These Ladylike Fall Trends Channel Jackie Kennedy

Perusing the fall 2024 trends and looking ahead to winter, it's unmistakable that Jacqueline Kennedy (later Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) or "Jackie" was the muse on designers' mood boards. On the runways, that meant fewer skin-tight naked dresses and more modest shifts like the satin styles that anchored many of Jackie Kennedy's best outfits. Tweed lady jackets replaced sheer chiffon blouses. Sensible pencil skirts replaced some of the micro-minis, itty-bitty briefs, or no pants at all—perhaps the foremost sign that Jackie Kennedy's demure way of dressing was taking hold.

In her Self-Checkout newsletter, Marie Claire editor-in-chief and fashion authority Nikki Ogunnaike highlighted pearl jewelry, sweet slingback heels, and leather driving gloves as easy opt-ins for the refined "Ladies Who Lunch" aesthetic. Versace's Resort 2025 collection featured all three accessories in addition to sharp skirt suits that call back to the iconic Oleg Cassini sets throughout Jackie Kennedy's style evolution. Outfits that harken back to her prim-and-proper early days on the campaign trail with then-Senator John F. Kennedy Jr. and her jet-setting glamour when vacationing on the Italian Riviera.

The throughline for tackling the "Jackie O"-inspired fall and winter 2024 trend is to opt for a sophisticated style sensibility. Not to be mistaken with bland or nondescript pieces; Chanel's tweed blazers from its Resort 2025 runway, for instance, were trimmed with crystals and came in bright, candy-coated colors. Jackie's style was often simple and strategically elegant, but the former First Lady was adept at leaving a long-lasting impression.

Ahead, you'll find a breakdown of the Jackie Kennedy fashion trends filtering in for fall and winter 2024 and 2025 and a curated edit to shop that are prime for the prim-and-proper, ladylike look.

A Lady's Take on Suiting

As First Lady, Jackie favored a formal, polished look, and skirt suits helped create her signature smart uniform. In addition to designs by Oleg Cassini, she was partial to Chanel's girlish suiting, typically wearing the sets in solid neutrals or cherry red. It's safe to assume that Jackie would have adored the sleek tweed sets shown in Chanel, Valentino, and Versace's Resort 2025 collections.

Mod Toppers and Car Coats

Jackie had a penchant for statement outerwear that mirrored the coat trends of the corresponding decade. During her White House years, that included fall jackets and coats cropped in modish silhouettes—i.e., knee-length or slightly higher—that reflected the era's newfound embrace of shorter hemlines. You'll find similar styles in Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, and Burberry's recent showings.

Swinging Shift Dresses

Arguably, Jackie's most prolific fashion trend is the humble shift dress. Characterized by its roomy silhouette that falls straight from the shoulders and peters out at (or just above) the knee, the easy-to-move-in dress peppered the recent runway season and makes for a refreshing pivot from the show-it-all styles that have previously topped the trend cycle.

Seeing Spots

A leopard print trend existed long before Jackie was anointed a fashion icon, but she undeniably helped fuel its fires. After wearing an Oleg Cassini top coat made of a natural leopard pelt in 1962, demand for the cat hide soared so high that the US Congress passed a 1973 act prohibiting the importation of all leopard fur. Fast forward to the present, and ample realistic faux fur fabrications recreate the sophisticated spotted look that Jackie once called upon.

Pearls of Wisdom

Pearls are a well-documented symbol of female empowerment for women in politics. Strands of the gemstone often topped off former First Lady Michelle Obama's best outfits, and you'll consistently find pearls on Kamala Harris (just look at her outfits on the presidential campaign trail for proof). The same was true for Jackie, whose affinity for the milky gem was often present in button earrings and tight choker necklaces.

Low Lift

If you comb through Jackie O's entire style file, not once will you find her in a sharp stiletto heel or sky-high party pump. The fashion figure preferred the best kitten heels, as the dainty shoe gave her an understated elegance that became her signature. The low-to-the-ground heel height was a favorite among designers, too, becoming a front-running fall 2024 shoe trend that will inevitably carry into winter 2025.

Think Pink

That bright bubblegum Chanel skirt suit she wore on November 22, 1963, will live in fashion infamy. But Jackie's connection with the color extends far beyond that tragic day. You'll see blush dress suits with matching pillbox hats and ballet slipper pink evening gowns throughout her fashion archives. As for today's fashion, the soft shade was a top fall 2024 color trend and will stay the course for winter and spring 2025, too, according to the runways.

Marinière Stripes

Even though she was considered American royalty, Jackie's style often skewed European. In particular, she was partial to marinière boat-neck tops (or, as you likely know them best, Breton-striped shirts), which were a go-to when holidaying around France and Italy. The sailor stripes make a splash for winter 2024, propelled by Valentino, Rosie Assoulin, and Tibi's color-blocked graphics.