Jackie for Dummies
Jackie O. A week ago, I knew nothing about her. Yes, okay, I would recognize her in a photo (also because she always looks so cool and stylish) and I knew she was dating Kennedy. But that was about it. In the past few days, I've learned a lot. In fact, I can't get enough of the stories from May-Britt and marketing director Marte. They can talk for a hundred hours about everything that surrounded Jackie. Her lovers, family, all those tragedies, and her fashion. And believe me, it's incredibly exciting and interesting. So especially for all the young types like me, a little lecture about Jackie.
Jackie facts:
The house designer during the first lady years was Oleg Cassini (also one of Grace Kelly’s best friends). Actually, Jackie preferred French designers, but John insisted she choose an American designer.
The famous pink suit with blue trim was not a ‘real’ Chanel, but a suit made by an American atelier. It was made with materials and patterns supplied by Chanel (so it was approved by Chanel), but made in the USA to avoid any patriotic fuss.
Typical Jackie in the first lady years: A-line dresses, solid (pastel) colors (barely prints), three-quarter sleeves with long gloves, pillbox hats, short ‘bouffant’ hairstyles.
The designer of the pillbox hats was Halston. He said she had an exceptionally ‘large head’.
From the moment Jackie lived in the White House, candlesticks were simply placed on the table during dinner, as table decoration (apparently, candlesticks used to only stand on the sideboard or something).
Typical Jackie in the Onassis years: jeans, wide-legged trousers, black turtlenecks, (Hermès) scarves, large sunglasses, longer hair. If in black/white, then white below and black above. Otherwise, she thought she looked too much like a waiter. And it was quite a statement that she appeared in public in jeans.
During her marriage to Onassis (on his Greek private island Skorpios), she wore a lace dress by Valentino. Just like Maxima!
Her sister Lee (Radziwill, the last name of the second of her 3 ex-husbands) is said to have had an affair with Onassis for years. She was quite upset when he eventually married her sister. Furthermore, Lee was a bit of an interior decorator for the stars, a sort of Eric Kuster avant la lettre.
Quotes:
The one thing I do not want to be called is First Lady. It sounds like a saddle horse.
The first time you marry for love, the second for money, and the third for companionship.
