While the entire world (okay, let’s hope not the entire world) was obsessing over the much hyped/marketed and scripted Kimye wedding, I was reminded of another famous nuptial that was the counter opposite: in other words, stylish, understated and timelessly elegant.

It was the surprise—and very private—1996 wedding between John Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette on Georgia’s Cumberland Island. I was reading The Pursuit of Style: advice & musings from America’s top fashion designers and noticed a quote from Narciso Rodriguez. He was asked what was the favourite item he had ever designed. Not surprisingly, it was Carolyn’s wedding dress. At the time, Rodriguez wasn’t a fashion name, but that changed once the image of her wearing that simple bias-cut silk dress hit the press. The two were close friends, having worked together years earlier at Calvin Klein.

I had the chance to chat with the New York-based designer last week. We spoke about fashion, fragrances and the women in his life, including Carolyn who he described as extraordinarily beautiful. “I certainly have really good taste in women,” he laughingly told me. He also revealed the one gift he received from Carolyn that he cherishes the most. Guess what that is?
(more…)