When Jackie Went on Vacation
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 5:57 PM Continuing our look at previous First Ladies and their off-duty wardrobes, we now turn to Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady from 1961 to 1963.
During their short tenure at White House, the Kennedys established a set routine for their vacations: summers were spent at the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts; during September, there was a visit to Newport, Rhode Island (where Mrs. K’s mother and stepfather lived); and Easter week was spent at the President’s family’s house in Palm Beach, Florida. Mrs. Kennedy also took private visits to London, Greece, and the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
For each of these off-duty times, Mrs. Kennedy would continue to wear her style of streamlined silhouettes, and even during her casual family time she stayed in a seasonal palette. Writes Jay Mulvaney in Jackie: The Clothes of Camelot: "She would stick to browns and grays during the winter, but in spring her choices would blossom—pink, reds, yellows, and blues."
Image via John F. Kennedy Library / Public Domain
In both of these photos of Mrs. K, with her family at Hyannis Port, she is wearing a soft pink shift dress. One dress is in a more casual check befitting the low-key nature of the summer visit at the beach. The second dress -- what can be seen of it thanks to all the Kennedy dogs -- shows another simple, sleeveless frock with an arresting detail of the same material at the neckline.
Image via John F. Kennedy Library / Public Domain
Shift dresses were a radical move away from both the fitted hourglass shape of the 1950s and the fitted sheath dresses of the early 1960s. French designer Hubert Givenchy started the trend with his design of the sack dress in 1957. Over the next several years, the sack dress turned into a more playful dress that fell straight from the shoulders to the hem, its only shaping—if any—coming from two bust darts. The shift was meant to skim the body. It was most often sleeveless and its more youthful silhouette fit the mood of the 1960s.
A variation on the shift dress was the trapeze dress, which Mrs. Kennedy is seen wearing walking on the beach in Palm Beach. We love the bold graphic print of this trapeze dress, which still looks very current today. And, with its silhouette bringing more movement to the hemline, it is a perfect dress to wear for summer days walking or dancing.
Although Mrs. Kennedy is walking barefoot in this photo, we note that she usually wore Jack Rogers sandals while on vacation. One style, still available today, is nicknamed the “Palm Beach” when the First Lady wore the flat whip-stitched thong sandals to a Good Friday church service there. Some debate the origin of this sandal—Steve Bonnano versus Jack Rogers—but regardless the First Lady had these sandals in a variety of colors and styles, mixing them with shift dresses or Capri pants while enjoying her off-duty time.
Post by Mrs. C / Marcia Froelke Coburn
Reader Comments (32)
Jackie had so much more freedom with wardrobe. She could wear thousand dollar suits and no one bat an eye. She could order coats for Caroline and John from a children's designer house in London and no one would even know. She also had a model figure (thin and tall) so she could wear anything under the sun and look good. Michelle doesn't have those luxuries because of her porportions and short torso. I just hate how people are all up in the Obamas closet, wondering how much this and that costs and who's paying for all that (like they don't have money). And imagine if the Obamas took as many vacays (in such luxurious places as France and Italy) as the Kennedy's, right-wingers would have a heart attack. (which might not be so bad ;).
But anyways I love the Kennedy's and the Obamas so everything is cool.
why is she showing her legs and her arms, its inappropriate. The clothes are not fitting either [snark/joke]
She was beautiful and did her own thing. Created her own nitch and content with who she was. Embodied her own standard of what constitutes fashion and what was good for her. Kudos for standing the test of time.
So lets hope others will stop laboring about every little thing the current first lady does, its like everyone wants to be her mother, but I think she already has a mother. If anything Michelle can pick from jackie, continue to create your nitch of what fashion defines you and not what others want you to be. Wear it and Be fierce!!!! As some news person said CONFIDENCE, you've got it.
Jackie did her thing in her time. Its a new day and a new first lady. Moving on...
Lovely piece, Mrs. C.
I love Jack Rogers sandals. I'm wearing a pair right now. I recommend ordering a half size down because the strap does stretch and I hate that flappity-flappity-flappity sound that happens with thong sandals that are too loose.
Is this in response to the big hoopla over Mrs. O's shorts worn to the Grand Canyon last weekend? I noticed there were no pics or discussion about that, even though it was discussed on the Huffington Post and Good Morning America.
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No, this is a continuing series since the Obamas are taking their big vaca to Martha's Vineyard on past FLOTUS' wardrobe when there on personal time. They did one on Mamie Eisenhower and I guess they're going to do on on Lady Bird after this.
