Style & BeautyFashionStyleJacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jackie Kennedy Onassis' Iconic Style, From Her Teen Days To Her Final Years

The former first lady made her mark on American fashion.
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

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When we think of American style icons, there is perhaps no greater example than Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

While she made her mark on the world in many ways, her influence on fashion is undeniable and persists to this day ― from skirt suits and pillbox hats to shift dresses and oversized sunglasses.

In honor of her birthday on July 28, we’ve rounded up more than 100 photos that capture the former first lady’s style evolution from New York socialite to political wife to international jet-setter to book editor.

1948
Frances McLaughlin-Gill/Condé Nast via Getty Images
Portrait of Jacqueline Lee Bouvier at age 18.
1951
Apic via Getty Images
Sisters Jacqueline and Caroline Lee Bouvier return from travels in Europe.
1951
Cecil Beaton via Getty Images
Portrait of the Bouvier sisters.
1953
Bettmann via Getty Images
Bouvier and her fiancé, Sen. John Kennedy, play tennis at Hyannis Port.
1953
Bettmann via Getty Images
The couple sits in the sunshine in Hyannis Port a few months before their wedding.
1953
Bachrach via Getty Images
Bridal portrait of Bouvier in her Ann Lowe wedding dress.
1954
FPG via Getty Images
Kennedy walks the catwalk as she models a French designer dress, gloves and hat at the annual April in Paris ball at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
1954
Nick De Morgoli via Getty Images
Kennedy and her sister attend the Franco-American Ball at the Waldorf Astoria.
1955
Horst P. Horst/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Kennedy wears a striped wool sweater alongside her sister.
1956
Bettmann via Getty Images
Five Kennedy women at a party.
1957
Slim Aarons via Getty Images
Kennedy sits at the April in Paris ball.
1958
Nina Leen via Getty Images
The Kennedys at home with their 4-month-old daughter, Caroline.
1960
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Kennedys pose on the day he announced his presidential run.
1960
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Kennedys relax at their summer home.
1960
New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images
The Kennedys sit in a car at Idlewild Airport.
1960
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy holds up a newspaper with a picture of her husband during the presidential campaign.
1960
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy poses at her Georgetown home.
1960
Paul Schutzer via Getty Images
The Kennedys make an appearance on the morning after Election Day.
1961
Leonard McCombe/Life Magazine/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images
The Kennedys at his presidential inauguration.
1961
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Kennedys leave the White House to attend a series of inaugural balls.
1961
Leonard McCombe via Getty Images
Kennedy walks with Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Clifford Harvison during a state visit to Canada.
1961
Paul Schutzer via Getty Images
Kennedy attends a reception in Ottawa.
1961
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy smiles during a state visit to France at the Palais de l'Elysee.
1961
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Kennedys leave the French Foreign Ministry for a reception in Paris.
1961
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy tours the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
1961
Darren McCollester via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend a dinner at Mt. Vernon in honor of the president of Pakistan.
1961
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend an event at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
1961
Getty Images via Getty Images
The Kennedys before a dinner in honor of the president of Peru at the White House.
1961
Art Rickerby via Getty Images
The Kennedys arrive on Air Force One for a tour of Latin America.
1962
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy takes center stage in Mexico City alongside her husband and President Adolfo Mateos.
1962
Art Rickerby via Getty Images
Kennedy visits the Taj Mahal.
1962
Art Rickerby via Getty Images
Kennedy walks during a visit with the Maharaja of Mewar.
1962
Art Rickerby via Getty Images
Kennedy visits the garden of the prime minister of India's residence.
1962
Darren McCollester via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend a dinner in honor of the Shah and Empress of Iran at the White House.
1962
Darren McCollester via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend a dinner for President Houphouet-Boigny of the Ivory Coast at the White House.
1962
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy smiles at the launching of the USS Lafayette submarine.
1962
Apic via Getty Images
The Kennedys receive French minister of culture Andre Malraux and his wife Madeleine at the White House.
1962
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy visits the Amalfi Coast with her sister.
1962
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy attends a fashion show at the U.S. State Department, the "Commonwealth Costume Cavalcade."
1962
NBC NewsWire via Getty Images
Kennedy discusses plans for the new National Culture Center (later renamed The Kennedy Center) with NBC News' Sander Vanocur in the White House.
1963
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy attends unveiling ceremonies at the National Gallery of Art.
1963
National Archives via Getty Images
The Kennedys ride in a parade in Washington, D.C.
1963
National Archives via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend a White House ceremony.
1963
Apic via Getty Images
The Kennedy family in Palm Beach, Florida.
1963
Getty Images via Getty Images
The Kennedys arrive at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
1964
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy rehearses for a CBS special in honor of her late husband's birthday.
1964
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy on a family vacation in Aspen, Colorado.
1965
Michael Stroud via Getty Images
Kennedy attends the inauguration of a memorial to her husband John F. Kennedy in Runnymede, Surrey.
1965
Henry Groskinsky via Getty Images
Kennedy attends a visit of Pope Paul VI.
1965
