Kendall Jenner has had something of a make-under of late, but don't mistake my meaning. It's a very good thing. The Insta-star and model usually wears something quite 'grammable - Bottega Veneta's zesty lime green dress, say, or Juliet Johnstone's butterfly-painted jeans - but for the past few months has been paring things back in the wardrobe department. Take last week's outfit, for example, when she stepped out wearing a quartet of classics: straight-leg jeans, a single-breasted overcoat, black ankle boots and gold hoop earrings. Autumn perfection.
All of this got us thinking about a certain person whose style she might be channeling: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Paparazzi pictures of the famously private New Yorker, who was an executive at Calvin Klein, have come to personify the '90s brand of minimalism that has proved to be catnip to today's influencers. Jenner might not have been born until 1995, but her recent outfits show that she's definitely mined the decade for inspiration.
Arriving to tape an episode of The Tonight Show, Jenner wore another look that epitomised the lo-fi approach to getting dressed is now synonymous with the '90s, cream cargo pants from Lemaire (another hero of minimalism) and stacked mules from Jeffrey Campbell.
And she's also got all the decade's hallmarks in her wardrobe: platform flip-flops (Dries Van Noten), pared-back shoulder bags (Peter Do),tank tops(Jil Sander) and oval-shaped sunglasses (Dmy by Dmy). Is it a phase or is this new style identity here to stay? We'll have to wait and see but, for now, she could do worse than look through these styles rules of Bessette-Kennedy's.
SEE: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Style Rules
1 of 6Never Underestimate The Power Of A Black Dress
Bessette-Kennedy was a big fan of Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. In 1998, she wore this autumn/winter 1998 obi dress with velvet opera gloves to a gala for the Municipal Art Society, proving that you really can't go wrong with a black dress.
2 of 6A Great White Shirt Works For Anything
For another black tie event, Bessette-Kennedy chose a white shirt from Yohji Yamamoto Homme, pairing it with a fitted skirt from the designer's womenswear collection. In a clever twist, Bessette-Kennedy chose not to button the shirt – rather, she wrapped it and tucked it into her skirt.
3 of 6Find The Right Jeans
Shopping for jeans can be a fairly torturous task, which is possibly why Bessette-Kennedy stuck to her tried-and-tested Levi's. Here, she paired them with a simple black tank top and minimal sandals, which are one of the summer's most popular shoes thanks to new styles from the likes of The Row, Neous and By Far.
4 of 6Invest In Hero Pieces
She may have been hailed as a '90s style icon before the decade had even come to a close but Bessette-Kennedy reportedly had a small wardrobe filled with just her favourite pieces. In an interview in the New York Post, JFK Jr's former assistant RoseMarie Terenzio said that Bessette-Kennedy never accepted free clothes from designers and didn't have a 'big closet'. Instead, she consistently re-wore her clothes and invested in things she really loved, like this Prada coat, which she had made in three different colours. Its timeless design mean it won't ever go out of style, making it a truly sound investment.
5 of 6A Midi Dress Is Always A Good Idea
Throw-on-and-go dresses can make life infinitely easier when it comes to getting dressed. Bessette-Kennedy knew that and, in keeping her accessories simple, she made it look entirely effortless. It's the perfect look for summer days.
6 of 6Pay Attention To Your Accessories
Bessette-Kennedy was often seen in a hairband, somehow managing to make the hair accessory look fresh and interesting as opposed to just preppy. It can also add interest to an otherwise simple combination of jeans and your favourite jumper.