Love the photos ! and this site !
Find it interesting that the post says: ' Writes Jay Mulvaney in Jackie: The Clothes of Camelot: "She would stick to browns and grays during the winter, ....'
I remember reading many years ago during the Kenned years that Jackie never wore the color brown as the President hated that color.
I think it important to point out that I believe Jackie was about 4 months pregnant when she was photographed in the trapeze dress as this looks to be taken (judging by the look of John) in 1963. I can see a bit of a bump. That doesn't look like the typical maternity dress of the early 60's, another wardrobe choice that Jackie did differently and was ahead of her time.
Jackie Kennedy was photographed in a swimsuit in Italy while First Lady. She was swimming and water skiing. Just like Mrs.O, it was appropriate for the occasion.
This is my first time comment. I had a good laugh about Mrs. O's shorts controversy. But this is nothing new to First Ladies. You mention Mrs. Kennedy wearing Jack Rogers sandals on vacation to Palm Beach. At the time she caused an uproar doing this as she wore them to attend a Good Friday church service, along with a simple shift dress and wearing a white head scarf wrapped tightly about her head. Comments were made that this was just too casual for church, and even that she looked like a "beatnik". So even Mrs. Kennedy had her fashion troubles. It is my feeling that Mrs. O usually looks fabulous in just about anything she wears....you go girl!
As I noted earlier in a post under the "Summer Seersucker" picture, Jackie did wear shorts at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. I saw a photo of her and Jack Kennedy walking along the beach and they were both wearing shorts. Would you be able to find and post that picture or a similar one, Mrs. T.? Then maybe the ridiculous "Shortsgate" flap will stop.
the first picture is in Hyannis Port, but not at their house in the "Kennedy Compound." They are on the porch of a house they rented the first summer he was in office. The last picture is not Palm Beach but Hyannis Port.
Goodness - look! Legs!! Did the whole world have a fit and a glimpse of White House thigh on this occasion?? No, didn't think so. And so many sleeveles dresses. Hehehehe.
Lovely photo's Mrs C and nice article, thank you. I like this series of features and look forward to the rest.
I love everything about Jackie O. She had such style. Such stamina. Such beauty. Gorgeous pictures here! :)
Lets not mince words. It has nothing to do with Mrs. O's shorts. That doesn't bother them. As we see above, they've seen first ladies in shorts before. Its the skin color coming from FLOTUS O that bothers them.
Sad to know I'm still seen as a second class citizens in what is supposed to be the land of equality for all :(
@o'Coutoure
You are sooooo right it has more to do with Mrs.O being brown than what she wears!! I remember during "sleevless gate" and the media made a issue about it, and someone on TV said Mammie E, and Jackie and other FLOTUS have worn no sleeves. Skin color has a lot to do with it!!
I remember reading that the uproar over Mrs. Kennedy wearing Jack Rogers was that her legs were bare at church. That was pretty shocking back then, especially for a first lady. Just as shocking as President Kennedy declining to wear a hat at his inauguration.
By the way, Jack Rogers is still going strong. I got a monogrammed pair of JRs for my birthday a few years ago! I'll never give them up.
I can't really say that the flap over Mrs. O's shorts has anything to do with the color of her skin...I just wouldn't know. I do know that even though many Americans adored the Kennedys, they were also vilified by many because of their Catholic faith. You just can't win in this country....first you are put on a pedestal, and then you are torn down. Case in point: look what happened to jackie after she married Onassis.
Sorry, but Jackie's style was timeless.
Michelle's ... not so much.
The first picture reminds me of pictures of the Obama's taken on their Chicago front porch for an Ebony interview. In one Michelle had taken off her shoes (settle down, she wasn't first lady then). The narrative in the story tells of Michelle on the porch posing while her husband stood on the lawn teasing her. Have an idea this is common communication between them.
There may be some racism involved here, but I don't think that is the main motivator. Michelle's problem is the man she is married to. The fact that he is highly intelligent, charismatic, and loved and/or respected throughout the world deepens the problem. This is part of the GOP "no" campaign. Everything that President Obama does is going to doom the world, according to them. Therefore they nitpick every little thing that he and Michelle do (or don't) in the most hateful, despicable language they can conjure. Nancy Pelosi is a whipping post for them, too.
