Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

[pasfoti]

Timeless Elegance

 

[sabrina2]

DP Woman-

I read that book.

I read it initially because I was just obsessed with her when she was alive; thought she had great style but mainly because she was an imperfect beauty (not that it was so imperfect that it was attainable - i mean, she was gorgeous - but her style and beauty could inspire me to reach an understanding that looking nice (nice hair, taking care of your skin, body, etc., can do wonders; you don't have to be cindy crawford but as long as you look good) is a major factor.

anyway, re: the book - i initially (like the first 30 pages) was just annoyed with everything in that book. i felt like she was cashing in on her friendship with them, it was written under the guise of losing her friends and husband and her struggle to deal with it but it turned out to be yet another piece on how "special' carolyn bessette was (if you read articles, everybody who knew her claimed that she was just "special" which is kind of annoying after awhile), etc. I also thought her writing style was very cliched, etc.

BUT - after i got past the first 1/4 of the book, i completely changed my mind. I actually cried at the end of the book. This woman wrote something so powerful about being a mate to somebody who died young (anthony radziwill) and losing other people who were close to her at a young age. it was really profound, i thought. she also wrote in detail about her husbands treatments and it was just really, really incredible. it made me realize how lucky i am to not have to deal with that, and also how some people are judged (just as i did) was too early.

honestly, i recommend the book. it was incredible. an a quick read - i finished it in a weekend because i couldn't put it down.

I finished the book not too long ago as well - also in a weekend! It's called "What Remains" by Carole Radziwill, to the person who asked, I'm not sure if that has been specifically mentioned yet. My thoughts were very similar - I actually thought the beginning was a little drawn out, going through her childhood, etc., and I didn't find it entirely convincing. However, there was a turning point, and after that I think it was one of the most touching books I have ever read. I agree that we often hear how "special" CBK was, but I thought the author really demonstrated this quality in a way that I have not understood before through the media. I cried as well, and couldn't stop thinking about the book for days. She showed the human qualities of JFK jr and his wife, not to mention Lee and Anthony Radziwill, that we don't get from the overdone articles on the tragedy of Camelot, etc. I would definitely recommend this book.

 

[bonapartept]

I ordered that book last weekend from Amazon and I'm waiting for it. It must be arriving any minute now...
Have you seen Carole Radziwill's interview on Oprah? I saw it last week (yes, that's how late it runs here in Portugal ) and loved the way she described Carolyn. That despite the sometimes "cold" image she passed through pictures she was an incredible friend that stood by Anthony's (radziwill) hospital bedside for hours rubbing his feet to keep them warm. And that she was a"touching type" of people that liked to hug and touch people a lot.

 

[chonchon75]

I'm totally sure that Carlyn stay a big fashion icone ! I love her she was absolutly wonderful !
Thanks for lot of pics !! they are beautiful !

 

[shoes319]

I've been reading the book for a few days now and it is very good. I find her style to be amazing.....simple yet elegant! Sometimes I want to have that (and do) and other times I'm a little funky with bright colors, etc. -- It is just so sad that her (their) lives ended so early...

 

[Harumi]

Carolyn in 1996 with Kate (from one of my post in Moss' thread)

 

[Ybmug]

I love her style and I think she and JFK Jr looked great together!!!! The perfect couple.

 

[Liz5]

Ok, on the topic of books, I just finished reading "Four Blondes" by Candace Bushnell. As a gossip-monger for anything to do with CBK, there is no way that Platinum (a character in the book) is not based on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Regardless of how I feel about the gossip that has come out in recent years (after her death), this character has every aspect of Carolyn's life. For example, supposedly Carolyn broke into Michael Bergin's apt after they broke up and smashed his TV in a fit of rage (that's what his book says anyway). "Platinum", the character in Bushnell's book, did the same thing to an ex-lover. That's just one of the similarities. And Bushnell wrote this book well before Bergin's cheesy memoir was published, so it's not as if Bushnell read about it and then incorporated it into her book. , Candace Bushnell, who I can't stand (but I'll still read her stuff ) claims the character is not based on CBK but come on! Anybody else read it and care to contribute? The character is just too close to everything about CBK.

 

[HiHeels]

Carolyn in 1996 with Kate (from one of my post in Moss' thread)

Harumi-
i enjoyed your slide show avatar of dita.

this is a very interesting picture. for one thing, it demonstrates the different appeal of these 2 beauties - kate doesn't look real, and carolyn does. i don't find cbk's style intimidating, but she is nonetheless captivating.
i'm confused about the height though. kate is supposed to be short, for a model. 5'6 or 5'7, and carolyn is supposed to be nearly 6', so either kate is wearing super high heels and carolyn is nearly barefoot, or else kate is levitating.

 

[cheiby11]

you're right... it's strange

 

[Whitelinen]

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy had easily the best celebrity style, if we are not counting the people from the "old times" ( Hepburns, Kelly, Monroe, Deneuve, Kennedy etc. from that era ). This is the best thread in the whole Star Style-cathegory.

 

[HiHeels]

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy had easily the best celebrity style, if we are not counting the people from the "old times" ( Hepburns, Kelly, Monroe, Deneuve, Kennedy etc. from that era ). This is the best thread in the whole Star Style-cathegory.

I agree. And since she never tried to have a style influence, she is mysterious. Similar to those other sirens you mentioned, who did not have their picture snapped everytime they exited a public restroom. There is relatively little press coverage of her (though I'm sure she felt otherwise). And I do like that she was human. She is never a let down in any of the pictures because she never presented two (or more) personas, the way celebrities do (this is Madona in concert; this is Madona in adidas leaving yoga, etc.). She wasn't pushing a fake image, she was being her glamorous, stylish self, morning and night. So much fun to see.

Definitely a loss.

 

[Whitelinen]

Yes, she wasn't this obnoxious thing called " a celebrity " she was just a well-known person living her life, doing her work.

I have a minimalistic style, and a lot of people think minimalistic is boring. I've never thought that way, although I sometimes get distracted into " ok, maybe I should try something 'wilder' ". But looking at her, I know that minimalistic isn't boring and I get great inspiration.

 

[HiHeels]

Yes, she wasn't this obnoxious thing called " a celebrity " she was just a well-known person living her life, doing her work.

I have a minimalistic style, and a lot of people think minimalistic is boring. I've never thought that way, although I sometimes get distracted into " ok, maybe I should try something 'wilder' ". But looking at her, I know that minimalistic isn't boring and I get great inspiration.

for me, minimalism allows me to appreciate the smaller details, so there aren't fewer things to admire/appreciate, you just have to look closer. it's a more inimate appreciation. and i like that there is less to hide behind. we don't have enough pictures of CBK to satisfy us, but in the ones we do, we can really see her.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

this is a very interesting picture. for one thing, it demonstrates the different appeal of these 2 beauties - kate doesn't look real, and carolyn does. i don't find cbk's style intimidating, but she is nonetheless captivating.
i'm confused about the height though. kate is supposed to be short, for a model. 5'6 or 5'7, and carolyn is supposed to be nearly 6', so either kate is wearing super high heels and carolyn is nearly barefoot, or else kate is levitating.

Of course she can levitate! It's Kate Moss for Chrissakes!

I wish we would go back to the simple style of Carolyn and Kate back then in the minimalist glory days of the 1990s. This chintz and baubles is doing me 'ed in.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

OT but I just have to say that JFK Jr was one *fine* looking man.

Lol yeah. When I think of Apollo, I think of him, even though Apollo was meant to be blond

 

[texastess]

Getty Images

 

[manzana]

beautiful

 

[cheiby11]

I love them

 

[cheiby11]

www.simplycarolyn.com