Look of the Week: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Fans Say Hollywood Is Getting Her All Wrong

When Ryan Murphy shared a first glimpse of his upcoming biopic American Love Story, he probably expected buzz. But what he got was backlash—from a very stylish and very vocal corner of the internet.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy fans weren’t just displeased. They were devastated.

The late fashion icon’s signature look—elegant, minimalist, seemingly effortless—was, according to critics, completely missed. From the “wrong” shade of blonde hair to a stiff-looking camel coat and an oddly lifeless Birkin bag, everything felt off.

“This is a fashion travesty,” one user wrote on Murphy’s Instagram post teasing the new series. Others called the fabrics “shoddy” and the drape “all wrong.” Some lamented that “Carolyn would never put these looks together.”

Even her original colorist, Brad Johns, weighed in. Speaking to Vogue, he said the hair shade chosen for actress Sarah Pidgeon (who plays Bessette-Kennedy) was far from accurate. “No one would believe that Carolyn in the ’90s would ever have that color from me. It’s too 2024,” he said. “When she sees that color, she’s going to be swirling in heaven.”

So why does this matter so much to so many people?

Why the Reaction Feels So Personal

At first glance, the internet’s intense reaction to a few promo photos from a biopic might seem overblown. But Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wasn’t just another celebrity with good style—she was a woman whose wardrobe told a story, every day.

Her rise from Calvin Klein’s PR department to American royalty as John F. Kennedy Jr.’s wife captivated the public. But her impact ran deeper than who she married. Bessette-Kennedy had a kind of self-assured grace that made even the simplest outfit iconic. Clean lines, muted tones, unassuming silhouettes—she was minimalism personified.

“She wasn’t of this earth,” designer Gabriela Hearst once said. And fashion fans agree. In fact, in 2024, Sotheby’s auctioned off a small collection of her clothes—from designers like Prada and Yohji Yamamoto—for a stunning $177,600. Her influence hasn’t faded in the 25 years since her tragic death. If anything, it’s only grown.

So it’s no surprise that Murphy’s portrayal is under a microscope.

The Stakes Are Higher in the Age of the Biopic

Biopics are booming. Over 20 hit screens in 2023 alone, with at least 10 more in the pipeline. And with each one, audience expectations grow. Gone are the days when a general resemblance and a good script were enough. Now, it’s all about total transformation.

Gary Oldman famously spent over 200 hours in hair and makeup to become Winston Churchill. Lily James wore a fake forehead and dentures to channel Pamela Anderson. Marisa Abela wore Amy Winehouse’s actual cardigan for Back to Black. And in a film about Bob Dylan, designers worked with Levi’s to recreate his exact 1960s jeans cut.

When it comes to fashion icons, the clothes are the character. And in Bessette-Kennedy’s case, they’re sacred. Her wardrobe wasn’t an accessory to her persona—it was central to how she was perceived and remembered.

As one stylist put it in response to Murphy’s teaser: “The wardrobe is a main character in this story. This breaks my heart.”

Carolyn’s Legacy Is Still Unfolding

Only two actresses have ever portrayed Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on screen—Portia de Rossi in 2003 and Erica Cox in 2017—and both performances flew largely under the radar. Murphy’s American Love Story, which is set to stream on Hulu in 2026, is poised to be the most mainstream depiction yet.

But that means the pressure is on. Especially now, when new books, Instagram accounts, and viral TikToks dedicated to her look have turned Bessette-Kennedy into a modern-day fashion muse for a new generation. She’s not just admired—she’s studied.

That obsessive interest brings rewards, but also risks. More fans mean more scrutiny. And in a culture that’s never been more tuned in to the details, getting them wrong can feel like a betrayal.

More Than a Look—It Was Who She Was

Ultimately, the uproar over a coat, a bag, or a hair color isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about preserving the essence of a woman who defined a particular kind of modern American elegance. A woman who made millions feel that style didn’t have to shout to be powerful.

For her admirers, to misrepresent Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on screen is more than just a costume misstep—it’s a failure to honor someone who, through fashion, made minimalism feel deeply personal.

And that’s a legacy fans aren’t willing to see lost in translation.

Source: CNN – Look of the Week: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and the heightened stakes of costume design