Ottawa's fashion-forward set has always had a soft spot for clean lines and understated elegance, and right now, no aesthetic fits that mould better than the iconic wardrobe of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Inspired by a recent Vogue deep-dive into the costumes of Love Story, and the real-life style DNA of Bessette-Kennedy herself, the look is having a serious cultural moment. Think slinky black slip dresses, oversized ivory blazers, oval sunglasses, and a general commitment to doing more with less. It's '90s minimalism filtered through 2026 sensibility, and it's everywhere.
What the Look Actually Means
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was the queen of what we now call quiet luxury before anyone had a name for it. Her signatures were deceptively simple: bias-cut slip dresses in matte black or ivory, tailored trousers with a barely-there fit, ballet flats, and those unmistakable oval-framed sunglasses. She dressed like someone who had nothing to prove, and that's exactly what made it so powerful.
The Love Story costumes captured the same energy: a kind of studied effortlessness that reads as both romantic and deeply cool.
How Ottawa Is Wearing It
Walk through Westboro on a Saturday afternoon and you'll spot it immediately, shoppers pairing sleek slip skirts with structured blazers, reaching for muted tones over bold prints. The Glebe has always had a certain low-key sophistication, and the CBK aesthetic slots right in: think minimalist boutiques along Bank Street where neutral knits and tailored separates are flying off the racks.
In Hintonburg and the ByWard Market, the look gets a slightly more editorial edge, slip dresses layered over white fitted tees, vintage oval sunnies sourced from local consignment shops, and simple leather mules in camel or black. It's polished without being precious.
Rideau Centre's higher-end anchors have also leaned into the trend, stocking exactly the kind of effortless separates, clean-cut blazers, silky midi skirts, minimalist jewelry. That Bessette-Kennedy would have approved of.
How to Build the Look
You don't need a Kennedy-sized budget to pull this off. A few key pieces go a long way:
- The slip dress: Floor-length or midi, in matte black or champagne. Satin or matte crepe both work.
- The blazer: Oversized, single-button, in ivory, camel, or charcoal. This is your workhorse.
- The sunglasses: Oval or slightly narrow rectangular frames. Tortoiseshell or black.
- Footwear: Ballet flats, loafers, or simple block-heeled mules. Nothing too loud.
- Accessories: A structured small bag, a delicate gold chain. That's it, restraint is the whole point.
The colour palette stays in the neighbourhood of black, white, ivory, camel, and the occasional deep navy. Avoid anything that shouts. The whole exercise is in the edit.
Why It Works Right Now
Ottawa has always leaned toward a more polished, European-influenced street style compared to, say, Toronto's louder fashion energy. The Bessette-Kennedy aesthetic, refined, quietly confident, seasonless, maps perfectly onto how many Ottawans already dress, especially as the city's professional and creative communities increasingly blend together.
It's also just genuinely wearable. A well-cut slip dress and a good blazer will take you from a Wellington Street lunch to a Centretown gallery opening without missing a beat. That versatility is exactly what a city like Ottawa, where the seasons are extreme and the schedule is full, demands.
If you haven't already started building your CBK capsule wardrobe, spring 2026 is the perfect time to start.
Source: Vogue
