Caroline Bessette-Kennedy would have been embarrassed by the cult following surrounding her personal style. The former Calvin Klein publicist turned wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. was known for being private and reserved. Nonetheless, her influence on fashion has only grown stronger with time, and nothing is more coveted than her closet, the poster child for the minimalism and quiet luxury of the 1990s. Sotheby's will present three jackets from her personal collection at its second annual Fashion Icons Sale in December.

Presented by Caroline directly to consignor Rosemary Terenzio (former assistant and close friend of John F. Kennedy, Jr.), each garment is a testament to the late It Girl's generosity, taste, and timeless charm. The auction included a vintage faux leopard fur coat, a Prada single-breasted black wool coat that Caroline wore to Bill Clinton's 1997 inauguration, a 1997 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal event, a Yohji Yamamoto A black wool jacket, which she wore to the 1997 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal event, is among the items on display. [Says Lucy Bishop, fashion specialist at Sotheby's. “Countless articles have been written about Carolyn's minimalist style that defined her life and times, but there are relatively few public accounts that give her own voice. These garments tell much about her tragically short, yet remarkable life. Caroline Bessette-Kennedy understood the power of dressing well, and that belief is forever reflected in these garments”

. [One of the auction's most thrilling highlights is one of two leopard-print coats owned by Bessette-Kennedy; the sale of this coat seems particularly timely given the prominence of the leopard-print trend during Fall 2024 Fashion Month.

Online bidding will run from November 27 through December 17. But even if you are not a prospective buyer, I encourage you to check it out for yourself when it is on display in New York beginning December 5. What catches the eye in her wardrobe, Bishops adds, is practicality. The black Prada coat up for auction is particularly emblematic of this.

“This is a woman's outfit for running down the busy streets of New York and attending exclusive evening functions,” Bishop explains. 'Her choices were practical, but always sophisticated. She understood the power that fashion has in a woman's everyday life. That is the secret of why her style is still widely admired and emulated by women all over the world today."

‘She was a woman who understood the power of fashion in a woman's everyday life,’ Bishop explains.

Of course, collectors will be most drawn to the Yohji Yamamoto black wool double-breasted jacket on display. Carolyn owns several pieces by this designer, and her outfits using his clothes are still among her most copied looks.

If you've ever longed to own a piece of It Girl history, now is your chance. We can only hope that her coats find their way into the hands of someone who understands how iconic they are.