Jackie O. Style: A Retrospective Of America's Most Iconic First Lady (PHOTOS)

Was there ever a first lady as iconic as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis?

In honor of her would-be 82nd birthday on Thursday, we've put together a style retrospective of Jackie O.'s signature look. It's one that has inspired people for decades and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

Her fresh and modern outward appearance breathed a new life into the White House, leaving an as-yet unmatched legacy. After all, there's a reason the Kennedy years were dubbed "Camelot."

Click through photos of Jackie O.'s outfits.

CORRECTION: This story previously incorrectly cited two dates. They have now been fixed. We sincerely regret the error.

Comments

[ignacio sanabria]

07:55 AM on 09/09/2011

Jacqueline Kennedy: The woman who had to live all facets of life and who lived gracefully and courageously. At the very second her husband was wounded, she jumped in to protect him, and never let him go. She showed courage and stamina at moments where people otherwise would just break down.

[beautyontheinside]

11:40 AM on 08/02/2011

It's amazing how in an article about Jackie O, there are those who come here to berate the current First Lady.
Says a lot about you, and I wish you well.

Sad to see how far HuffPo has fallen The style section was a place to come to, to get away from the vitriol.

[murphysgirl]

11:12 AM on 08/02/2011

Her elegance and grace transcends generations..

[Tina Iyer]

07:27 AM on 08/02/2011

Grace personified. She and Princess Diana and Carla Bruni are the great stylish icon of last century with most tragic personal life. God bless them , all.
http://ekhichdi.com/b/Carla-Bruni-latest-pics-273.html

[MissingAmerica]

09:01 PM on 07/31/2011

She was the epitome of class, start to finish. I can remember the inauguration, and will never forget that sad November day in '63. She was a remarkable lady in remarkable times. God rest that sweet soul. She is still missed!

[Kellybelle22]

02:31 PM on 07/31/2011

She was divine. My favorite picture is slide 11, the candid, pensive Jacqueline.

People often forget that she was not just a style icon. She was an exceptionally gracious, well-mannered and attentive hostess and representative of the United States who impressed leaders and citizens of other countries no matter where she turned up. She was also gifted academically, verbally and linguistically. She spoke four languages fluently (Spanish, Italian, French and English) and had read more on any subject, especially world history, art, and French culture, than nearly anyone in her day.

She exercised understated restraint in her attire. Notice that the jewelry is always appropriate and never overdone. The gowns are just right, never flashy or garish. In slides 11 and 22 here, she's wearing two different Jean Schlumberger bracelets, a French designer she was very fond of. I'm guessing Caroline inherited her Schlumberger pieces, which I'm sure she's enjoying.

[Dode Peterson]

02:19 PM on 07/31/2011

I hate even to put Jackie O name and Michelle O name in the same sentence. Jackie O had style, class, and was very gracefull. Michelle O should definatly try taking a page out the book. she lacks all three.

[Mij13]

05:00 AM on 07/31/2011

Iconic is one of the most overused words these days, but it certainly applies to Jackie. As I've said, it's strange that none of Ron Galella's photos are included here. He was her arch nemesis, and she famously sued him for getting too close to her children, so maybe her family didn't want to have them shown. But if you're going to talk "iconic", his were among the most beautiful pictures ever taken of Jackie. (There's a fun documentary about him now, "Smash His Camera"). It is hard to believe she really resented him for capturing her during her late thirties and early forties, when she was at her most ravishing. My favorite photo of her ever is the one he took with her crossing 5th Ave one day in the early 70s, hair blowing in the wind, and wearing that famous bemused smile as she looked right into the camera. She looked so girlish, yet like a very sophisticated woman all at once - not an easy look to pull off, and distinctly Jackie. http://flavorwire.com/102615/photo-gallery-ron-galella-paparazzo-extraordinaire

[CherCher]

08:35 PM on 07/30/2011

Any yet Michelle was trying to immitate this. Not even close.

[makemesmile]

04:58 AM on 07/31/2011

Michelle doesn't need to imitate Jackie, nor was she trying to do so. Michelle does her own sense of style and she doesn't have to mimic anyone.

[GiantsFan44]

07:28 PM on 07/30/2011

My favorite is Number 11

[GiantsFan44]

07:11 PM on 07/30/2011

Such a stunning lady.  I can remember feeling such pain for her, even at the age of 10 when the president was k1lled.  There was just something about her that made you love her and admire her class, style and beauty.  I also remember when she died.  At work we checked periodically for news of her illness, it was just weird all the admiration and respect for her came back and it was a sad day when her time cam.  The days of Camelot are now gone and we all grew up pretty fast with the turmoil that followed immediately afterward.  But those days were all good for the things we learned and how quickly we became aware.  It was a dynamic time to be alive.

[damomb01]

04:36 PM on 07/30/2011

Jackie was definitely a high class lady! There aren't many out there like her anymore. Such a beautiful woman, and she endured SO MUCH pain, and continued to hold her head high! Happy Heavenly Birthday to a treasured woman.

[notsotupelohoney]

03:22 PM on 07/30/2011

I just don't see Katie Holmes as Jackie.

[floodberg]

05:24 PM on 07/30/2011

I hate to say it, but she did a great job in that roll, as did Greg Kinnear as Jack.  If you haven't seen it, do - it's surprisingly good.

[notsotupelohoney]

07:04 PM on 07/30/2011

I like Greg Kinnear so I'll look for it on Netflix. Thanks.

[Karama]

06:40 AM on 07/31/2011

No, she wasn't very good as Jackie but I liked the actor who played Jack. He was good, and even looked like the real JFK.

[naschkatze]

12:46 PM on 07/30/2011

I wish all the photographs were in color. She wore fabulous colors when she was in the WH. That one picture of her in France is supposed to be a gown made of strawberry colored rafia, but I've never seen a color photo of it.

[cafebeege]

01:24 PM on 07/30/2011

naschkatze....... what an interesting and charming post. You sound like a designer. Or perhaps just knowledgeable of them remembering a particular dress from that long ago.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

11:57 AM on 07/30/2011

Stunning. Even these many years later.

In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.