How to get Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s 90s sunglasses look for under £100
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is having a moment again — and so is the slim, oval sunglasses she made famous. With her '90s minimalism back at the centre of the conversation, more people than ever are trying to recreate the look. Most are getting one detail wrong, and it's the detail that matters most.
Who was Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and why is her style everywhere again?
Nicknamed “the ghost influencer,” Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was a Calvin Klein publicist who married John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1996, and became one of the defining style figures of the decade before her death in 1999. Her wardrobe was quite luxury long before the phrase existed: slip dresses, a sharp leather coat, a neutral palette, slicked-back hair, almost no jewellery. Nothing shouted. Everything was considered.
Her influence has surged again thanks to renewed cultural attention on her life and style, with a new generation discovering the appeal of restraint over logos. The result has been a wave of searches for one thing in particular: her sunglasses.
What sunglasses did Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wear?
She was best known for slim, oval frames — narrow, understated and quietly expensive-looking. The defining features weren't bold colour or branding. They were the shape and the scale: a true oval, thin frame, sitting high and close on the face. It was the anti-statement statement.
Why does the CBK oval look so expensive?
It works by restraint. A slim oval sits high and narrow, framing the face without ever taking it over — which lets your bone structure and your outfit do the talking. That's the whole logic of quiet luxury: the piece is precise enough to look intentional, and discreet enough that people notice you first and the frame second. The effect reads sharp, polished and effortless (which is, of course, the hardest look to fake).
Why do most people get the '90s oval trend wrong?
They go too big. Oversized and chunky frames are also having a fashion moment, so the instinct is to size up — but that's the exact move that breaks the CBK effect. An oversized frame dominates the face and tips the look from chic into costume. The authentic '90s oval is small, slim and precise. If the sunglasses are the first thing you notice, they're already too loud.
Which face shapes suit slim '90s oval sunglasses?
Slim ovals are one of the most forgiving shapes there is. They flatter oval, heart and square faces especially well — softening angles and balancing proportions without adding bulk. If your face is rounder, the slim oval still works, but look for a version with a slightly more defined or structured brow line to add a touch of contrast. (For the full breakdown, see our guide to choosing sunglasses for your face shape.)
How do you get the Carolyn Bessette sunglasses look without the designer price?
Original designer pairs — and the harder-to-find vintage ones — can run well into the hundreds. The good news is that the look was never about the label; it was about the cut. Our Montauk is that exact slim '90s oval: narrow, high-sitting and pared back, with no visible logos to break the line. For the warm, tortoiseshell version of the look — a texture that never really dates — the Montauk does the same job in classic Havana acetate. For a slightly edgier look, consider the Acadia frame.
Every pair is handcrafted by family-run workshops from deadstock acetate — leftover luxury material that can't be reordered, so the runs are genuinely finite. Frames start from £99, come with a two-year guarantee, and can be fitted with prescription lenses, so you don't have to choose between the look and seeing properly.
How do you style the CBK look?
Keep everything else as quiet as the frame. A slip dress, or a crisp white tee with black tailored trousers. A good leather coat over the top. Minimal jewellery, hair pulled back or loosely tucked. Let the oval be the only piece of punctuation in the whole outfit — that restraint is the look. Worn this way, a £99 frame carries exactly the same composure as the original did in 1996.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What sunglasses did CBK wear?
A: She was best known for slim, oval sunglasses with thin frames — understated '90s shape. The defining features were a narrow oval silhouette that sat high on the face and was never oversized.
Q: Are 90’s sunglasses back in shape in 2026?
A: Original designer pairs can run into the hundreds. Handcrafted acetate alternatives that capture the same slim '90s oval shape start from around £99.
Q: Can you get 90’s oval sunglasses with prescription lenses?
A: Yes. Most slim oval frames, including Greenwich Social Club's, can be fitted with prescription lenses — so you can have the look and clear vision in a single pair. The slim oval is small and sits within the lines of your face for an understated, sharpening effect. The oversized trend is large and dominates the face for a bolder, statement look. The Carolyn Bessette look depends specifically on the slim version.