Enduring Legacy of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy remains a defining figure in 20th-century fashion. Often referred to as an icon – a term not always fittingly used – Bessette-Kennedy’s status is indeed timeless. Her minimalist aesthetic defined the “quiet luxury” style that continues to captivate the fashion world, with her understated elegance serving as an enduring inspiration. Her indelible influence remains a fixture on the mood boards of designers, embodying a masterclass in simplicity and sophistication. It is no surprise that her style is still sought after decades after her tragic passing.
As a former Calvin Klein publicist and the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., Bessette-Kennedy created a style legacy that has become almost cult-like. Her discreet, effortless style has only grown in influence with time. Bessette-Kennedy’s wardrobe reflects the quiet luxury and “old money” aesthetic that resonates with today’s audiences. Her taste for sleek, minimal elegance is in tune with the ’90s-inspired minimalist revival that continues to grow in popularity among newer generations. Few personal collections in modern history rival Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s and Sotheby’s upcoming auction is set to showcase exactly why her style remains iconic.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy – A Timeless Legacy on Display
Three treasured pieces from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s wardrobe are set to go up for auction, available for public viewing at Sotheby’s York Avenue Galleries on Manhattan’s Upper East Side from December 5th to 10th. Bidding in Sotheby’s online Fashion Icons Auction opens in late November and will continue through December 17th.
These garments were gifted by Bessette-Kennedy to her close friend RoseMarie Terenzio, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s executive assistant and publicist, and one of the couple’s closest confidantes throughout the 1990s. Each piece is a testament to Bessette-Kennedy’s refined, enduring style, a glimpse into her generosity, and a reminder of her iconic appeal.
The auction’s centrepiece is a black single-breasted wool coat by Prada, which Bessette-Kennedy wore to President Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration. Also featured is a vintage faux-leopard fur coat, unlabelled and dating back to approximately 1969, along with a black wool jacket by Yohji Yamamoto worn to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal event in 1997. Of the three, the Yamamoto jacket is particularly anticipated and is likely to captivate bidders and admirers alike.
A favorite of Carolyn’s, the Prada black wool coat with belt, believed to hail from the Autumn-Winter 1996-97 collection, is expected to garner around $20,000. Its sleek silhouette, evoking designs of the 1960s and 1970s, was a style Bessette-Kennedy frequently returned to, with variations in beige and red tweed appearing in her wardrobe. This classic piece is a vivid reflection of her preference for timeless, understated elegance.
Estimated at $30,000, the vintage double-breasted faux-leopard print coat from circa 1969 is one of two leopard print pieces in her collection. This garment embodies a trend now experiencing a revival during the Fall 2024 fashion season, and though nostalgic, its daring pattern remains fashion-forward even decades later.
The Yohji Yamamoto black wool double-breasted jacket from 1997, projected to fetch around $20,000, is set to be the auction’s focal point. With padded hips, a tailored waist, and self-covered buttons, it showcases Yamamoto’s structured, sophisticated style that Bessette-Kennedy loved. Her admiration for Yamamoto’s work is well-documented, and her appearances in his designs were some of her most admired looks.
These garments reveal a woman who navigated the public eye with grace and whose choices reflected both practicality and thoughtfulness. Each piece, particularly the black Prada coat, exemplifies her discerning approach to style – timeless, elegant, and unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on Carolyn’s life and era-defining minimalist style, Sotheby's fashion specialist Lucy Bishop remarked: “There is no greater expression of someone’s life than their clothes”. As a woman rushing through the busy streets of New York and attending exclusive galas, Bessette-Kennedy’s fashion choices were practical yet she always managed to look polished and immaculate. She knew too well the quiet strength of dressing well and the power of understated beauty, a truth captured timelessly in these pieces. It’s this understanding that keeps her style very much alive and lovingly emulated by women worldwide today. Her coats, steeped in subdued elegance, deserve a new home, dressing the closet of someone who appreciates just how special they truly are.
