Behind the Scenes: Recreating Carolyn Bessette's Iconic Style for FX's Love Story

Capturing an Icon's Style

• 💡 The production team for FX's "Love Story" series aimed to accurately recreate the look and aesthetic of Carolyn Bessette, a recognized 90s fashion icon.
• 🎯 Collaborating with Ryan Murphy, the team included seven fashion experts or academics to ensure specific style details were captured correctly.

Research and Sourcing Authentic Pieces

• 🔍 Research involved extensive use of photographs from 1996 onwards and relied heavily on Sunita Kumar Nair, author of a CBK book, for insights into earlier periods.
• 🛍️ The team diligently sourced actual runway pieces and original items from private collectors and vendors, including a Prada camel military coat and a camel Prada skirt.

Carolyn's Fashion DNA

• 📌 Carolyn's style lexicon included unique elements like wearing cardigans around her neck instead of scarves and frequently donning Calvin Klein.
• ✨ Her wardrobe featured designs from Yohji Yamamoto, described as "armor" for women, which resonated with her guarded and elusive public persona amidst intense media scrutiny.
• 👖 Other iconic pieces included a mumu faux fur coat and her famous 517 Levi's jeans, requiring the team to acquire about 100 pairs to find the perfect fit.

Evolving Beauty and Hair

• 💄 The character's makeup evolved from a more natural look with fuller brows and neutral lips to a more covered, matte finish with signature pops of red as she entered the Kennedy world.
• 💇‍♀️ Transforming the actress's hair involved a full team and a long process of gradual lifting to achieve a lighter, more sophisticated 90s palette, including sourcing naturally wavy hair for seamless extensions.

The Enduring "Carolyn Effect"

• 🚀 Carolyn Bessette's style was understated, simple, and trendsetting, influencing others to adopt her look by the end of the series.
• ✅ Her beauty and fashion choices are still revered and replicated 30 years later, highlighting her lasting impact as a pop culture icon.