Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bassette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carolyn was a very pretty woman but I never understood the hype behind her personal style.

I did. She looked like someone who was effortlessly beautiful. A total it girl. Granted, I was 10 years old when she passed away so I’m sure what appeared effortless to me actually required a lot of maintenance.

Except her face was far from beautiful. I’m actually shocked JFK jr dated her.

Carolyn was an example of someone truly making the most of her looks in every possible way. It's true her face was not conventionally beautiful. And someone else would have handed that by getting plastic surgery or trying to "correct" things like her more prominent nose or her hooded eyelids. Instead, she embraced them via a stripped down style. Minimal makeup with emphasis on strong lip color and little else. She often parted her hair in middle or in a severe way that drew attention to her face and its features. No bangs or shorter layers near her face, and she often slicked her hair back or used a headband to highlight her facial features. She was tall and super thin, and she wore clothes that emphasized both things. She stuck to black and white for most of her clothes, rarely wore patterns or anything that would pull attention.

And it worked. She was magnetic looking. Like, yes, I get what you're saying that her face was not what we think of when we think of beauty. But look at her and tell me that she wouldn't be the most striking and appealing woman in most rooms she entered:

Jackie was not conventionally beautiful at all either, and yet. There is more than one way to be striking and stylish and it's sad people now feel there is a mold of perfect little neat features to conform to, or else.

I agree (though I don’t like Carolyn’s style myself). I hope you appreciate the irony of all these people in 2026 trying to confirm to Carolyn’s mold.

Yep, neither Jackie nor Carolyn was conventionally beautiful or pretty. If you look at old pictures and read the accounts, the most conventionally beautiful Kennedy wife was by far Joan.

Interesting. I have always found Jackie quite striking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carolyn was a very pretty woman but I never understood the hype behind her personal style.

I did. She looked like someone who was effortlessly beautiful. A total it girl. Granted, I was 10 years old when she passed away so I’m sure what appeared effortless to me actually required a lot of maintenance.

Except her face was far from beautiful. I’m actually shocked JFK jr dated her.

Carolyn was an example of someone truly making the most of her looks in every possible way. It's true her face was not conventionally beautiful. And someone else would have handed that by getting plastic surgery or trying to "correct" things like her more prominent nose or her hooded eyelids. Instead, she embraced them via a stripped down style. Minimal makeup with emphasis on strong lip color and little else. She often parted her hair in middle or in a severe way that drew attention to her face and its features. No bangs or shorter layers near her face, and she often slicked her hair back or used a headband to highlight her facial features. She was tall and super thin, and she wore clothes that emphasized both things. She stuck to black and white for most of her clothes, rarely wore patterns or anything that would pull attention.

And it worked. She was magnetic looking. Like, yes, I get what you're saying that her face was not what we think of when we think of beauty. But look at her and tell me that she wouldn't be the most striking and appealing woman in most rooms she entered:

Jackie was not conventionally beautiful at all either, and yet. There is more than one way to be striking and stylish and it's sad people now feel there is a mold of perfect little neat features to conform to, or else.

+1. Part of what’s striking about Carolyn is that she was beautiful without looking like every other conventionally beautiful blonde. She had a beautiful body, gorgeous hair, and striking eyes. I actually think her less conventional looks made her seem more interesting to people subconsciously.

And I know plenty of women like Carolyn who married rich. They weren’t the most naturally beautiful people in the room, but they were thin, disciplined and put together. Most had more impressive pedigrees though. More like Jackie in that sense - from the right families, went to the right schools and were polished in an intentional but subtle way. Carolyn came from an UMC background and went to BU. So it was other factors - namely her looks, dedication to her appearance and her line of work (which was also somewhat related to her looks and dedication to her appearance) that put her in JFK jr.’s orbit.

I think it was less about looks and the fact that she wasn’t pedigreed or famous and she was able to “pull” and “lock down” America’s Prince. Inspiring for the regular degular folk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am watching the ABC show about them tonight, with archival photos. Carolyn was actually stunning in college. I am not sure John would have been considered gorgeous, if he was Joe Schmoe. His hair looks bushy.

In no world, is John not gorgeous. Sorry.

