What makes a person like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy such an enduring style icon? For one thing, having an arsenal of outfits that people cannot stop thinking about (and replicating) decades later. A major tabloid fixture in the 1990s, thanks to her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr., CBK and her wardrobe full of great coats, sleek shoes, and well-cut jeans have been a constant presence on mood boards ever since.
One of the pillar pieces in her well-documented closet? Her classic denim. Bessette-Kennedy’s bootcut jeans became so famous that the costume department of the new Ryan Murphy series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. Carolyn Bessette went to great lengths to recreate them. “We fitted some Levi’s so that they looked exactly how they fit Carolyn,” star Sarah Pidgeon, who portrays CBK in the show, recently told Vogue.
In fact, CBK’s go-to style—Levi’s 517s—are surprisingly affordable, and still available to shop today. The brand first introduced the bootcut silhouette back in 1969, and it’s remained a popular shape ever since, given just how well the flared leg pairs with a boot or pair of heels. (CBK, for one, wore them both ways.)
Though I have long been inspired by CBK’s smart, timeless sense of style, it turns out that I, too, have been drawn to those very same jeans over the years. I remember buying my first 517s back in high school in the 2000s, when I developed a love for 1970s fashion. The bootcut shape felt reminiscent of bell-bottoms, but subtler and more modern. Later, as I grew into my adult years, I realized how nicely they pair with a heeled boot for everyday wear, and how sophisticated and elevated that combination can feel, without much effort.
But such was the beauty of CBK’s approach to fashion: She could take the most unassuming or dressed-down pieces, and instantly make them feel (and look) like a million bucks. So, while I was not directly influenced by CBK to invest in 517s, I’ve realized that she was totally ahead of her time. Even in 2026, they remain fashion’s stealthiest and chicest jean.
