On December 16, 2025, a moment of fashion history resurfaced as a singular garment from one of America’s most iconic public figures achieved an astonishing result at auction. A deep purple wool maternity coat—worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on the night her husband, John F. Kennedy, was elected the 35th President of the United States—was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for an impressive $50,800, a figure that exceeded its high estimate by more than sixfold. This sale, reserved for Business Insider subscribers, underscores not only the enduring fascination with the Kennedy family but also the timeless allure of their carefully cultivated aesthetic, which continues to resonate across generations.
In that historic moment of November 8, 1960, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis stood eight months pregnant, poised with quiet composure beside her husband as he delivered his acceptance speech. Clad in her violet maternity coat—its elegant pleats falling gracefully at the sides, its rounded collar softening the silhouette, and its six-button closure lending an understated refinement—she embodied a blend of maternal warmth and dignified modernity. Photographs of her that evening would soon grace the November 21, 1960, cover of *Life* magazine, etching the image into the American consciousness as a symbol of poised optimism at the dawn of a new political era.
The coat’s origins remain a minor enigma—the designer is unknown—but its significance as a hallmark of Kennedy’s ascendancy as a fashion icon is beyond dispute. Throughout the grueling campaign of 1960, Jacqueline made only limited public appearances, largely because of her pregnancy with John F. Kennedy Jr. Yet in each instance, including a notable October stop in New York City where she paired the now-famous coat with a coordinated hat, her presence added a layer of sophistication and approachability to the campaign’s presentation. These subtle but powerful sartorial choices helped shape the visual narrative of a new, youthful political dynasty.
Following the election, the coat’s story continued to evolve in private hands. According to Sotheby’s, the piece was generously loaned by Mrs. Kennedy to several close friends during their own periods of maternity—an intimate gesture revealing her warmth and the shared bond among women navigating similar experiences. Decades later, the daughter of the last friend to wear the coat donated it for auction, ensuring that the artifact would emerge once again into public view. Despite the passage of sixty-five years, the coat remains remarkably well-preserved, its violet hue retaining the vibrant depth that once illuminated the stage in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of Handbags and Fashion, eloquently encapsulated the emotion surrounding the sale, observing that the coat embodies “both an intimate personal story and a defining moment in American history.” She further reflected that the overwhelming bidder response demonstrates the lasting appeal of material objects that exist at the crossroads of historical significance, aesthetic design, and human sentiment. Indeed, this singular garment is far more than a piece of clothing—it is an artifact laden with memory, a tangible intersection between private life and public legacy.
This remarkable auction result follows a pattern seen with other Kennedy-associated relics. Even seemingly ordinary items, such as a pair of President Kennedy’s underwear that sold for $9,100 at a Julien’s Auctions event earlier in 2025, reveal the depth of fascination still surrounding the family’s mythos. Collectors and admirers alike recognize that such artifacts represent more than celebrity; they capture fleeting moments of cultural meaning distilled into material form. In this way, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ purple election-night coat stands as both a cherished memento of an era defined by hope and glamour and a testament to how style can crystallize into history itself.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-style-coat-auction-sothebys-photos-2025-12
