Jackie Kennedy’s Wedding ceremony Costume Catastrophe Nearly Ruined Her Huge Day – SheKnows

If you buy an independently reviewed services or products by way of a hyperlink on our web site, SheKnows could obtain an affiliate fee.

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier’s marriage ceremony to Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy was scheduled to be the social occasion of the season in 1953. The nice-looking couple was the envy of everybody in Washington, D.C., however their ceremony nearly didn’t occur due to a last-minute catastrophe with Jackie’s marriage ceremony gown.

Ann Lowe, a legendary Black haute-couture designer, was commissioned to create Jackie’s gown, 15 bridesmaids’ robes, and the mom of the bride’s apparel — she was the right particular person for the job, having custom-made attractive high-end items for the Rockefellers and the Roosevelts. Nevertheless, 10 days earlier than the Sept. 12 marriage ceremony, a serious disaster occurred: a pipe in Lowe’s studio burst and ruined Jackie’s’ robe and 9 of the 15 bridesmaids’ clothes.

The unique robe had already taken them two months to assemble due to the “greater than 50 yards of silk taffeta,” in line with French Vogue. Now, they solely had 10 days to work across the clock and make the bride the gown of her desires. Lowe wound up shedding $2,200 ($21,000 within the fashionable period) on the job as a result of she needed to pay out of pocket for the reconstruction, however she pulled off a miracle.

Lowe ought to have been the star of the present behind the scenes for her attractive design, however it was Joseph Kennedy, JFK’s father, who was in control of the press that day. Just one reporter, The Washington Put up’s Nina Hyde, talked about Lowe’s title as a result of Joseph failed to advertise the designer’s work on what has change into an iconic marriage ceremony gown. The robe had already been a degree of competition as a result of Joseph dictated the design whereas the 24-year-old Jackie most well-liked one thing “easy and French,” in line with The Washington Put up. Now, Lowe was primarily erased from the equation due to the colour of her pores and skin.

Years later, the rift between the ladies drifted away after Jackie lastly realized the story of how Lowe saved her marriage ceremony day from a complete catastrophe — the designer had saved the water injury story a secret for many years. Lowe turned out to be the true hero of the day and it’s taken years for her to get the true credit score she deserved again in 1953.

Earlier than you go, click on right here to see photographs of JFK and Jackie O.’s grown-up grandkids.