Sarah Pidgeon Gives the Pop of Red Theory a Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Twist
3 min readTHE RUNDOWN
- Sarah Pidgeon attended the Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette FYC event in a Givenchy blazer and jeans.
- Her bright red heels nodded to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s signature red lip.
- The actress completed the look with middle-parted blond hair and a black necktie.
With sleek tailoring and camel coats, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s wardrobe rarely abandoned neutrals. But when it came to her beauty routine, the style icon wasn’t just lauded for her honey blond hair, but for her trademark red lipstick, too. It’s a stealth styling trick that Sarah Pidgeon picked up on last night, albeit in a different fashion.
Stepping out for the Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette FYC red carpet event in New York City, the star cut an understated figure in a look by Sarah Burton for Givenchy. As on brand as her separates were, it was the actress’s shoes that set it apart. She wore glossy cherry red high heels that peeked out underneath her wide-leg jeans. The choice not only channeled the pop of red theory, but also winked at Bessette Kennedy’s trademark beauty uniform.
Sarah Pidgeon arrives at Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette FYC red carpet event.
Pidgeon at the Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette FYC red carpet event.
As has been the case with much of Pidgeon’s style since her turn in Love Story, the remainder of her look channeled ’90s minimalism. The actress and her stylist Emma Jade Morrison leaned into Bessette Kennedy’s off-duty staples, pairing barrel leg jeans with a sleek tuxedo jacket. Her blazer, which she wore without a shirt, featured an angular hem and a plunging neckline. Pidgeon wore her hair, dyed perfectly to the late publicist’s perfect shade of blonde, in a middle part and finished the look with a knotted necktie.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr arrive at the 1998 state dinner in British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House.
Earlier in the day, Pidgeon had another go at unexpected color theory. This time, she incorporated it into her outfit, wearing a fitted peplum jacket in a neon orange-red hue with light-wash jeans and a cheetah print Chanel flap bag. The finishing touch? Playful cap-toe pumps complete with tiny apples on the heels lifted from Matthieu Blazy’s 2026 Métiers d’art collection.
Pidgeon has been inspired by more than just Bessette Kennedy’s style. In February, she spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about how the late publicist’s personality influenced her.
“She was funny, vivacious, and could be loud,” Pidgeon said. “I remember reading the story about her going to a hockey game, and she could just curse like a sailor and was getting competitive for the team that was playing. I found that so interesting, considering she is this icon of minimalist fashion, to have so much spunk and spice, a strong sense of opinion, because that showed up [in] how she dressed.”
“What I hope I get to keep [from playing her] is that I’ve never been a leader on a show,” she continued. “So often in past projects or just in life, I thought, ‘Oh, it’s maybe best I don’t speak up right now,’ or ‘maybe I should keep my opinions to myself.’ I think Carolyn wouldn’t have done that. She really spoke her mind. And in playing her and wanting to do her legacy justice, by advocating for her through this process, I therefore also had to advocate for myself.”