Great Outfits in Fashion History: Jackie Kennedy's Pretty Pink Dior Gown

Revisit the former First Lady's impeccable style.

There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In 'Great Outfits in Fashion History,' Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis left an enduring fashion legacy during her time as First Lady.

Her style received a lot of media attention throughout her life, at the White House and beyond. Known for simplicity and elegance, she helped popularize a range of styles, from shift dresses to pillbox hats to tailored coats.

While Kennedy generally preferred streamlined cuts and muted colors, there were instances where she stepped out of her comfort zone. This was the case when she and President John F. Kennedy entertained the then-French minister of culture, Andre Malraux, and his wife Madeleine at the White House in 1962.

For the occasion, the First Lady wore a pastel pink Christian Dior evening gown designed by Guy Douvier. The dress —which is housed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston — was made of a silk-dupioni shantung, a slightly harder but more durable alternative to typical silk. The silhouette is appropriately formal, wrapping together in the back and tying into a stiff kabuki bow; meanwhile, the boned cotton net under the bodice provides structure.

Kennedy accessorized her bouffant hair with a sparkling silver sun-ray hairpin, matching her dangling earrings. She finished the look with elbow-length white gloves (another staple in the First Lady's wardrobe), a small gold clutch and a pair of pointed pink heels peeping out from below the hem of her dress.

Below, we've curated a few pieces to help you achieve Jackie O.'s timeless style.

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