In commemoration of what would have been the 94th birthday of the former First Lady, let's delve into the narrative behind one of her most memorable ensembles.
The year 2021 witnessed Olivia Rodrigo's White House visit capturing attention not only for her impactful vaccination awareness campaign alongside President Biden but also for her fashion choice.
The 20-year-old singer opted for a vintage Chanel skirt suit in a delicate shade of pink for her Oval Office appearance. Almost immediately, comparisons surfaced with another historic pink suit worn by Jackie Kennedy on the tragic day her husband, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated.
On that fateful November 22, 1963, Jackie donned a pink Chanel suit, adhering to the practice of First Ladies wearing American-made attire. The ensemble, crafted from boucle fabric, featured a navy lapel and gold buttons. Complementing the skirt suit were a matching pink pillbox hat, white gloves, and several strands of pearls around her neck.
During the motorcade in Dallas, Texas, where JFK was fatally shot, Jackie was seated beside him. The president's blood stained the pink fabric, creating a poignant and lasting image. Despite the trauma, Jackie adamantly refused to clean herself up or remove the blood-soaked suit, reportedly stating, "Let them see what they've done."
Following Jackie's passing, the suit, despite its historical significance, was preserved and donated to the national archives. However, in deference to preserving the memory of the late President and sparing the family from painful recollections, Caroline Kennedy, Jackie's daughter, has opted not to display the suit until at least 2103. Decades after President Kennedy's tragic death, the stained pink suit remains a symbol of Jackie's unwavering loyalty to her husband and her resilience in the face of overwhelming tragedy.
