Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s legacy as a fashion icon defining the minimalist chic of the 1990s, and her specific American style and elegance, has only grown more powerful in the past 25 years since her tragic and untimely death.
Her timeless discernment and our ever-increasing nostalgia for the simpler times and style long associated with the decade, has inspired Tyler Ellis to create a clutch based on the vintage crocodile envelope that Carolyn was regularly photographed carrying to events. Some of those events included the Municipal Art Society Jacqueline Onassis Medal and Stephen Swid at the Minskoff Theater, New York City in 1998.
Celebrating Carolyn’s innate ability to be both classically stylish and ahead of her time, the new design—an update on Tyler Ellis’ signature Lee pouchet—has been meticulously fashioned in a custom crocodile stamped crushed velvet, and hand-crafted by the adept artisans of Le Sieci in Tuscany. True to both Tyler Ellis’ and Carolyn’s shared modest aesthetic, the limited issue design features no hardware, chains or tell-tale signature logos, with a black diamond satin lining. As a subtle and unexpected tribute to Carolyn’s mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—whose bags she often carried—a special interior pocket designed to hold a one-dollar bill is featured in the new design. This detail was inspired by a story Carolyn shared with Aileen Mehle at Women’s Wear Daily in 1999. “Jackie always tucked a dollar bill inside every bag. She never forgot—it was a ritual. Maybe she thought it was an amulet.”
“I’ve long admired Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s understated, efforted elegance. She has a way of captivating attention without ever relying on extravagance or wearing status labels. Her minimal makeup and neutral wardrobe, filled with what seemed to be simplicity, made her style feel approachable. Yet, there was an undeniable ‘Je ne sais quoi’ that exuded sophistication and class. She was a style icon for so many, embodying a look that was seemingly easy to achieve but nearly impossible to truly master. Her charm lay in the perfect balance of simplicity and refinement, a timeless reminder that true elegance is never underdone,” said Tyler Ellis.
The limited-edition Lee Pouchet retails for $1,850 and will be available exclusively on www.tylerellis.com starting from March 2025.
