It was only a matter of time. With all of the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (CBK) mania that has preoccupied the style set for most of 2026, one could argue that the Duchess of Sussex is actually a little late to the game by channelling the late-Nineties fashion maven. But after a series of public outings, Meghan seems to have undergone a tacit style transformation that is undoubtedly aligned with CBK, accidentally or otherwise.
In case you missed it, CBK’s signature minimalist uniform has been dominating the sartorial discourse thanks to Love Story, the Disney+ TV series charting the former Calvin Klein publicist’s relationship with JFK Jr – the couple tragically died in a 1999 plane crash.
Everything from CBK’s skirts (pencil, fitted) and her sunglasses (oval, slim) to her headbands (tortoiseshell) and tailoring (classic) has been analysed, fawned over, and replicated. Brands have been cottoning on, with Calvin Klein cleverly releasing a Nineties-inspired collection, while the likes of Massimo Dutti, Zara, and Reformation have all been releasing campaign imagery that feels deeply CBK-coded.
To be clear, Meghan has always favoured minimalism. Many of her signature ensembles revolve around key CBK silhouettes: oversized shirts tucked into slim-fitting midi skirts, tailored wool coats with sharp shoulders, and high-waisted denim. But the parallels have become strikingly similar with Meghan’s most recent outings.
Take her appearance at the Alliance for Children’s Rights 34th Annual Champions for Children held in LA last month. The 44-year-old stepped out in a navy blue Ralph Lauren gown that featured a tight, strapless neckline and a form-fitting maxi length.
With no necklace, the former Suits star kept her chest bare, wearing just a pair of vintage Chanel gold button earrings. It was a key CBK look, particularly because she famously never wore jewellery, reminding fans of the black strapless dress she wore to a 1998 gala with JFK Jr.
More recently, though, we’ve seen Meghan continuing this trajectory on her Australia tour with the Duke of Sussex. As part of the four-day tour, the couple have been meeting with military veterans and have toured a children’s hospital.
Walking with patients and staff in the Kelpie garden on a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Meghan kept her outfit simple in a black, sleeveless, tailored dress by Australian designer Karen Gee with double-breasted gold buttons. Featuring a fitted bodice and a full skirt, the frock was a minimalistic classic, with an additional CBK nod coming by way of Meghan’s hair, which was styled in a neat, high ponytail.
Perhaps the most striking similarity, though, came on Tuesday when Harry and Meghan visited the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum. For the occasion, the duchess wore a khaki co-ord from Australian brand St Agni that paid homage to one of CBK’s most beloved combinations: the pencil skirt and sleeveless knitted polo-neck, which was from P Johnson. Meghan accessorised the outfit with a classic pair of white Aquazzura stilettos.
None of this is surprising. In fact, it makes perfect fashion sense for Meghan to be emulating CBK. After all, their roles in public life are not dissimilar. As a Kennedy, JFK Jr was the closest thing America had to royalty, and indeed, the parallels between himself and Harry are striking enough for Love Story to have pointed them out in its penultimate episode, drawing comparisons between their respective losses, with the death of Princess Diana and the assassination of JFK, respectively.
Meghan has paid homage to Diana through her wardrobe several times, and did so at the Alliance for Children’s Rights 34th Annual Champions for Children by donning a Cartier gold Tank Française watch that once belonged to her late mother-in-law. So perhaps the CBK emulation is all a subtle part of her strategy, too. A way of celebrating the life and legacy of another exceptionally famous woman who was taken too soon – CBK was just 33 when she died.
If that’s the case, we’re all here for it. Meghan has always nailed a minimalistic look, but with these additional CBK-coded flourishes, she’s bringing them into the zeitgeist with newfound force, cementing her status as one of the most influential first ladies of fashion. Much like CBK.
