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Fashion

Jackie Kennedy Had a Secret Shoe Trick That Is Actually So Genius

By Samantha Peters

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Jackie Kennedy is well known for her legendary style, from her beloved two-piece suits to famous pillbox hats. And now, it appears even her shoes got the famous First Lady treatment!

In her upcoming memoir, Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family, Jackie Kennedy’s assistant, Kathy McKeon, revealed many secrets behind the icon’s eclectic taste. The most notable: Jackie actually put shoe lifts in the soles of her shoes.

jackie kennedyGetty Images

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McKeon, who lived at Jackie’s Fifth Avenue apartment from 1964 to 1977, discovered the secret while she was in charge of maintaining Jackie’s enormous—and often overflowing—wardrobe.

“The bedroom walk-in closet was jam-packed with Madam’s everyday clothing, all arranged according to color,” McKeon writes. “I had never seen such a dazzling selection of shoes! London-look boots, pumps in every color, spotless sneakers for morning jogs around the reservoir. More intriguing to me was the quarter-inch lift affixed to one heel on each pair of shoes, apparently meant to compensate for one leg being slightly shorter than the other. No one would have ever guessed,” the now-72-year-old claims.

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While McKeon is right, it makes sense that we never noticed this subtle adjustment before. In fact, a quarter of an inch is not even as tall as a grain of rice, so we’re wondering how McKeon detected the difference herself!

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jackie kennedy shoesGetty Images

Being such a minor flaw, it’s sort of surprising that the former First Lady was so self-conscious about her unbalanced height. But maybe it’s this attention to detail she invested in her appearance that’s made Jackie’s style so revered by many.

The beloved wife of President John F. Kennedy passed away in 1994 at the age of 64. Still, her amazing fashion legacy survives today, with stars like royal Kate Middleton channeling her famous looks on countless occasions! It’s not hard to understand why.

h/t House Beautiful.com

Next: See Jackie Kennedy’s most memorable outfits!

  1. 18 Jackie Kennedy First Lady Photo

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    Jackie Kennedy remains one of the most beloved first ladies, and her signature style is recognized all over the world.

  2. 01 Jackie Kennedy Wedding

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    Jackie Kennedy's iconic wedding dress was created by American designer Ann Lowe. However, Jackie herself later admitted she was not a fan of the dress and would have preferred something more simple.

  4. 17 Jackie Kennedy Hair

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    Jackie's signature bouffant hairstyle, created by Kenneth Battelle, was copied by women everywhere.

  5. 02 Jackie Kennedy Inauguration

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    In 1961, the night before her husband's inauguration, Jackie wore this beautiful cream dress to the Inaugural Gala. It was created by American designer Oleg Cassini, who would go on to make many more of Jackie's most iconic outfits.

  6. 09 Jackie Kennedy Inauguration Coat

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    On the way to her husband's inauguration, Jackie wore a simple wool coat with large buttons and a fur collar, which was also designed by Cassini.

  8. 07 Jackie Kennedy Hats

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    Throughout her time as first lady, Jackie was famous for her pillbox hats, many of which were designed by Halston.

  9. 08 Jackie Kennedy Suits

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    Jackie's colorful suits are well-documented. She wore this Chez Ninon set during a CBS tour of the White House in 1962 after it had undergone massive renovations, and ended up winning an Emmy for this broadcast.

  10. 06 Jackie Kennedy

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    In 1962, at a state dinner in honor of Andre Malraux, the French Minister of Culture, Jackie donned a baby pink Guy Douvier dress.

  12. 16 Jackie Kennedy

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    On a goodwill trip to India in 1962, Jackie dazzled in a peach Cassini dress. She's also pictured wearing her signature triple-strand pearls, designed by Kenneth Jay Lane.

  13. 10 Jackie Kennedy

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    On the same visit to India, Jackie wore this beautiful floor-length white gown to a dinner.

  14. 14 Jackie Kennedy Engagement Ring

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    Even though Jackie is recognized by pearls, her engagement ring from JFK is a stunner. The Van Cleef & Arpels ring is almost 8 carats of diamonds and emeralds.

  16. 13 Jackie Kennedy Brooch

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    Another of Jackie's favorite jewelry pieces was this brooch designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany. It was a gift from her husband to celebrate the birth of their son.

  17. 11 Jackie Kennedy

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    After she left the White House, oversized, dark sunglasses became a distinct part of her style.

  18. 03 Jackie Kennedy Headscarf

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    Headscarves made some appearances during her husband's time in office, but they became her go-to accessory during her second marriage.

  20. 05 Jackie Kennedy Casual

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    Jackie looked stylish even when she opted for a casual outfit. Her white flared jeans and untucked black turtleneck set another trend.

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