Exceptional Fashion: including items from the wardrobe of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
Fri, Feb 13, 2026 02:00PM EST - Tue, Mar 3, 2026 10:00AM EST
Timed Auction
Lot 14
Prada camel double-faced wool-angora coat, 1996
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $100 | $20 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
labelled, 40, epaulettes to shoulders, single breasted coat, with two flap pockets to chest and two slit pockets to hips, matching belt with faux tortoiseshell buckle, un-lined, bust 34in 86cm, shoulders 15in, 38cm, length 39in, 99cm, sleeve 22in, 56cm
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Condition
Approximately 4 small moth nibbles to surface pile across rear shoulders/under collar, 1 at fold of collar and 1 to right sleeve-minor. The cuffs have been altered and the hem has possibly been shortened. The belt has been folded over and stitched to shorten. Otherwise good condition.
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Private Collection.
This coat is featured in the biopic 'Love Story', produced by Ryan Murphy.
This particular style of Prada coat was a favourite of Carolyn's and is one her most iconic and important looks. She is photographed wearing an identical example (and other variations) on numerous occasions. To view Carolyn wearing an identical example, March 15th 1997, CLICK HERE and pictured walking with John F. Kennedy Jr. and their dog Friday, October 1st 1998, CLICK HERE.
Costume designer Rudy Mance comments on 'Love Story' and this coat: 'Hopefully we're bringing authenticity, authenticity to her, who she was as a person. In terms of the clothes, the clothes were as authentic as you can get...I hope everyone enjoys watching it. Obviously none of us knew who she really was as a person, but we talked to a lot of people who did. I hope that the viewers know just how much care we put into it...my favourite piece was The Holy Grail- the tan Prada military coat with the belt. I remember coming up as a kid at Conde Nast, that coat was always iconic- it was such a look. I never really saw anyone else wearing that. When we found that- it was incredible'- interview with The Savoie Daily, February 2026.
Provenance: These items were acquired in 2017 by a private collector, purchased directly from one seller discovered on E-bay. The first two pieces they acquired were the Prada camel skirt (Lot 8) and Prada camel coat (Lot 14). These items were described 'as seen on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy'. The collector was later told by the seller that these items were believed to have originally belonged to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and that they had been acquired from a former George magazine staffer in 2011. These items are ready-to-wear and multiples were made are in existence. The Fashion Auctioneer has not been able to make contact with the George staffer or original E-bay seller and subsequently the alleged provenance of this collection cannot be verified. It has been confirmed that the two Prada camel coats Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is most frequently seen in were personally gifted by Carolyn to Rosemarie Terenzio during the 1990s. These can be seen in Lot 2 and Lot 4 of this sale.
We welcome anyone with further information relating to the origin of the pieces included in this collection to contact us.
The Fashion Auctioneer was founded by Lucy Bishop in 2026. The independent auction house specializes in exceptional fashion and holds sales throughout the year.
