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Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, once a publicist for Calvin Klein, possessed an uncanny understanding of New York’s fashion dynamics, a skill that continued to influence the industry long after her departure. Her insights were so profound that a fellow fashion publicist found them invaluable for years.
Mauricio Padilha, co-founder of MAO Public Relations, reminisces about his early visits to the designer’s showroom, experiences that shaped his future endeavors.
“I remember Carolyn noticing me studying her show seating charts. She kindly joined me and shared her strategy on arranging the seating,” he recounted.
In a social media post, Padilha detailed her methodology: “Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar were never placed side by side… Celebrities were grouped near cameras, away from press or retail representatives, to avoid any unintended remarks.” He further explained her tactic for flexible seating: “The bent stickers on the seating plan allowed for quick adjustments if a more prominent guest confirmed later.”
Bessette Kennedy’s career at Calvin Klein came to a halt as she prioritized her marriage. With John F. Kennedy Jr. emerging as a publishing powerhouse after co-founding George magazine in 1995, her friend Sasha Chermayeff told Page Six, “She stepped away from her role because everything had to center around John and George magazine.”
Her seating chart method, however, stuck with Padilha. He told Page Six he continued to use it for many years.
The last time Padilha saw her was at the Helmut Lang store in New York’s Soho neighborhood, where she was waiting for them to bag her items, he said. “I was buying [his brother and co-founder] Roger a birthday gift and she helped me pick out a cute Felix the Cat t-shirt for him. She thought it was funny,” he said.
Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999. The 90s romance is being chronicled in Ryan Murphy’s latest project, “Love Story.”