Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Culture, office and personal style

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis served as First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963. Her work included the restoration of the White House and the presentation of its history to a broad audience. In a later chapter she worked in book publishing, a career that should remain visible alongside her highly photographed public image.

Her clothing offers a useful distinction between institutional image and personal wardrobe. The clear outline of a suit, the scale of a hat and the use of color can be examined as visual choices within a particular occasion. Later photographs invite a different comparison of accessories and everyday dress. Reading these periods separately avoids freezing a long life into the presidential years alone.