The pink suit worn by Jackie Kennedy on the frightful day of her husband’s public assasination in November 1963 has been burned into the memories of many both young and old. It became a symbol of Jackie’s grief and sorrow, with her continuing to wear it for many hours after the death of President John F. Kennedy. 58 years after that infamous day many have the somewhat morbid question “What happened to Jackie’s suit?”, but the answer may not be as salacious as you may have assumed...

Chanel was a brand loved by Jackie throughout her time as the First Lady of the White House and their iconic wool skirt suits have long since been associated with Jackie O. So, it was no surprise to anyone when Jackie chose to wear one of her signature Chanel suits on her and her husband’s joint visit to Dallas, Texas. The suit was part of Chanel’s fall/winter 1961 collection and Jackie had been photographed wearing it several times before the Dallas rally, and we can see why - it suited her perfectly. A perfect mix of modern and classic, it was Jackie down to a T. It has also been reported that the president himself requested Jackie wear this suit to Dallas as it was apparently a favourite of his.

The Kennedy’s arrive in Dallas. Photo: Cecil W. Stoughton.

While the design of the suit was, of course, French, it was generally expected for a First Lady to wear American clothing and so, while the suit itself was designed by Chanel, it was fitted and sewn in America by Manhattan boutique Chez Ninon. The tweed raspberry pink suit was accessorised with a matching pillbox hat and white gloves.

As the assassination of JFK took place and shots were fired, blood was splattered all over Jackie’s pink suit seeping into the pink tweed fabric staining it, creating the image we all know. In the hours following her husband's tragic assassination, Jackie refused to remove the blood-soaked suit and wore it upon arrival at hospital, on a flight on Air Force One back to Washington and as Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president on live television. She wouldn’t change until the next day.

The suit was a very public stark reminder of her grief and of the horrors that she had just witnessed, with her stating that she wanted her husband’s assassin to “see what they’ve done.” Jackie clearly understood the statement that she was making. She later said that her only regret was wiping her face clean of blood before she was shown on camera that very same day. She was a woman in deep mourning and shock

Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office. Photo: Cecil W. Stoughton.

The pink suit has become synonymous in everyone’s minds of that day in November 1963, but if you are reading this you will most likely never lay your eyes on it since it has been stored in the National Archives since the 1960s after being carefully preserved by Jackie herself. While it was technically still owned by the Kennedy family while it was in the National Archives, in 2003 JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s daughter Caroline officially donated the items to the National Archive asking that it not be shown and remain privately stored for at least 100 years. This means if it does ever go on public display it won’t be until 2103 and, not to be really morbid, but by then you will probably not be here anymore.

According to the deed of gift when Caroline donated the suit it will stay out of the public eye to avoid any “undignified or sensational use of the materials (such as public display) or any other use which would tend in any way to dishonor the memory of the late President or cause unnecessary grief or suffering to members of his family.” And, while morbid curiosity may get the better of us sometimes, we should all respect this wish. While we know the whereabouts of the suit itself, the location of the pillbox hat and gloves are unknown.