Take it as a compliment if someone says that you resemble Jackie! Even the former super model, pop-singer and France’s First Lady Carla Bruni was elated when similarities were drawn between her and Jackie.

“Jackie was young and modern”, The French First Lady has once told the Vanity Fair magazine adding that she would unconsciously project herself more like Jackie Kennedy than for instance, Madame de Gaulle, “who would be much more like the classical French woman behind her husband.”

“Michelle Obama’s stunning inaugural dress was reminiscent of the class and elegance Jackie Kennedy displayed while she was First Lady,” wrote many US tabloids and magazines.

The style and elegance shown by late Princess Diana in the 80s is often compared to the influence Jackie made on American society in the early 60s!

Though nearly half a century has passed since she had to leave the White House unexpectedly following the brutal assassination of her husband, though more than one and a half decades has passed since her death in 1994, the world still talks about the “Jacqueline Kennedy” look. They will do so for decades to come.

First Ladies would always garner public attention, specially if they are young, beautiful, intelligent and fashionable! They would definitely hit the world headlines if they represent the US!

But their fame and glamour are normally short lived, are often replaced by those of their successors. But with Jackie it was not so. Up to now, none of her successors could surpass her enormous popularity and celebrity status.!

When John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President of the US on January 20, 1961, Jacqueline became, at age 31, one of the youngest First Ladies in history, just behind Frances Folsom Cleveland and Julia Tyler.

During the all-too-brief Kennedy reign the young mother successfully played diverse roles as the First Lady, patron of the arts and unofficial ambassador. More than all, it was her innate sense of style and elegance that made her a fashion icon of all times-an object of fascination to generations of Americans, the subject of countless articles, books and movies!.

Her inaugural Ball gown which was designed by her Chief fashion designer Oleg Cassini dazzled America on January 1961. That was where she marked the beginning as a trend setter and a role model for the American women.

What made her style so special? “It was simple and elegant.” It was with her clean suits, sleeveless A-line dresses and pillbox hats that she stole the show. Collars were simple, rounded or non-existent , or sleeves were either above the elbow or done away with altogether.”

The only decoration found was single, large, centre button near the neck, holding together an empire waist topcoat “finishing off were usually her signature pillbox hat, pumps, long white gloves, and sometimes pearls.

For evening, her style took on a sleeveless look in a single color with a founded or bateau neckline,” says American Decades 1960-1969.

To Oleg Cassini, she was a ‘geometrical goddess’- a perfect figure and size for high fashion. For others she was a ‘fashion goddess’, and in the early sixties she became a role model and a trend setter for the young women around the globe.

Her beauty, elegance and style impressed the then world leaders and she always outshone her handsome husband President.

Even the most `difficult’ world leaders of the early 60s such as France’s Charles de Gualle and Russia’s Nikita Krushchev were said to have been overjoyed by her beautiful presence! She could mesmerize Indians and Pakistanis when she toured there alone as an unofficial ambassador!

France was mesmerized by her elegance and style that even President Kennedy himself was said to have passed a light remark at the end of the tour. “I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris-and I have enjoyed it!”

- Samangie