As the world came together last week to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the tragic death of the much loved 35th President of The United States, John F Kennedy Jr, we remember not only what a legendary figure JFK is, and what conspiracy surrounds his death, but what an icon his wife Jackie Onassis Kennedy, was. From 1961 until her husbands assassination in 1963, Jackie O was The First Lady admired around the world for her timeless style and grace. Jackie was a lady who was famous for her classic outfits of simple silhouettes, classic colours, perfect tailoring and luxurious dressmaking fabrics. Hers is a look that has been much emulated and she is still considered to be one of the most influential and admired style icons of the past century. There is not a fashionista the world over who does not covet her simple yet effective approach to fashion and beauty.
With our gorgeous range of dressmaking fabrics, it is possible to recreate many of Jackie Kennedy's most famous looks from the sleek shift dress to demure tweed skirts suits and a pillbox hat, to add a touch of Jackie's undeniable style magic to your wardrobe.
[caption id="attachment_5916" align="alignleft" width="200"] The First Lady showcasing her classic and elegant style.[/caption]
Whilst on the campaign trail, the sheath style dress adorned with an oversized bow became a classic look for Mrs. Kennedy, elegant in it's simplicity this is a timeless look which can be worn by almost anybody. Jackie favoured luxury, natural dressmaking fabrics such as raw silk and linen for this look, for a beautiful and simplistic summer dress our Blades Linen Fabrics are the ideal choice. Linen is renowned for its coolness and freshness and has long been utilised by the fashion industry for lightweight summer dresses. This is a versatile look which can easily be taken through to winter with our heavier dressmaking fabrics such as Memphis Bi-Stretch, teamed with a cardigan or a wrap and a simple set of classic pearls this look is gorgeous all year round.
Jackie Kennedy was an expert at making even the most simple outfits breathtakingly stylish for example, a simple sweater teamed with a pair of beautifully cut trousers. Jackie favoured the boatneck neckline which is a wonderful way of giving an almost swanlike appearance to your neck. Our range of wools are perfect for recreating the simple All-American sweater look, teamed with a pair of perfectly tailored trousers.
For evening engagements, Jackie was regularly photographed in strong-silhouetted evening gowns which showcased her statuesque figure like the famous bubble-gum pink design which Jackie wore for a White House state dinner in May 1962. For your evening engagements, our range of satin dressmaking fabrics are perfect for re-creating this simple but stunningly effective design. Our satin back crepe is a stunning dressmaking fabric which compromises the elegant shine of satin with a textured back, perfect for formal wear. The soft pink hue perfectly complemented Jackie's stunning raven locks and our satin dressmaking fabrics are available in this and many other shades to suit all styles and complexions.
For Jackie, with the eyes of the world on her at all times, there was never such a thing as a "day off" but during her down time, Jackie made the scarf an ultra-stylish accessory. Either worn kerchief style around her neck or as a bohemian head wrap, this simple accessory showcased Jackie's effortlessly chic style. You can achieve this look at low cost by using our gorgeous satin dressmaking fabrics, for a more luxurious feel our silk fabrics are ideal for making you feel a million dollars.
The iconic pink suit by Chanel worn by Jackie on that fateful day November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas is perhaps, tragically, her most iconic look of all and is an outfit that Jackie wore several times. Jackie favoured this look for many of her state engagements and was regularly seen in tweed skirts suits in an array of colours. This is a classically stunning look which is suitable for many engagements and events. Our melton fabric is the ideal choice for recreating this design, this gorgeous dressmaking fabric is similar in texture to wool, so much so it is difficult to tell the difference and is a very smart and practical addition to your wardrobe.
Jackie's style focussed on impeccably crafted clothes of simple, elegant lines made every woman in the world want to look like her. She taught us much about style and grace, not least when all else fails, throw on your over-sized sunglasses and you are ready to face the world!
Until next time!
Calico Laine