Jackie’s signature shades were both stylish and functional. She has been quoted saying she liked the opportunity they gave her to watch people and that she kept multiple pairs of sunglasses in a basket by her front door.
Issue 01

From oversize shades to all white everything, we break down the timeless look of an American icon
Twenty years ago today, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died of cancer at the age of 64. Today, she’s remembered as a wife, mother and graceful figure who championed the arts and literature. But Jackie is also a bonafide fashion icon who inspired millions with her chic wardrobe and effortless style. During her initial year as First Lady, she reportedly spent $45,446 more on her wardrobe than the $100,000 annual salary her husband earned as president (which he donated to charity). Below, a breakdown of the elements that defined Jackie’s signature style.
Jackie started more than a few trends during her first year in the White House, including popularizing the pillbox hat. Many of her stylish chapeaus, which she often wore in different colors, were designed for her by Halston. She famously wore a pink suit and matching pillbox hat on the day her husband was assassinated.
U.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy on an official visit to Paris in 1961
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Oversize Sunglasses
Ron Galella—WireImage/Getty ImagesJackie Onassis on the streets of New York City on Oct. 7, 1971.
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Headscarves
Hulton Archive—Getty ImagesJackie Onassis walks through a busy street in Capri, Italy, in the early 1970s. Jackie had an ability to make even the most casual outfits look chic, and often paired headscarves with giant sunglasses when she was outdoors.
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Perfectly Styled Hair
APJackie Kennedy sits in the living room of her Washington, D.C., residence, March 27, 1960 during her husband's campaign. Though her hairstyle evolved over the years, Jackie’s voluminous coif was an integral part of her signature lookl. Her iconic bouffant was created by Kenneth Battelle, the famedhairdresser to the stars who also styled Marilyn Monroe.
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Elbow Length Gloves
Paul Schutzer—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesU.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy attends a luncheon with French President Charles DeGaulle (right) on June 2, 1961 in Washington, D.C. Gloves were another signature accessory for Jackie for both day and night. She favored white elbow length gloves at formal evening events, which were often commissioned by LaCrasia Gloves in New York City’s famed garment district.
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Bows
Art Rickerby—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesU.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy wears a fitted silk apricot dress and triple strand of pearls, walking through crowds at Udaipur during visit to India on March 1, 1962. Jackie often accented her famously tiny waist with strategically placed bows.
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Capes
CorbisU.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at the Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20, 1961 in Washington, D.C. Few people can carry off a cape, so it’s no surprise the dramatic accessory was a part of Jackie’s signature style as First Lady.
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Amazing Coats
Michael Ochs Archives—Getty ImagesJackie Kennedy visits Paris c. the late-1960s. Long before Olivia Poperocked every conceivable style of cold-weather cover-up, Jackie dazzled with her seemingly endless array of fabulous, covetable coats.
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Equestrian-Inspired Style
Bettmann/CorbisU.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy at the Piedmont Foxhounds Races in Upperville, Virginia on March 26, 1961. Having grown up riding horses, Jackie made equestrian garb look effortlessly chic.
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Matching Offspring
APJackie Kennedy with John F. Kennedy Jr. on Easter Sunday April 14, 1963, in Palm Beach, Fla. Jackie’s fashion sense extended to her children, which meant John and Caroline wore outfits that frequently complemented or matched their mother’s.
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White on White on White
Courtesy of Kennedy Library Archives/Newsmakers/Getty ImagesFrom right: U.S. President John F. Kennedy First Lady Jackie Kennedy attend the first America's Cup race on Sept. 9, 1962 in Newport, R.I. Jackie understood the power of the simple monochromatic look, and may have been the originator of the All White Everything look that’s back in fashion.
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