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Ring in the ‘Love Story’ Finale With These Sunglasses Inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Signature Style

Plus, the exact shades worn by the older Kennedy himself: available to shop as we speak.

By Stacia Datskovska Plus Icon

Stacia Datskovska

Senior Commerce Writer for WWD

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

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March 17, 2026, 9:43pm

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john f kennedy jr and carolyn bessette kennedy shown in different settings while wearing their signature sunglasses styles

Courtesy Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images

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If you’ve been following — and engaging in — the hype around Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s ’90s-minimalist wardrobe and that of her Kennedy-heir beau, which was revived right after the first episode of FX’s viral “Love Story” TV series dropped, you’re well aware of just how hard it is to find the exact clothing and accessories worn by the famous couple in today’s day (or else be able to afford them).

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One of Bessette-Kennedy’s many Prada coats, for instance, recently sold at auction for a whopping $192,000. As for JFK Jr., the dozens of style guides referencing the man’s covetable cool only come close to his actual wardrobe with their suggestions of dad caps, wool vests, knit scarves, and chukka boots.

If you’re looking for an easy way into the “Love Story”–generated sartorial trends making their rounds all over social media, sunglasses out of all things present themselves as a stellar solution. CBK, after all, is known to have remained loyal to her Aldo frames from Selima Optique, which have been requested so many times from the NYC-based eyewear company that it’s currently facing serious delays. Her husband, too, was a frequent fan of both round styles and sporty wraparound ones; though the jury is still out on what JFK Jr.’s brand of choice was, most Redditors and style insiders are of the opinion that Ray-Ban occupied prime real estate in his accessory collection.

JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s signature street style relied heavily on cool-cat shades. Both were fans of ’90s-era oval frames. Courtesy Howard Earl Simmons, Lawrence Schwartzwald/Getty Images

And if you want to pay further homage to the Camelot era’s leading family, go for the O.G. sunnies that were frequently sported by the dad of America’s prince. We’re talking about American Optical’s Saratoga silhouette, of course: a made-in-the-USA design that was a John F. Kennedy go-to.

Besides helping them subtly elude the paparazzi, sunglasses also played an integral part in the overall aesthetics of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and JFK Jr. — marked by a kind of old-money, quiet-luxury, basics-driven approach that aligned well with a pair of dark-lensed shades.

Below, a look at all the eyewear you should be shopping if you wish to emulate the icons’ style this spring without spending thousands or going down an eBay rabbit hole. Bonus points: Every last pair will make you look like a mysterious, trendsetting urbanite.

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Reality Eyewear The Bessette Sunglasses

$69

Buy Now at nordstrom

This glasses selection is dubbed “The Bessette” for a reason (think of the shades as sitting at the intersection between “high-profile Calvin Klein publicist in the 1990s” and “newspaper columnist navigating big-city dating”). Referencing Selima Optique’s Aldo model, the found-on-Nordstrom alternative is $451 more affordable and will make you look just as chic. Plus, it comes with a blue light filter that kicks eye strain to the curb. What’s not to love?

Price upon publish date of this article: $69

Ray-Ban Predator 2 Sunglasses

$178

Buy Now at ray-ban

JFK Jr. could often be seen in a pair of sport-wrap sunglasses: hopping onto his bike while wearing a suit or extending the wraparound theme by pairing the glasses with a surprising ear warmer headband. We’re not 100-percent certain on where he sourced the eyewear from, but this Ray-Ban option understands the assignment. Clinging to the face in a non-slip way yet doing so comfortably, the Predator 2 fuses the casual and the athletic with its masculine profile and matte black hue.

Price upon publish date of this article: $178

Quince Bali Polarized Acetate Sunglasses

$50

Buy Now at quince

Yes, CBK was, for the most part, color-averse when it came to her fashion equations, but we’ll let you get away with a pop of brightness just this once. Quince’s Bali Acetate Sunglasses with black frames are all sold out, though this plant-based Tan Tortoise style manages to not only salvage their elongated shape but also elevate it vis-à-vis one of spring 2026’s hottest patterns. “It’s giving vintage ‘90s glamour,” Quince offers in the product’s description. Enough said.

Price upon publish date of this article: $50

Persol Ida Sunglasses

$393

Buy Now at persol

We know that JFK’s son had a soft spot for circular sunnies with almost-imperceptible rims. Persol, a luxury Italian eyewear destination, has a style he would likely approve of: the narrow-fitting Ida, which features an engraving option, lets you personalize its lenses (solid, gradient, or polarized), and can even be tried on online before you commit. The guaranteed outcome of a purchase? Major style points won this season.

Price upon publish date of this article: $393

Quay Felt Cute Glasses

$75

Buy Now at quay

Quay’s fan club includes the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Emrata, and Gigi Hadid — veritable 21st-century It-girls — so it’s no surprise that the label’s Felt Cute Glasses also nod to the style standards of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a 20th-century tastemaker through and through. Our favorite part? The rounded beauts boast smoke-colored lenses that will allow you to turn on “incognito mode” anytime you please, whether or not you’re in the public eye.

Price upon publish date of this article: $75

Ray-Ban RB3727D Sunglasses

$178

Buy Now at sunglass hut

Reddit’s r/sunglasses thread inspired us to include the RB3727D Ray-Ban rollout in this roundup, seeing as how the glasses are a close match to the guesses users spat out in the comment section after a photo was posted of JFK Jr. wearing a round, metal pair. Exuding an unmistakably retro vibe, this Ray-Ban release is light enough to wear all day long, with a comfort-securing low bridge fit for good measure and the choice of polarized lenses at Sunglass Hut.

Price upon publish date of this article: $178

American Optical Saratoga Glasses

$250

Buy Now at american optical

At last, the pièce de résistance: the very same sunglasses John Fitzgerald Kennedy favored for public-facing engagements and informal sailing trips alike. Composed of tortoiseshell frames and green lenses, this American Optical buy is anti-reflective, smudge-resistant, capable of withstanding impact, and well put together, according to reviewers. The furthest thing from flimsy, the Saratogas will be there for all the big moments in your life: no matter if you’re the POTUS or an everyday, hardworking American.

Price upon publish date of this article: $250

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on iconic celebrity style and how to replicate it in 2026.

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Ring in the ‘Love Story’ Finale With These Sunglasses Inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Signature Style

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

Shop Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and JFK Jr.’s Favorite Sunglasses Styles

Reality Eyewear The Bessette Sunglasses

Ray-Ban Predator 2 Sunglasses

Quince Bali Polarized Acetate Sunglasses

Persol Ida Sunglasses

Quay Felt Cute Glasses

Ray-Ban RB3727D Sunglasses

American Optical Saratoga Glasses

Related Articles

Reality Eyewear The Bessette Sunglasses

Ray-Ban Predator 2 Sunglasses

Quince Bali Polarized Acetate Sunglasses

Persol Ida Sunglasses

Quay Felt Cute Glasses

Ray-Ban RB3727D Sunglasses

American Optical Saratoga Glasses

Why Trust WWD

Meet the Author

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