FFF Friday Flashback: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

Like a tall glass of water, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was the 90’s ultimate cool blonde. Like her mother-in-law before her, she was a style barometer who had us rethinking headbands, knee high boots and that clean, modern uncluttered style she did so well.

Wearing her favourite designers Calvin Klein, Narciso Rodriguez, Prada and Yohji Yamamoto she stuck to a strong palette of black, white and camel pulling together the same elements regardless of the occasion — tailored white shirt, long pencil skirt, flared and ankle grazing jeans, form fitting tees and sweaters, tailored pants and a myriad of perfectly fitted black and white dresses in silks, laces and wool.  She accented her look not with jewels, but with signature pieces so subtle, simplistic and effortless you almost didn’t see them from her pointy kitten heels and woolen pea coats to that immaculate red lip and always a perfectly maintained sheet of white blonde hair.

Were she alive today we wonder, at 44, how her personal style may have evolved. We would like to think she would be busily pulling together her wardrobe from the collections of Stella McCartney, Celine and Donna Karan(above), all of whom this season have, in some way, channeled her minimal, classic style. The low ponytail, headband, rouge lip, long boot and clean modern tailoring are CBK-chic to a T. 

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was the ultimate blonde — in a nod to her we give you the ultimate Blondie via smittenkitchen

Blondies
Adapted from How to Cook Everything

• 8 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Butter an 8×8 pan. Mix melted butter with brown sugar – beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
Add salt, stir in flour. Mix in any additions (below).

Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle. Always err on the side of caution with baking times — nobody ever complained about a gooey-middled cookie. Cool on rack before cutting them.

Further additions, use one or a combination of:

• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, toasting them first for even better flavor
• 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon mint extract in addition to or in place of the vanilla
• 1/2 cup mashed bananas
• 1/4 cup bourbon, scotch or other whiskey; increase the flour by one tablespoon
• 2 tablespoons of espresso powder with the vanilla
• Stir 1/2 cup dried fruit, especially dried cherries, into the prepared batter
• Top with a vanilla butter cream or chocolate peanut butter cream frosting

Soup & sweaters

With sweater dressing still high on our our fashion priority list and cable knit sweaters strong on the F/W 2010 runways at both Prada (left) and Marc Jacobs, our minds turn to comfort food. The homiest and most comforting in our book is a wonderfully thick and delicious homemade soup. 

Recently we had a special lunch for our favourite minis and my clever friend Monique cooked Donna Hay’s Mushroom and onion soup served with blue cheese toast. As warm and comfy as a Prada cable knit sweater.

Mushroom and Onion Soup with Blue Cheese Toast

• 50g butter
• 200g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced
• 4 red onions, sliced
• 1 litre beef stock

• 8 slices sourdough baguette
• oilve oil, for brushing
• 120g soft blue cheese

Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Add the mushroom and cook for 2 minutes or until browned. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion and cook for 5-8 minutes or until softened. Add the stock and cook for 10 minutes or until thickened slightly.

Place the bread on a baking tray and brush with oil. Grill (broil) under a preheated hot grill for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Spread with the blue cheese and serve with the soup. Serves 4.

Oscar ice queens & vampy glams

Today’s Oscar red carpet is a style swarm of icy, frothy concoctions and sexy, vampy hues. Read on for fashionfoodfatale’s verdict.

Elizabeth Banks in Versace

FFF verdict: Elizabeth has hit gold with this pretty lavender hue, corseted bodice and cascade of ruffles.  Best of all, it goes beyond pretty territory. There is something quite fierce about this frock and we like it.

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

FFF verdict: Disappointing! Sandra has been on a fashion winning streak at late but has come last in this red carpet race. It’s a little too Dynasty for us and not in a good way. Bland, blah and badly fitting (what is she hiding under that too-long hemline?). We do love the red lippie though. Thank the Beauty God for small mercies.

Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab

FFF verdict: Utterly gorgeous although some major jewellery is in need here. Perhaps some fabulous gold shoulder dusters. Her shoes have us salivating. 

Amanda Seigfried in Armani Prive

FFF verdict: There is not doubt this dress is beautiful, but not so on the pale and petite Amanda? She looks anemic. Where is the jewellery? Plus her hair is far too severe. A greasy comb-over does not a Red Carpet Queen make. 

Carey Mulligan in Prada

FFF verdict: Our first glimpse of black tonight. She looks lovely but is just not hitting the mark. Not quite whimicial enough for Carey although we do love the tiny charms adorning her bodice including teeny tiny little knives and forks (very fashionfoodfatale). 

Tina Fey in Michael Kors

FFF verdict: Whilst her hair might be channeling Sarah Palin, Tina is “rock”ing this leopard print, one shoulder Kors to perfection. Love the minimal accessorising too. 

Images via instyle.com