What Bag Did Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Carry in 1997?

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy carried a handbag in 1997 that is still turning up on stylish women's arms in 2026, according to an InStyle feature revisiting the look. The outlet frames the bag as proof that a simple, practical design can outlast decades of passing trends, InStyle reports.

What did InStyle report about the bag?

InStyle's story, published this week, looks back at the bag Bessette-Kennedy wore in 1997 and argues it still works for how women dress today, the outlet reports. The available summary does not list every retailer or price point carrying similar bags now, but it credits the bag's staying power to a practical shape rather than any single season's marketing push. InStyle describes the look as one that stylish women it calls "It girls" are still carrying nearly thirty years after Bessette-Kennedy first wore it.

Why do 1990s bag styles keep coming back?

Fashion coverage tends to point to the same reasons when an older bag style resurfaces: a shape built for daily use, hardware that holds up over years of wear, and a size that fits everyday items without looking bulky. InStyle's piece credits those same traits for keeping Bessette-Kennedy's 1997 bag relevant to shoppers in 2026, according to the outlet, rather than crediting a specific re-release or celebrity endorsement.

What makes a bag count as "practical" by today's standards?

Shoppers comparing an older favorite to new arrivals tend to check the same things. Does the bag stand upright on its own, or does it slump when set down? Does the strap work both on the shoulder and across the body? Does the closure stay shut through a full day of use? A structured frame helps a bag hold its shape inside a crowded tote or on a car seat, a point covered in a related HTT News guide on keeping small, structured bags upright.

Where can shoppers find a similar bag today?

Retailers at every price point sell structured, practical handbag shapes each season, and trend roundups track which silhouettes keep reappearing on shelves. A recent HTT News rundown of nine handbag trends tied to first impressions covers several shapes in the same category. Shoppers hunting for a bag with a similar profile to Bessette-Kennedy's 1997 style are generally searching terms like structured, top-handle, cross-body, and minimal hardware rather than one specific brand name.

What to watch:

• Retailers restocking structured, top-handle bags ahead of the holiday shopping season.
• Resale marketplaces, where original or vintage late-1990s styles sometimes turn up at lower prices than new releases.
• Continued references to Bessette-Kennedy in style coverage as shorthand for simple, practical bag design.

Does InStyle name the exact brand or price?

The summary available to HTT News does not specify a brand, designer, or price for the bag Bessette-Kennedy carried in 1997. HTT News could not independently verify those details beyond what InStyle reports, and the full article may include detail not captured in the available summary. Readers who want the complete identification should read InStyle's original story directly.