Since the release of the new television series “Love Story,” which follows the tragedy of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn in the 1990s, the fashion resurgence of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy has begun. Before her marriage to JFK Jr., Carolyn Bessette was a publicist for Calvin Klein, eventually working as the director of publicity and then the director of show production. Although she had a brief modeling career as an undergraduate student at Boston University in the 1980s, CBK was relatively unknown until her high-profile relationship with JFK Jr. thrust her into the spotlight in the ‘90s. 

Almost 30 years after her death in 1999, CBK is remembered as the original fashion influencer. To those obsessed with the fashion industry or stories of the Kennedy family, her timeless style never left the forefront of their minds. For everyone else, her style resurges in popularity every few years. Now, the release of “Love Story” has put CBK’s life and fashion into a spotlight rivaling the paparazzi flashes that followed her around New York City in the ‘90s. 

Often seen with her oval sunglasses, a tortoise shell headband she bought at a drugstore and an overstuffed Birkin, CBK had a distinct look. She preferred neutrals to bright colors, sticking to black, white and tan. On the rare occasion she wore patterns or statement pieces, they were complemented by exclusively black accessories. She switched between brands like Prada and Levi’s — refusing to wear labels for either. 

Her approach to fashion was minimalist without exuding boredom. Contemporarily, she is the poster child for the ‘90s minimalist aesthetic. With the release of “Love Story,” numerous fashion magazines have released their guides on how to dress like  CBK. Personally, I feel that this is in vain: a black turtleneck, a crisp white button up and a pair of Levi’s 517s isn’t enough to be Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and these staple pieces of her wardrobe are not why she’s remembered as the style icon that she was. 

CBK was not truly the minimalist she was known for being. Nothing about her was careless. As a fashion industry insider and an object of desire to every style publication, she was always seen entirely put together. CBK knew what worked for her. She knew which silhouettes worked for her body type and she knew that her signature lipstick worked with her complexion. Anyone trying to replicate a CBK look can wear a camel-toned coat, but a true replication of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy isn’t found in simply emulating her style.

It was never her clothes that made her an icon. In fact, while CBK experimented with fabrics and textures, from just the perspective of old photographs, her outfits could be considered boring. Instead, CBK exuded surety. She had a distinct style and she stuck to it. Her outfits existed outside of trends and when she was keeping up with fashion trends, it was because they had been built around her. She had what so many people crave: a distinct personal style that boosted her popularity. 

I want to preface this by saying that following trends and the fashion industry is fun, and does not make someone uncool. Personally, I love a good trend and I love experimenting with the clothes I wear. But I, like every other woman reading the CBK style guides published by Vogue and InStyle magazines, can wear a CBK-inspired outfit and still never achieve a true CBK impression. Successfully dressing like her cannot be achieved through hunting down the dupes of pieces she would wear. It can’t be achieved by saving thousands of dollars over years and years to buy a designer bag, just to never use it because you’re afraid of stretching out the leather. CBK’s style certainly cannot be achieved by sacrificing your favorite pink top for a black sweater that’s theorized to be her style, or by purchasing her exact tortoise shell headband from the exact drugstore even if you know you’ll never wear it because headbands make your head hurt. 

CBK had amazing style, which she will always be remembered and idolized for. She was elegant and chic — I would never argue that she doesn’t deserve her legacy in fashion. But for those who wish to recreate her style, if you are actually drawn to the pieces that she wears, by all means copy her exactly — but her “it factor” comes from the fact that the clothes she wears were beloved by her. She handpicked her pieces and wore them often. Her Birkin was stuffed with her work materials, not hidden in her closet for a special occasion. She had a uniform that she stuck to. Even those with features similar to CBK will never truly emulate her if their outfits aren’t true to themselves. CBK’s personal style built trends because of her proximity to far-reaching fashion influence during her time at Calvin Klein and her marriage to JFK Jr. Most people’s personal style will not have that same effect.

 Instead of trying to recreate her looks exactly, think about what kinds of clothes make you feel your best. Which necklines and rise levels work best for your body, and do you look better in jewel tones or pastels? Finding styles of clothing you love that work for you, and wearing them as the trends of an ever-shifting fashion industry pass by, is a nobler pursuit within fashion than mindlessly copying someone knighted with the title of “style icon.”