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The Untold Stories: 5 Shocking Facts About Jackie O's Two Iconic Wedding Dresses

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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis remains the undisputed queen of American style, and no garments in her legendary wardrobe are more scrutinized than her two wedding dresses. These gowns, worn for her marriages to John F. Kennedy in 1953 and Aristotle Onassis in 1968, represent two vastly different eras of her life and two fundamentally distinct approaches to bridal fashion.

As of December 2025, the legacy of these dresses is more relevant than ever, with recent museum exhibitions and high-profile auctions bringing fresh attention to the untold stories behind the seams. While one dress is a symbol of American royalty and a tragic secret, the other is a bold statement of independence and European chic, forever cementing her status as a global style icon.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Biographical Snapshot

  • Born: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, July 28, 1929, Southampton, New York
  • Died: May 19, 1994, New York City, New York
  • Education: Miss Porter's School; Vassar College; The Sorbonne; George Washington University (B.A. in French Literature)
  • First Marriage (The Political Union): Senator John F. Kennedy (JFK), September 12, 1953
  • First Husband's Tenure: 35th President of the United States (1961–1963)
  • Children (with JFK): Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Second Marriage (The Private Union): Aristotle Onassis, October 20, 1968
  • Career: Journalist, First Lady of the United States, Book Editor
  • Legacy: Known globally for her timeless fashion, dedication to the arts, and historic restoration of the White House.

The Ann Lowe Masterpiece: Jackie Kennedy's 1953 Bridal Gown

The wedding dress Jacqueline Bouvier wore for her marriage to Senator John F. Kennedy in Newport, Rhode Island, is perhaps the most famous and, tragically, the most misunderstood bridal gown in American history. This iconic dress, which became a symbol of the Kennedy dynasty, was the work of a brilliant but uncredited African-American couturier, Ann Lowe.

The Secret Drama of the JFK Wedding Dress

The creation of this magnificent, full-skirted, off-the-shoulder gown was fraught with drama that remained hidden from the public for decades. The design featured a portrait neckline and a voluminous skirt crafted from fifty yards of ivory silk taffeta, adorned with intricate tucking and wax flowers.

However, just ten days before the wedding, disaster struck. A burst water pipe in Ann Lowe’s New York studio flooded the basement, completely destroying the wedding dress and all nine of the bridesmaid gowns.

Lowe, a consummate professional, chose not to tell the Bouvier or Kennedy families. Instead, she worked tirelessly with her team, purchasing new fabric and remaking the entire collection in less than a week, incurring a substantial personal loss. She managed to deliver the gowns on time, saving the wedding day fashion, a heroic feat of design and dedication.

Despite her incredible artistry and sacrifice, Ann Lowe was not given public credit for the design at the time of the wedding. When asked by reporters who made the dress, Jackie reportedly dismissed the question, simply calling Lowe a "colored dressmaker." It is a heartbreaking detail that underscores the systemic racism of the era, and it is only in recent years that Lowe has received the recognition she deserves as a pioneering American designer.

Today, the original 1953 wedding dress is a treasured piece of history, permanently housed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Valentino Statement: Jackie Onassis's 1968 Second Wedding Ensemble

Fifteen years after her first, highly public wedding, Jacqueline Kennedy chose a dramatically different look for her marriage to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis on the private island of Skorpios. This second ensemble was a clear departure from the formality of her first gown, signaling a new chapter of independence and European sophistication.

For her wedding to "Ari" in 1968, Jackie wore a cream-colored, knee-length dress from the Italian design house Valentino. The choice of a short, two-piece dress was considered revolutionary for a high-profile bride at the time, instantly setting a new trend in bridal fashion.

Details of the Chic, Non-Traditional Gown

The Valentino design was a sophisticated two-piece ensemble made of pleated ivory lace and silk chiffon. It featured a high-necked, long-sleeved top and a matching A-line skirt with a delicate chiffon overlay. Instead of a traditional veil or tiara, Jackie opted for a simple white ribbon woven through her signature dark hair, a casual yet elegant touch that perfectly captured the spirit of the late 1960s.

This "Valentino Onassis wedding dress" was an intentional choice. It was less about adhering to traditional "First Lady" protocol and more about embracing her new identity as a private citizen and a global fashion icon. The ensemble was a perfect expression of the relaxed, yet luxurious, lifestyle she was embracing with Onassis. The choice of a high-fashion European designer like Valentino over her long-time American favorite, Oleg Cassini, also underscored her shift in focus.

Contemporary Relevance: Exhibitions, Auctions, and the Enduring Legacy

The fascination with Jackie O's sartorial choices continues to drive significant cultural and commercial interest, proving the enduring power of her style legacy.

The Ann Lowe Revival: In 2024, the story of Ann Lowe received a major spotlight. A significant exhibition honoring the couturier, titled "Ann Lowe: American Couturier," was featured at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. This exhibition, which ran into early 2024, finally placed Lowe's genius—including her creation of the Kennedy wedding dress—in the context of high fashion history, ensuring her rightful place in the narrative.

Record-Breaking Auction Sale: The commercial value of her second wedding look was highlighted by a recent auction. A Valentino dress worn and owned by Jackie Kennedy for her nuptials to Aristotle Onassis was sold at a Bonhams auction. The garment fetched $24,320, which was triple its pre-sale estimate, demonstrating the intense desire among collectors for pieces associated with the fashion icon.

Both the Ann Lowe gown and the Valentino ensemble remain touchstones for contemporary bridal fashion. The Lowe dress inspires brides seeking classic, romantic, and historically rich gowns, while the Valentino piece is a perennial reference for those looking for a chic, non-traditional, and fashion-forward look. Her two wedding dresses are not just garments; they are historical artifacts that tell a powerful story of love, loss, secrecy, and ultimate reinvention.

jackie o wedding dress
jackie o wedding dress

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