Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Timeless ‘Cranberry Sauce Out of a Can’ Lip Color is Still a Stylish Choice
In a recent piece for *The Telegraph*, Annabel Jones reflected on the lasting impact of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s style, particularly her effortless approach to red lipstick. “Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was my red lipstick icon: She wore it nonchalantly with a bare face and scraped-back hair,” Jones wrote. However, she noted the common struggle of finding the right shade: “No matter how hard I tried to emulate her insouciance, on me red has always felt too conspicuous, too sultry. I know I’m not alone—finding the right red is full of challenges.”
As Bessette-Kennedy’s influence resurfaces in contemporary fashion circles, particularly with FX’s *Love Story*, many are looking to her beauty choices for inspiration. Reports indicate that she frequently opted for shades from MAC and Bobbi Brown. Recently, Swedish brand FACE Stockholm confirmed the exact products Bessette-Kennedy cherished during her visits to their New York store.
“We were so honored and are still extremely proud to have had Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy as a frequent customer at our SoHo store in the ’90s,” a spokesperson for FACE Stockholm stated. “Her favorites were Nail Polish #13, a sheer opal/iridescent shade, and of course, Cranberry Veil Lipstick.”
While the brand has discontinued its nail polish line, the Cranberry Veil Lipstick remains a best-seller, often topping sales across its entire product range. The formula, described as a sheer wash of buildable cream color, has garnered acclaim for its versatility, with one reviewer likening it to “cranberry sauce out of the can.”
“The color formula has remained unchanged since it launched in 1990,” FACE Stockholm noted. “It is still the same warm-berry shade that she wore so gracefully and made quite iconic. We still get many inquiries about Mrs. Kennedy and Cranberry Veil. It made such a strong impression on women—particularly here in New York—and as time goes by, the interest doesn’t waver. We are still greatly impacted by her small, seemingly simple choice of our lipstick shade. A butterfly flapping its wings indeed.”
