Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Costumes Shine in 'Love Story' Miniseries

While the show has received mixed reviews, the costumes accurately capture the late fashion icon's effortless style.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The new FX miniseries 'Love Story,' which dramatizes the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, has faced some criticism over its portrayal of the late couple. However, the show's costume design has been praised for authentically capturing Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's signature minimalist and understated fashion sense.

Why it matters

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has become a fashion icon in the decades since her tragic death, with her style being treated as almost mythical. The costumes in 'Love Story' aim to provide a more nuanced understanding of her approach to fashion, which was rooted in comfort and simplicity rather than strict rules.

The details

The costume designer, Rudy Mance, worked closely with a fashion biographer to source pieces from the brands and collections Bessette Kennedy favored, including Prada coats and Levi's denim. The costumes highlight Bessette Kennedy's ability to make even the most casual looks, like a black turtleneck and sweatpants, appear sophisticated.

  • The first three episodes of 'Love Story' premiered on February 14, 2026.

The players

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

The late wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. and a fashion icon known for her minimalist and understated style.

Rudy Mance

The costume designer for the FX miniseries 'Love Story,' who worked to authentically capture Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's fashion sense.

Sunita Kumar Nair

The author of a fashion biography of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who consulted with the costume designer to ensure the accuracy of the costumes.

Sarah Pidgeon

The actress who portrays Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the 'Love Story' miniseries.

Paul Anthony Kelly

The actor who portrays John F. Kennedy Jr. in the 'Love Story' miniseries.

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What they’re saying

“The costumes show us that Bessette Kennedy (then just Bessette) had the knowledge of fashion's latest shifts, if not the budget to blow thousands of dollars at Barneys, and the intelligence to show it off without fanfare.”

— Rachel Tashjian, Author (CNN.com)

“Bessette Kennedy was an exacting dresser insofar as she knew what made her feel comfortable. While many of her formal looks present her as bracingly refined, a shield against the unforgiving paparazzi and gossip columns, the show highlights a slovenly streak that heightened her appeal — the unbrushed hair, the wrinkled clothes pulled from a pile on a chair, the ability to make sweatpants look sophisticated.”

— Rachel Tashjian, Author (CNN.com)

The takeaway

The costumes in 'Love Story' provide a more nuanced understanding of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's fashion sense, which was rooted in comfort and simplicity rather than strict rules. This helps to humanize a figure who has become a mythical fashion icon, showing that her style was more intuitive than it is often portrayed.