Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Minimalist Style Inspired One Writer's Capsule Wardrobe

Most wardrobes fail not from too little, but from too much. Staring into a closet packed with options and feeling like you have nothing to wear is a near-universal experience, which is precisely why the capsule wardrobe keeps having its moment. But Elle writer Meg Donohue took the concept further than most, paring the idea down to its barest, most elegant form: ten items, nothing more. Her inspiration wasn't a Pinterest board or a KonMari checklist. It was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the woman who made restraint look like the most sophisticated choice in any room.

Donohue has covered capsule wardrobes extensively, noting that "by this point, I've covered capsules for every season, the workplace, and even travelers." When the assignment to strip things down even further landed on her desk, she credits the documentary "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" with showing her the way. CBK, as Donohue calls her throughout the piece, was "an icon of '90s minimalism" whose wardrobe was a masterclass in doing more with less: clean lines, neutral palette, nothing superfluous. The challenge was translating that ethos into a shopping list that actually works in a modern wardrobe.

What a Capsule Wardrobe Actually Means

Before getting to the ten items, it helps to understand what the concept is and isn't. As Donohue puts it, "capsule wardrobes are, by design, pretty minimal. The core idea is that you can streamline your closet by stocking it with mix-and-match items, wherein everything goes with everything." That's the operating principle here: not a uniform, not a uniform aesthetic, but a set of pieces so well-chosen that they create endless combinations without requiring a single dramatic purchase.

The CBK approach adds one more layer to that definition. Kennedy's style wasn't just minimal; it was precise. She wore things that fit impeccably, in colors that never competed with each other, in silhouettes that remained compelling decade after decade. That level of intentionality is the real target Donohue is shooting for, and it explains why the ten items she settled on lean classic rather than trendy.

The Ten Essentials

The list opens with the foundational pieces most capsule wardrobes depend on, then adds a few choices that show real editorial judgment.

The blue jean is the Madewell Longline Straight Jean at $148, a cut that sits comfortably between relaxed and tailored. The longline straight silhouette has the kind of easy authority that works tucked into the boots or paired with the white shirt untucked on a weekend. Madewell's denim has long held a reputation for consistent fit and quality at an accessible price, and the straight cut here avoids anything too trend-dependent.

The white shirt is the Polo Ralph Lauren Long Sleeve Button Front Shirt at $128. In the CBK universe, the white shirt was nearly a uniform: worn loosely over trousers, tucked into a slim skirt, or left open over a slip dress. Ralph Lauren's version brings the appropriate amount of classic American ease to the category.

The knit is the J.Crew Cashmere Classic-Fit Crewneck Sweater at $148. Donohue describes it as genuinely multi-functional: "used as a layering piece, tied around the shoulders, or styled as a top, a crewneck sweater is as utilitarian as they come." Cashmere at this price point is a reasonable investment for a piece that will be reached for constantly, and the classic-fit cut means it works over a collared shirt as easily as it works on its own.

The suit component is the Mango Fitted Suit Jacket, currently on sale from $90 down to $63. A single blazer rather than a full suit is a smart capsule choice: it dresses up the Madewell jeans, sharpens the maxi dress, and layers over the crewneck on a cold day. At $63, it's the lowest entry point on the list and arguably the piece with the widest utility.

The little black dress arrives in an unexpected form: the Gap Lightweight CashSoft Rib Maxi Sweater Dress, marked down from $128 to $76. A ribbed maxi in a soft knit fabric is a more versatile interpretation of the LBD category than a structured cocktail dress. It can be dressed up with the kitten-heel boots or worn with sneakers; it layers under the trench on cooler days.

The trench coat is Joe's Jeans' The Elizabeth Trench Coat at $378, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. Donohue's note on this one is direct: "we are in a transitional season, after all. The standard trench is timeless for a reason. Opt for a neutral color that will pair with every ensemble." A well-cut trench is perhaps the single most CBK-coded item on the list; Kennedy wore the silhouette with the kind of careless precision that made it look like the only sensible choice for leaving a building.

The Shoes and the Bag

Three footwear options and one bag round out the list, and they cover enough ground to handle most occasions without overlap.

The boot is the Staud Wally 55MM Midcalf Leather Knee Boots at $450, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. Donohue calls it a "bestselling boot" that "features the perfect Goldilocks kitten heel," meaning the height is present enough to be intentional but low enough to be worn all day. Midcalf leather in a neutral shade threads between casual and formal easily, and the kitten heel keeps it in the realm of the genuinely wearable rather than the ceremonially aspirational.

The sneaker is the Veronica Beard Riviera Sneaker at $300. At this price, it positions itself as a considered alternative to the luxury trainer market, and the Riviera name suggests a sleeker, less athletic silhouette than a running shoe. It's the piece that brings the rest of the list back to earth when necessary.

The ballet flat is the Zara Leather Bow Ballet Flat at $76, the most affordable shoe on the list and the one most directly tied to the current flat-shoe moment. Leather construction at this price is good value, and the bow detail reads feminine without being precious.

The bag is the DeMellier Stockholm at $600, the highest single price on the list. DeMellier has built a reputation as a structured leather brand that competes aesthetically with bags costing significantly more. The Stockholm's clean rectangular shape and quality leather would have fit seamlessly into CBK's actual rotation.

Why This List Works

Taken together, the ten items span a price range from $63 to $600 and a total cost of roughly $2,354 if bought at current prices. That's a real investment, but it's also a complete wardrobe: bottoms, tops, outerwear, three shoe options, and a bag, in a palette and set of silhouettes designed to coexist without conflict. The CBK reference isn't decorative here. It's functional. Kennedy's wardrobe worked because every piece could exist beside every other piece; the colors were quiet, the cuts were clean, and nothing competed for attention. Donohue's list applies exactly that logic to a specific, buyable set of pieces. The result is less a shopping guide and more an argument: that editing ruthlessly, and editing toward quality, is the most practical thing a wardrobe can do.