When I was a eleven-year-old girl in love with fashion, watching runway shows by designers like Tom Ford and Calvin Klein, I never imagined that those images of sophisticated simplicity would shape my fashion vision decades later.During that time, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy emerged as a style icon, embodying timeless elegance, minimalism, and refinement. Her carefully curated aesthetic left a deep impression on me, becoming the muse that inspired Magbago’s very first collection.
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Carolyn was always impeccably dressed in an effortlessly cool style that turned her into a minimalist style icon. She wore many sleek pieces that never go out of style, transforming a simple white shirt into a piece suitable for evening wear and making a color combination often deemed “unwearable,” like black and beige, look effortlessly chic. What makes Carolyn such a style icon, at least to me, is her ability to embrace trends selectively, making them her own — be it a pair of statement sunglasses or boots — while maintaining her signature style. One interesting fact about Carolyn is that she didn’t have a large wardrobe, nor did she accept “freebies” from designers. She stuck to a tight rotation of basics and a few investment pieces, proving that less can truly be more.
What makes her style resonate so profoundly decades after her tragic passing is that it can still be easily recreated today and look just as sophisticated. Her wardrobe was modest, yet it was a symbol of effortless, laid-back luxury — white collared shirts with pencil skirts, understated evening dresses, and a classic neutral color palette of beige, white, and black. Her accessories were never over-the-top or bedazzling; they were simple but elegant, allowing her style to stand out subtly and gracefully, without asking for attention yet effortlessly commanding it.
As a young girl admiring such a style, I dreamed of creating clothing one day that would leave a similar impression—clothing that doesn’t conform to fleeting trends but becomes a timeless symbol of style. Today, 28 years later, that inspiration is manifested through the Magbago brand, which blends sustainable fashion practices with high-quality materials, elegant cuts, and a minimalist approach to design.
At the core of the Magbago collection are simple cuts and neutral tones in colors that reflect nature—black, white, gray, beige, and subtle pastel hues. Each garment is designed to easily become part of a capsule wardrobe, giving the wearer the freedom to express her authenticity through sophisticated simplicity. While developing this collection, I always kept Carolyn’s principle in mind—to invest in basics and choose quality over quantity.
Just like Carolyn, who didn’t chase after the latest fashion trends but remained true to her signature style, we at Magbago believe that fashion should be a personal statement, not a set of external rules. The materials we use—ranging from silk and organic linen to innovative fabrics made from agricultural waste—are chosen not only for their luxurious feel on the skin but also for the ethical standards and sustainability they bring.
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