Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ purple maternity coat, worn on election night in 1960 while she was eight months pregnant with John F. Kennedy Jr., sold for $50,800 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York—more than six times its estimated value. The wool coat, whose designer remains unknown, became an enduring symbol of the night JFK narrowly defeated Richard Nixon to become the 35th US president and appeared on the cover of Life magazine shortly after.
Sotheby’s said the coat was consigned by an anonymous donor with ties to the Kennedy family. Over the years, Kennedy Onassis reportedly shared the garment with close friends during their pregnancies before it was passed down and eventually donated for auction. Despite being more than 60 years old, the coat has retained its vivid violet color.
The strong sale underscores the lasting appeal of Kennedy-era fashion, with memorabilia linked to the family continuing to command high prices at auction, including deeply personal items. Sotheby’s described the coat as capturing both a private moment and a defining chapter in American history.