Julia Fox’s recent choice to wear a replica of Jackie Kennedy‘s infamous pink suit has ignited significant backlash, particularly from the Kennedy family. The craft reinterprets the pink suit Jackie Kennedy wore on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. Ever since Fox donned it to a Halloween bash in New York City on October 30, the outfit has stirred much praise but derision.
The original pink suit, widely credited to Coco Chanel, has a tragic legacy in American history. Jackie Kennedy at the side of her husband in Dallas’ Parkland Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Stained with President John F. Kennedy’s blood after his assassination, she notoriously wouldn’t take the suit off. The First Lady wore the suit on the return flight to Washington D.C. on Air Force One. This image has touched the world and has come to symbolize both tragedy and resilience.
Members of the Kennedy family long valued the historical significance of the suit, now. Instead, they’ve decided to keep it under wraps from the public until 2103, a testament to the hurtful memories associated with it. In recent years, this piece has become a potent symbol of fashion history. It’s internationally acclaimed for its stylish melange of pain and panache.
Julia Fox took an even bolder, more creative stand to help reframe the narrative around the suit. She stood by her decision to wear a replica, claiming it was “not for the costume but make the statement.” She emphasized that she dressed as Jackie Kennedy to highlight the poise and “extraordinary bravery” she exhibited amid unimaginable “brutality.”
This justification didn’t sit well with all stakeholders. Social media Jack Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy and a rising star political writer and commentator in his own right, expressed his outrage at Fox’s decision. He went so far as to call it “disgusting, desperate and dangerous.” That sensitivity illustrates the complexity of Jackie Kennedy’s legacy and her now iconic pink suit.
“Let them see what they have done.” – Jackie Kennedy
Archival letters show that Jackie Kennedy hoped to quell negative public opinion of her lavish European whims. To accomplish this, she took an unconventional approach—deciding to wear the pink suit while under the most extreme and aggressive scrutiny. After losing her husband, she kept his suit and other clothes from that horrible day. She kept a blue blouse and bloodied stockings under special preservation so that they did not wash them clean.
This culture war debate about Julia Fox’s choice grounds today’s debate about who deserves respect and whose narratives get told. As expected, many feel that the act of wearing such an important piece of clothing should be treated with greater respect and thoughtfulness.