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy talks with Flora Whitney Miller during a tour of the unfinished Whitney Museum.
1965
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy arrives at the Mark Hellinger Theatre for a performance of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever."
Circa 1966
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
Kennedy walks through a Florida airport with her son.
1966
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy arrives in Spain for a weeklong round of events including bullfights, balls and street processions.
1966
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy wears a traditional outfit while riding in Seville.
1966
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy vists Hawaii.
1967
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy walks the red carpet with Prince Norodom Sihanouk prior to the dedication of John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Cambodia.
1967
Larry Burrows via Getty Images
Kennedy chats with the prince at a state dinner in Cambodia.
1967
Keystone via Getty Images
Kennedy rides a horse during a summer trip to Ireland.
1967
Santi Visalli via Getty Images
Kennedy attends the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
1968
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy and her children attend commissioning ceremonies for the new carrier USS John F. Kennedy.
1968
Bettmann via Getty Images
Kennedy walks with their children in Greece on the day before her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.
1968
Bettmann via Getty Images
The Onassis newlyweds leave the chapel on his private island of Skorpios on the day of their wedding.
1968
Evening Standard via Getty Images
Onassis walks with her sister at a horse farm in the U.K.
1969
Bettmann via Getty Images
Onassis says goodbye to her husband at Kennedy airport.
1969
Nicholas Tsikourias via Getty Images
Onassis leaves an Athens nightclub with her husband after celebrating her 40th birthday.
1969
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis goes to Szechuan Taste Restaurant in New York City's Chinatown.
1969
David Cairns via Getty Images
Onassis poses in the countryside.
Circa 1970
Art Zelin via Getty Images
Onassis walks down the streets of New York.
1970
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis and her sister leave a performance at Alvin Theatre.
1970
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis goes shopping in Capri.
1970
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis dines at La Cote Basque.
1970
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis walks in New York on a night out with her husband.
1970
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis at Heathrow Airport in London.
1970
William Lovelace via Getty Images
Onassis visits her sister in London.
1971
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis at the Philharmonic Hall in New York City.
1972
Bettmann via Getty Images
Onassis attends a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, conducted by the composer and dedicated to her late husband.
1973
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Circa 1974
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis in Washington, D.C.
1974
Anastasselis POLYDOROS via Getty Images
Onassis vacations in Greece.
1974
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis attends the Metropolitan Opera House Royal Ballet in New York City.
1975
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Kennedy family members celebrate Caroline's graduation.
1976
Tom Wargacki via Getty Images
Onassis and Alejandro Orfila at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
1976
Bettmann via Getty Images
Onassis returns to Manhattan from Staten Island, where she toured the Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
1976
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis at the annual RFK Pro-Celebrity tennis tournament
1976
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis attends the Tribute to Josephine Baker event at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
1977
Alfred Eisenstaedt via Getty Images
Onassis poses at the Viking Press office in New York.
1977
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis visits the "The Treasures of Early Irish Art" exhibit opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
1978
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis rides a train to Washington, D.C., during her "Save Grand Central" campaign.
1978
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis attends the annual RFK Pro-Celebrity tennis tournament.
1979
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis during a book party for "Call the Darkness Light" at Doubleday Book Store in New York City.
1979
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
1980
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Onassis sighted at Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
1981
David McGough via Getty Images
Onassis leaves a cinema in New York City.
1982
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Onassis and her daughter, Caroline, at Boston University's commencement.
Circa 1984
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis in New York City.
1985
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Onassis attends a fundraiser at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
1986
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis attends the wedding ceremony of her daughter, Caroline Kennedy, and Edwin Schlossberg in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Hyannis Port.
1986
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis and Maurice Tempelsman attend a gala at the New York Public Library.
1987
Bettmann via Getty Images
Onassis chats with Kitty Dukakis during the dedication of a park in Cambridge in honor of the late president.
Circa 1989
Images Press via Getty Images
Onassis at an event in New York City.
1989
Bettmann via Getty Images
Onassis poses for photos with her children following her son's New York University School of Law graduation.
1990
Ira Wyman via Getty Images
Onassis walks with Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Boston.
1993
Wally McNamee via Getty Images
The Kennedys attend an event at the Kennedy Library with President Clinton.
1994
Steve Allen via Getty Images
Onassis and Tempelsman sit on a bench in Central Park.

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