Few first ladies past and present have resonated with the American public across different backgrounds. A poster for strength in the wake of her husband's assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Jackie O) transformed American history in remarkable ways.
We rounded up just a few of the ways that she changed the world forever.
Jackie O's iconic looks remain a pivotal inspiration for fashion trends to this day.
When it came to fashion, Jackie O was in a league of her own. Newsweek reports that, in her first year as First Lady, she reportedly spent $45,466 more on her wardrobe than the $100,000 her husband John F. Kennedy earned as commander-in-chief.
Robust budget aside, Jackie O popularized many statement pieces unique to women in the 1960s and 1970s. Her Halston-designed pillbox hats, which she owned in several different colors, became a signature look throughout her tenure as First Lady. She famously wore a watermelon tinted suit and matching pillbox hat on the day her husband was assassinated.
Few could rock a cape with such sophistication and humility quite like Mrs. Kennedy. In recent years, the garment has slowly made a return to the runway and seen on the racks at your favorite stores. The dramatic accessory was a huge part of her signature style, and naturally remains synonymous with her time as First Lady.
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal responsibility as White House interior decorator is still followed by First Ladies of the 21st century.
Most expect the inside of the White House to be expertly dressed with the finest pieces unique to the President and First Lady's lifestyle. However, when President and Jackie Kennedy became its newest resident in 1961, it was boring and ridden with dated furniture most wouldn't adorn their own homes with.
Jackie O believed that the White House should tell an artistic history of the United States, and she set out to restore its walls with warm tones of strong colors. The dismal walls were beautifully painted in blue and yellow hues, and the accompanying furniture was a gentle mix of antique pieces and trendy accessories.
You can thank Jackie O for the beautifully manicured Rose Garden.
Credited as being an area where her husband spent his “happiest hours in the White House,” the Rose Garden has become an integral part of the charm and esteem of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Bunny Mellon, gardening enthusiast and Kennedy family friend was the trusted individual in charge of turning their vision into reality. The garden was completed in 1962.
Even though Mrs. Kennedy was only able to enjoy the allure of the garden for a year, the memories stemming from her experience creating the architectural terrace would last a lifetime.
Years after her husband's assassination, Jackie O gifted Mellon with a scrapbook highlighting the Rose Garden's progress from inception to conclusion.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider