Jackie Kennedy’s Pink Suit: A Fashion Piece Transformed by Tragedy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jackie Kennedy‘s iconic pink suit, worn during the ill-fated presidential motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963, serves as a poignant reminder of national tragedy. The suit, stained with her husband President John F. Kennedy‘s blood, is preserved by the National Archives and will remain out of public view until 2103.

Initially designed as a stylish choice, the suit quickly transformed into a historical artifact following the assassination of JFK. The ensemble was inspired by Coco Chanel’s 1961 fall collection but was created by American designer Oleg Cassini, who crafted a piece reflective of Kennedy’s commitment to American fashion.

According to a letter from the former first lady, she expressed her wish to wear American-made clothing throughout her husband’s presidency. “For the next four years, Mrs. Kennedy’s clothes will be by Oleg Cassini. They will be designed and made in America,” the letter read.

Designed with assistance from Chez Ninon, a New York dress shop, the raspberry pink suit included wool boucle, gold buttons, and navy piping. Kennedy famously wore the suit on several occasions before the fateful day in Dallas, including during high-profile events in London and at the visit of the Maharaja of Jaipur in Washington, D.C.

As narrated by William Manchester in his book “The Death of a President,” JFK specifically requested that Jackie wear the outfit in Dallas. He emphasized the importance of her appearance, stating, “You’ve got to look as marvelous as any of them. Be simple — show these Texans what good taste really is.”

Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent assigned to Jackie Kennedy, recounted the traumatic moment of the assassination in a 2023 documentary. He described the scene vividly, noting, “I cast one last look over my shoulder and saw in the president’s car a bundle of pink, just like a drift of blossoms, lying in the back seat.”

During the chaos that followed the shooting, Jackie held her husband’s body, resulting in blood staining her suit. Despite being offered a change of clothes at Parkland Memorial Hospital, she opted to keep wearing the iconic outfit. “One second later, I thought, ‘Why did I wash the blood off [my face]?’” she later reflected in an interview with Life magazine.

After the incident, Jackie’s suit was placed in a dress box along with some accessories. However, her matching pink pillbox hat and white gloves went missing, presumed left behind in the hospital. Mary Gallagher, Jackie’s personal secretary, noted in her memoir, “The hat apparently goes to the Secret Service initially, and then it disappears.”

The suit was eventually passed down to Jackie’s mother, Janet Auchincloss, and upon her death, it was inherited by Jackie’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy. In 2003, Caroline signed an agreement to donate the suit to the National Archives with strict conditions to preserve its history.

The agreement stipulated that the suit is to be kept locked away for a century to ensure it is not subject to public display, preserving its dignity and minimizing any potential distress to the Kennedy family.

The pink suit’s legacy continues to resonate in pop culture. In 2016, costume designer Madeline Fontaine recreated the outfit for Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in Pablo Larraín’s film “Jackie.” The suit has also inspired various designs in contemporary fashion and media, demonstrating its enduring impact.