Curating a CBK Closet
How to dress like the Queen of Minimalism
When people ask me my favorite fashion inspiration, my answer is undoubtedly CBK, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. CBK lived in New York City as a Calvin Klein publicist as well as a prominent public figure. She was married to John F. Kennedy Jr., who she tragically died beside in July of 1999. Although she passed away young, her legacy continues to reign over the fashion industry.
Her style inspires timeless minimalism. The minimalist icon usually avoided patterns of any kind, and even when she did highlight a pattern in her outfits, she made sure that it was the only pattern present and that the entire look was centered around it. Another aspect of Carolyn’s style is her almost complete lack of jewelry. Rarely was she found wearing earrings, necklaces, or bracelets, and the only ring she wore was her wedding ring.
There are 10 essential items to curating a closet like Carolyn’s:
1. White button-down
The most important part of building a CBK closet is acquiring a classic, breathable, and good-quality white button-down. Often over-looked, a simple white button-down can give any outfit a classic yet elevated feel that often is more difficult to accomplish with a basic white long sleeve or T-shirt. This staple piece can be used in a multitude of outfits and in a variety of ways. CBK swore by her white-button down.
2. Classic Black Shirt
Whether it was a turtleneck, boatneck, v-neck, etc., CBK loved a plain black top. She often chose shirts that were form-fitting or nearly-fitted, and she paired these tops with almost any skirt or pants, typically denim jeans, leather midi skirts, or corduroy pants. At least one classic black top likely exists in your closet already, and it is a classic Carolyn essential.
3. Long Black Coat
We saw a major trend in long coats in the past few fall/winter seasons, but regardless of whether long coats are trending, they are classic pieces that never truly go “out of style”. Carolyn loved to wear a long (typically black or beige) coat and would pair it with practically any outfit she had on. Additionally, though CBK often did not wear patterns, coats were one of the places she did play around with in terms of patterns.
4. & 5. Classic Rounded Sunglasses & Tortoise Shell Headband
If you're a fan of CBK, you’ve most definitely seen this iconic photo of her. Carolyn wore this duo quite often: a rounded pair of black sunglasses and a structured tortoise shell headband. These accessories were a staple in her closet, and if you aim to dress like CBK, I urge you to purchase at least one of these for your wardrobe.
6. Black Penny Loafers
Though difficult to see in this photo, one of CBK’s go-to shoes was a pair of black penny loafers. This shoe perfectly fitted within her minimalist fashion sense and paired well with almost any outfit. Loafers are sophisticated while also casual and classic, something CBK appreciated.
7. Knee High Boots
CBK owned many boots, often black and brown, and wore them in various types of outfits. Though she is also known for nude sandals and black kitten heels as well, loafers and boots are (in my opinion) the most important shoes for creating a CBK closet, especially for daily wear.
8. LBD
It is crucial to own a LBD (long black dress) in order to have a Carolyn closet. She usually wore these in the evenings, pairing them with a nude or black kitten heel. She also loved an LBD that exposed her shoulders. Additionally, Carolyn sometimes added gloves to her more formal evening looks.
9. Red Lipstick
Though not a clothing item, if you truly want to embody the style of CBK, you must have a red lip in your collection. CBK was known for her simple, natural-looking makeup paired with a red lip.
10. Midi Skirt
Purchasing a simple midi skirt is also crucial to curating a CBK closet. Carolyn typically wore midi skirts in white, black, or neutrals.
This list is clearly not exhaustive, and some additional items to consider collecting include: corduroy pants, slip dress, and a fur scarf. However, these items are essential in curating a CBK wardrobe. If you love CBK like me, you’ll also know that she was known to not follow seasonal trends; she simply wore clothes that made her feel confident and accessories that felt natural to her.
Live, love, CBK.
