Expert to discuss Jackie Kennedy's influence on fashion

The event coincides with ceremonies in Dallas marking 50 years since the assassination of President Kennedy.

Mrs. Kennedy chose American designer Oleg Cassini as her principal designer and her design preferences influenced the world. The designers Jackie favored were Oleg Cassini, Valentino, Givenchy and Chanel. She preferred solid colors, and tended toward simplicity. A fact that Porterfield says helped the popularity because it was easy to emulate.

“Whatever she wore people wore,” Porterfield says. “The full dresses and big hats of the 1950s were gone. Most of Jackie’s things were in solid colors with very little ornamentation.”

Her height was published as 5’7, but it was actually 5’9. Porterfield says she would have been a modern size four. Because of her height she didn’t want to be taller than men so she wore shoes with shorter heels.

Kennedy was one of the most photographed women of the 1960s, and not afraid to go beyond the well-known designers. Her wedding gown was created by the first black woman designer, Ann Cole Lowe.

While European and French fashions typically influenced the United States, Porterfield says Mrs. Kennedy’s preference would influence Europe and the world.

“Jackie’s influence not only had a large impact on the American market but influenced all seven continents,” Porterfield says. “Whatever Jackie wore women from all over the world had to copy.”

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