Sarah Pidgeon Evokes Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Iconic Style at Prada Milan Show
Actress Sarah Pidgeon brought a distinct touch of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's legendary fashion sense to the Prada show in Milan, arriving in a famously neutral colour palette that echoed the late style icon's preferences. Carolyn, who was married to John F. Kennedy Jr., had a widely-documented affection for the Prada fashion house, making Sarah's choice seem like a deliberate nod to the role she portrays in the biographical drama series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.
A Fashion Homage in Neutral Tones
The 29-year-old actress selected a camel v-neck jumper paired with a butter yellow tassel skirt and stylish pointed heels, an ensemble that was regularly spotted on Carolyn during her public appearances. Sarah accessorised with a black handbag worn over her shoulder and styled her blonde hair in soft waves, arranged in a half-up, half-down fashion. This meticulous attention to detail highlights the deep connection between the actress and the historical figure she embodies on screen.
The Controversial Series Behind the Style Tribute
The new FX and Hulu series traces the intense, high-profile courtship and volatile marriage of JFK Jr., played by Paul Anthony Kelly, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. It chronicles their relationship from an initial meeting at a party to the tragic deaths of the couple and Carolyn's sister Lauren on July 16, 1999, when a small plane piloted by Kennedy crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard.
However, the series has faced significant criticism from the Kennedy family. Jack Schlossberg, John's nephew, publicly denounced the production last year, accusing it of profiting off his family "in a grotesque way" and claiming executive producer Ryan Murphy was "making millions" off their legacy. Ryan Murphy responded on California Governor Gavin Newsom's podcast, suggesting it was an "odd choice to be mad about your relative that you really don't remember."
Production Team's Ethical Considerations
Despite Ryan Murphy's absence from recent press events for Love Story, executive producer Brad Simpson—a veteran of Murphy's American Crime Story projects—addressed the ethical concerns in an interview with The AP. Simpson stated, "We're fully aware that there are real people and real tragedies often at the heart of these stories. I'm not going to pretend like on some level we're not making an entertainment product out of it, but we've tried to be ethical and we've tried to be incredibly sincere."
Both Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon have expressed that they took great care in portraying the couple, though they respect Schlossberg's opinion. The series is based on Elizabeth Beller's book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, with episodes detailing Carolyn's ambition as she rose through the ranks at Calvin Klein and Kennedy's struggles to keep George magazine afloat.
This fashion moment at the Prada show not only celebrates Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's enduring style influence but also underscores the complex interplay between historical tribute, entertainment, and family legacy in modern media productions.