It really is against every fiber of my being to post this because I don't want to sound mean, but the resurgance of all the photos of them strikes me every.single.time in the same way: they were both pretty average looking people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am watching the ABC show about them tonight, with archival photos. Carolyn was actually stunning in college. I am not sure John would have been considered gorgeous, if he was Joe Schmoe. His hair looks bushy.

In no world, is John not gorgeous. Sorry.

It really is against every fiber of my being to post this because I don't want to sound mean, but the resurgance of all the photos of them strikes me every.single.time in the same way: they were both pretty average looking people.

Have to disagree in his case.

[Anonymous]

JFK, JR was gorgeous.

[Anonymous]

They were both very attractive and real looking. In today’s world, Carolyn may have had a nose job and lip injections and would have looked so cookie cutter and not as striking. I loved seeing the 90s.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am watching the ABC show about them tonight, with archival photos. Carolyn was actually stunning in college. I am not sure John would have been considered gorgeous, if he was Joe Schmoe. His hair looks bushy. [/quote]

In no world, is John not gorgeous. Sorry. [/quote]

It really is against every fiber of my being to post this because I don't want to sound mean, but the resurgance of all the photos of them strikes me every.single.time in the same way: they were both pretty average looking people. [/quote]


Pp here. I found her attractive but still rather average, but John…he turns heads and would turns head without his pedigree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am watching the ABC show about them tonight, with archival photos. Carolyn was actually stunning in college. I am not sure John would have been considered gorgeous, if he was Joe Schmoe. His hair looks bushy.

In no world, is John not gorgeous. Sorry.

It really is against every fiber of my being to post this because I don't want to sound mean, but the resurgance of all the photos of them strikes me every.single.time in the same way: they were both pretty average looking people.

Have to disagree in his case.

He looks so much like his Mom with his Dad’s face structure. Handsome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The actress playing Carolyn doesn’t capture her essence at all. She seems like she belongs on gossip girl or something. I’m enjoying the show but these two don’t hold a flame to the real deals.

It’s interesting because in the crown, I felt like they did a really good job portraying young Charles and Diana. I’m just not feeling the personas here. It’s great 90s nostalgia though. They capture the decade well.

elaborate

[Anonymous]

They looked polished but in a relaxed way, could be intentional but it attracted people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am watching the ABC show about them tonight, with archival photos. Carolyn was actually stunning in college. I am not sure John would have been considered gorgeous, if he was Joe Schmoe. His hair looks bushy.

In no world, is John not gorgeous. Sorry.

It really is against every fiber of my being to post this because I don't want to sound mean, but the resurgance of all the photos of them strikes me every.single.time in the same way: they were both pretty average looking people.

Agreed.

But remember: at the time, Hollywood was shoving average looking actors down our throats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listening to the Prestige TV podcast about this and they report that Netflix is doing a The Crown-style series about the Kennedys starting at the beginning with Michael Fassbender as Joe Sr.

Is it based on the old book Captains and the Kings? That is a fantastic book about the Kennedys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to the Prestige TV podcast about this and they report that Netflix is doing a The Crown-style series about the Kennedys starting at the beginning with Michael Fassbender as Joe Sr.

Is it based on the old book Captains and the Kings? That is a fantastic book about the Kennedys.

No, it’s JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century by Fredrik Logevall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like this show (except for the penultimate just the two of them in the loft thing) but it also got me thinking of just how stupid their problems are.

Okay, you like Montana a lot so why not move there and live a quiet life. No? You have to run George? Okay, at least move to a more secure building on the UES where you can come and go in a dark car with its own entrance/exit. Papps won't be able to get shots of you and will lose interest. I know you can't get away from the scrutiny but how about live your life for a while and just try ignoring people. There wasn't even social media then. Get a job at a fashion house, many will be willing to take you. The one time paparazzi was there has cost you Ralph Lauren and apparently every opportunity forever? You don't want to work? That's fine, but what do you want to do? You should have married a rich and anonymous man then.

Totally agree. Like, at least get a driver and a car with tinted windows.

[Anonymous]

I keep thinking of Caroline. she has endured unimaginable loss.