1The Tortoise Headband
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A glossy tortoiseshell headband was her signature off-duty hair accessory, often slipped over a sleek low bun or a perfectly nape-grazing ponytail. It always added just enough to elevate an otherwise minimalist hairstyle.
2Her Iconic Blonde
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Carolyn leaned into bright blonde hair with glossy highlights thatc creative a chic and expensive-looking hair color. It even sparked controversy ahead of Love Story’s release, when early buzz questioned whether Sarah Pidgeon’s shade captured the exact tone of CBK’s blonde—proof that her specific hue has become a beauty reference point in its own right.
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3Minimalist Makeup
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Her everyday look relied on simple details that highlighted her natural features: thin ’90s brows, a glossy lip, and skin that looked untouched by foundation. Carolyn made minimalism feel deliberate and completely timeless.
4An Effortless Blowout
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Her soft blowout barely revealed a part, as if she’d casually flipped it to one side and it simply stayed there. It felt perfectly lived-in and like she woke up and just happened to be the chicest person in any room.
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5A Berry Lip
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And of course we can’t forget the berry lip. She rarely strayed far from minimal makeup, but when she did lean into color, it was almost always a berry—it gave her look that subtle and romantic edge.
6A Sleek Bun
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While CBK wasn’t one for overly formal evening wear, she did often elevate her look by styling her hair in a sleek Ballerina bun. You know the “clean girl aesthetic” bun worn by Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner? Carolyn did it first.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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