Actually, comments were made about Jackie and her spending. And she got her sister to smuggle in French clothese cause she publicly wore American. (I'm a total fan of hers) She wore the shift dress because it suited her figure--she was not an hour glass girl.
I think race may be a motivator for some, but for others it's simply that she's a beautiful stylish tall poppy and some people like to tear down successful hardworking people who are popular. That's just jealousy. And then there's the fact that - as Sharon Nelson said - she's married to the most respected leader in the world right now. They can't get their heads round it. Can you imagine the pressure? The man you most didn't want to become President, becomes President and sets about sorting out EVERYthing? They must be so PANICstricken in case he can actually do it. Which of course he can. And is! They must be wetting their pants.
One additional comment in reference to the fashion styles of Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Obama. One must remember the Mrs. Kennedy's "official" clothing was a highly orchestrated affair, under the direction of designer Oleg Cassini and his staff, and mostly paid for by Papa Joe Kennedy. On the other hand, Mrs. O's fashion choices seem to be much more her own, although I'm sure she does get some good advice from her friend Ikram in Chicago. There certainly seems to be a lot more variety then in Mrs. Kennedy's, and fashion is much more casual today then in the early 1960s. Still, many of Mrs. K's items are timeless.
For heaven's sake, stop comparing Michelle Obama to Jacqueline Kennedy. There is no comparison. Their backgrounds are totally different.
Also, Mrs. Kennedy would NOT have worn shorts, coming down the steps of the President's plane. She always looked like a lady.
It's not about the clothes, it's about fit, posture, and silhouette.The same simple sheath dress may be perfectly suited to Mrs. K and look odd on Mrs. O. Especially given that Mrs. O is tall and curvy, not all the fashion she likes necessary looks good on her. That is not to say she should not wear it; if she feels confident enough that she will not cringe at a bad pic of her every now and then. Mrs. O seems to still be finding her FLOTUS style, which she will likely do soon enough, I'm sure. But Jackie seemed to have an innate sense about fashion and occasion, which Mrs. O has not done yet. Jackie was attuned to what looked good on her and when, but she also kept in mind a sense of history. While it is commendable that Mrs. O makes us feel like she is one of us, she needs to also give us a little bit more that makes us to aspire to be like her. We love that Mrs. O seems so approachable, but we also need that itty little bit of mystery that inspires us all to be our better selves.
Jackie Kennedy was hardly on "vacation" in some of those photos. The one of her with JFK, the kids and their dogs was taken the weekend she was released from the hospital after the death of her third child, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. Same for the one of her with JFK and the kids on the porch railing.
"We love that Mrs. O seems so approachable, but we also need that itty little bit of mystery that inspires us all to be our better selves." --Nora
Tick. Tock. We are in a new millenium. Michelle, as stated over and over again, is a "modern" woman. There is no mystery. No puzzles to be solved. She wears shorts in the summer. She glams it up in backless Peter Soronen. She strikes a balance. And in my opinion, she is making this clear. Her message: be yourself.
Wow, she needs better clothes(in your opinion) to inspire people. Never mind that she is a Princeton and Harvard Graduate, was a healthcare executive, a mother of two pretty& respectable little girls, a supportive wife, healthy&fit, and Oh, The first black First Lady of the United States of America. No, none of these things inspire you to be a "better you", but a great dress and oh boy! you really start working on yourself!!! Do me a favor and speak for yourself because we all don't need that "itty bitty mystery" to inspire us to be our better selves.
The color photo of the family is one of my favs of Jackie. She looks so tan & fresh & simply stunning. She could wear that look today & be in style. Mr. Kennedy doesn't look so shabby either ;-). They look like they stepped out of a J.Crew cat. So lovely.
Am I the only one who does not find Jackie remotely beautiful? I am not a fan of the straight up and down figure coupled with muscular short legs...Her face was attractive enough but rather odd looking.
Oh well.
Calm down April, this is not a comparison just a flashback. And what does "also she looked like a lady" supposed to mean. Are you insinuating that Michelle looks like a man??
Thanks to Alyse for the historical accuracy and the insight that "glamorous" pictures sometimes hide a sad story. Jackie looks frail and restrained compared to Mrs. O! Yes, a stroll on the beach in a lovely dress, but with a scarf tied around her head to protect her bouffant "do." No swimming like that! No sports!
I think our current first couple is every bit as gorgeous as the Ks, and Michelle has had a much richer life, it seems to me, despite the (relative) lack of wealth.