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American Royalty

by habituallychic

07 . 17 . 11
I was sad to learn that yesterday was the anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette.  If America had a couple that could rival the obsession of William and Catherine, it was John and Carolyn.  Looking back at these photos, it’s clear that their style was timeless and iconic.  It’s really a shame that they were taken so early.

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  1. Donna July 17, 2011 | 5:49 pm

    So agree… I am struck about how timeless those photos are. Classic in the very best possible way.

  2. Carla@DesignintheWoods July 17, 2011 | 6:07 pm

    Absolutely timeless and classic. Such stylish tastemakers and obviously so in love.

  3. Hellohello baby July 17, 2011 | 6:09 pm

    Amazing timeless. Can not belive thees photos are taken nearly 40 years ago.

  4. Lorellei July 17, 2011 | 7:19 pm

    Yes, you are so right, they did have timeless style. So look forward to your blog everyday.

  5. The enchanted home July 17, 2011 | 7:24 pm

    Such a beautiful couple, so sad that their young lives were cut so short. I will never forget this because we on Marthas Vineyard that very weekend that this happened, it was surreal. They surely epitomized beauty and elegance.

  6. Sue/the view from great island July 17, 2011 | 9:34 pm

    I completely agree, these photos are amazing. Carolyn’s chic timeless style is inspiring—thanks for the post!

  7. SHERRY HART July 17, 2011 | 10:07 pm

    That was devastating for sure…still hard to realize sometimes.

  8. roseandthistle July 17, 2011 | 11:59 pm

    She’s so beautiful, very stylish too. Being from the UK the only picture I’d ever really seen of her was the wedding one where she’s looking towards him, never knew how well she dressed. Such a glam couple.

  9. First House on the Right July 18, 2011 | 12:38 am

    You’re absolutely right, they were the Will & Kate of their time. Effortlessly stylish, a beautiful pair. Nicolex

  10. wild thyme flowers July 18, 2011 | 12:42 am

    She’s still my style icon. And like so many others I had the biggest crush on John Jr. I was living in London UK when the news broke. And oddly enough at Heathrow Airport seeing my neice off back to Canada…..One of those moments you never forget…….

  11. Jean Molesworth Kee July 18, 2011 | 12:58 am

    Beautiful post. I remember the day that plane went down vividly– so sad. The photos are such a reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.

  12. Claudia Lane July 18, 2011 | 1:13 am

    So gorgeous…what a very sad time indeed…
    Claudia xo

  13. Miss Rubio July 18, 2011 | 1:49 am

    I love this post…thanks for sharing these timeless photos. I was obsessed with them just as I am now of Will and Kate. Heartbroken when they passed, I taped hours on end of live coverage and specials after they died.

  14. vignette design July 18, 2011 | 3:05 am

    They were so gorgeous. Timeless. It makes me so sad to think of them and what could have been. They definitely were royalty. ~Delores

  15. Karena July 18, 2011 | 3:45 am

    It is events such as this that remind us of the fragility and uncertainty of life. Indeed a classic and very happy young Kennedy couple.

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

  16. Jewels July 18, 2011 | 3:51 am

    Great beauty, style, and charisma.

  17. Brillante Interiors July 18, 2011 | 5:38 am

    What a great collection of images, Heather, and how sad these memories of another Kennedy’s tragedy!

  18. Bitten London July 18, 2011 | 11:16 am

    What fabulous, timeless shots. Thanks for sharing!

  19. phoebes in santa fe July 18, 2011 | 12:47 pm

    I remember I was in England, and my traveling friend and I had just checked into our hotel and were in our rooms unpacking. She came in and told me to turn on the TV. My first thought, swear to god, was, “Thank God Jackie is dead”.

    As beautiful and stylish as Carolyn Besette was, John was the one who was effortlessly “cool”. Nearly everything I’ve read about him over the years by friends concerned his kind nature. He was about 10 years younger than I am and I had followed he and Caroline since they were in the White House.

    I was very impressed by the way Jackie raised those kids under difficult circumstances.

  20. Anonymous July 18, 2011 | 1:29 pm

    Love her clean and simple style. The fact that they chose the haunting Georgia coast to be married endears this couple to me even more. What a beautiful couple.

  21. Summer July 18, 2011 | 2:06 pm

    I don’t like to hear the term American royalty since there is no such thing. This couple would be the last I would even consider for that pretend title maybe because I am older and have an experienced perspective. To my generation, they were, sadly, troubled kids.

  22. Vintage Green July 18, 2011 | 2:09 pm

    Beautiful…………..
    thanks for sharing this post.

  23. kayce hughes July 18, 2011 | 3:33 pm

    so true!

  24. Bourbon&Pearls July 18, 2011 | 4:21 pm

    Thank you for this, she was and always will be my style icon.

  25. Christine B July 18, 2011 | 9:21 pm

    what i remember about jfk jr. was that he took three times before he passed the bar (probably it was rigged in his favor) and that after his death, it was found he owed a lot of money to his nearby video store for his extensive rental of pornography. never understood the interest in him or in “camelot”.

  26. ZoeB July 18, 2011 | 9:21 pm

    They were so stylish. Kate and William have no where near as much style. I thought Kate looked quite frumpy ( not sure if that word is used in the States- Old fashioned) and way too thin.
    ZoeB

  27. Chic Coastal Living July 18, 2011 | 11:30 pm

    They were a beautiful couple….it’s so sad they were so young when they died. I would have loved to have seen where and what they would being doing now. Great post

  28. The Devoted Classicist July 19, 2011 | 1:16 am

    I never met her, but he was the nicest.

  29. Maureen Sullivan Stemberg, Interiors July 19, 2011 | 1:36 am

    Heather,

    Such a lovely post for indeed…Our American Royality.
    I must had look at these beautiful photo’s at least three times and certainly will go back again…Hard to believe.
    So sad. Thank you!

  30. Alice Olive July 19, 2011 | 3:34 pm

    Yep, she pretty much never put a foot wrong sartorially. Love her minimal style. As you say, timeless!

  31. Richie Designs July 19, 2011 | 9:11 pm

    gosh I remember that day…

    they were both so lovely

  32. DiamondsandTulle July 29, 2011 | 4:29 am

    Ahh.. these pics… make me so sad we had such a tragic loss. they were so fabulous.

    xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com