Tailored for History: Jackie Kennedy’s Lasting Legacy
Yesterday, July 28, was the 96th anniversary of the day First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was born in Southampton, New York. “Jackie,” as she was affectionately known, modernized the role of First Lady in innumerable ways, but of course she is also remembered as a style legend and trendsetter. In honor of the birthday of the former First Lady and “Queen” of Camelot, we’re looking back at some of her most iconic looks and moments, pulled from the photographs in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, which is part of the National Archives system. Suit up for a journey across fashion and political history.
Jackie spent most of her childhood in New York City and moved to Connecticut for boarding school. After graduating from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., she worked as “the inquiring camera girl” for the Washington Times-Herald paper in 1951, where she both interviewed and photographed prominent political figures, including a young Congressman from California, Richard Nixon.
It was during this reporting stint that she came across Congressman John F. Kennedy, whom she married in 1953. Jackie’s wedding look, commissioned by African American designer Ann Lowe, endures as one of the most famous wedding gowns of all time.
Equestrian riding was one of Jackie’s beloved lifelong endeavors. As a child, she amassed an array of national championship medals by the age of 11. Her love for horses did not stop when she moved into the White House. The family kept several horses, most of whom were stabled in Virginia. “Sardar” was a gift from the President of Pakistan, while another pony, “Tex,” came from none other than Vice President Lyndon Johnson. Jackie taught Caroline and John, Jr. how to ride, though both John, Jr. and his father were allergic to horsehair.
The 1960s saw a turning point in women’s fashion, with more room for individuality, color, and a penchant for the “mod” look. Jackie Kennedy played no small role in popularizing accessories such as A-line dresses, oversized sunglasses, and perhaps most famously, the pillbox hat. Jackie often sported one of these circular headpieces that matched the color and fabric of her suits or overcoats on official White House business or trips. Beyond the photos shown below, the JFK Presidential Library actually has one of these hats in their collections.
Like First Ladies before and after her, Jackie had a signature initiative: the arts. As First Lady, she hosted many dinners for artists and performers, attended shows, and invited renowned artists to the White House. Her love for art and American culture is best exemplified by her White House restoration project, during which she refurbished several wings of the building. This program established the Fine Arts Committee for the White House, which set standards for collecting and preserving the decorative arts of the White House, as well as the White House Historical Society. Ultimately, it was important to Jackie to live up to the promise of making the White House “the people’s house.”
Even after she suffered a tremendous personal loss, Jacqueline Kennedy continued to promote America’s cultural and artistic heritage. In commemorating her birthday, we reflect on her legacy of public service.
