Where Is Narciso Rodriguez Now? Inside His Life After Designing Carolyn Bessette's Wedding Dress

Narciso Rodriguez began his fashion career in the 1980s before transitioning to a role at Calvin Klein

NEED TO KNOW

• After famously designing Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress, he created his own eponymous label

• The designer is now married with children

Few people in this world can say they've had the honor of designing the bride's gown for a "Kennedy Wedding" — butNarciso Rodriguezis among that exclusive group.

The designer, who graduated from Parsons School of Design, famously madeCarolyn Bessette'ssilk slip dressfor her1996 weddingto political heirJohn F. Kennedy Jr.Now, the moment is being portrayed inLove Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, in whichTonatiuhplays Rodriguez.

During a March 2026 conversation withThe Cut, Rodriguez opened up about how his life changed after gaining recognition for designing the famous dress.

"It was very different," he said. "I love my work and the craft, and I've always been very focused on sketching and doing the work. The fabulous designer image in the press is not, and wasn't, my goal or my dream."

Rodriguez went on to speak about the "invasive" attention it brought, saying, "I'm happy to be backstage, making the clothes. All of a sudden, I was very front of stage. It was hard to navigate."

So, where is Narciso Rodriguez now? Here's everything to know about his life after designing Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress.

His fashion career began in the 1980s

According toThe New York Times, Rodriguez got his start in fashion in the 1980s, when he worked on Seventh Avenue as Donna Karan's assistant at Anne Klein. He later transitioned to a job atCalvin Klein, which is also where he met Bessette, whose job at the time was to look after V.I.P. clients.

During a February 2026 conversation withVogue, Rodriguez shared that after they met while working at Calvin Klein, he soon moved into her apartment building.

"Those were really great memorable years," he said.

Rodriguez gained recognition after designing Bessette's wedding dress in 1996

Rodriguez gained prominence in the industry after designing his friend's wedding dress for her ultra-private wedding to JFK Jr. According toThe New York Times, Rodriguez went to Cerutti in Paris to make her dress in secret.

During his conversation withVogue, he reflected on the moment his friend asked him to design her wedding dress.

"I remember going to Odeon and having cosmos with her at the bar and her telling me that John had proposed and would I make her dress?" he recalled. "It was such an exciting moment in all of our lives."

Rodriguez added, "It was the love of my life marrying the love of her life, and so it was a very heartfelt, emotional time."

Speaking of the honor withVogueeight years earlier, he called it a "great moment" in his career, as well as a "beautiful moment" in his personal life.

He launched his own label in 1997

In 1997, Rodriguez launched his eponymous label in Milan, per hiswebsite. That same year, he was appointed Design Director of Loewe's women's ready-to-wear collection, a role he held until 2001, when he moved his label — which now also includes fragrances — to New York.

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Bessette isn't the only high-profile woman he has dressed:Michelle Obamawore his work to numerous events, including when she made her final speech as First Lady in January 2017, perVogue.

Rodriguez's work has been recognized with several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement honor at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards in June 2018.

After being honored by the Couture Council at the Museum of FIT that September, Rodriguez told PEOPLE that it "means so much" to him.

"It's a great moment of peace and clarity. I feel all the love," he continued.

Rodriguez married his husband in 2013

While Rodriguez is known for designing Bessette's wedding dress, he tied the knot himself in June 2013, when he married Thomas Tolan, perVogue.

He had been private about his long-term relationship with Tolan at that point, but toldThe New York Timestwo years earlier that they often "cook together, open a bottle of red wine, and if it's nice, we'll sit on the terrace and watch the sunset."

According to Tolan'sLinkedIn, he works as an advertising and marketing executive.

Where is Narciso Rodriguez now?

The designer shuttered his label amid the COVID-19 pandemic, though he continued to design for private clients and run his fragrance business with Shiseido, perElle.

According to the outlet, he underwent a "personal reinvention" during that time, focusing on creating more balance between his career and personal life, including raising his twins.

He has since returned to the industry with a new approach: "I didn't want to fall into the same trap of department stores and deadlines and shows," he told the outlet in March 2025.

Despite having received "interesting proposals," Rodriguez said he "couldn't imagine being on a plane, putting on shows in Europe, and missing out on one day of my kids' life."

The brand is still around today, continuing to grow with the popularity of its fragrance collections.

In March 2026, following the release ofLove Story's sixth episode, "The Wedding," Rodriguez reflected on the early days of his career while speaking withThe Cut.

"We worked around the clock and the fashion shows were exhausting and all that stuff," he said of working at Calvin Klein. "Now I'm like,Wow, that was incredible.What an incredible experience in my lifetime."

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

March 07, 2026

Where Is Narciso Rodriguez Now? Inside His Life After Designing Carolyn Bessette's Wedding Dress

Narciso Rodriguez began his fashion career in the 1980s before transitioning to a role at Calvin Klein NEED T...

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7 Details That “Love Story ”Got Wrong About John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's Romance (Exclusive)

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette revisits the real-life couple's relationship before their tragic deaths

NEED TO KNOW

• The show makes it clear that while it's inspired by their romance, it's also "dramatized or fictionalized for storytelling purposes"

• Actress Daryl Hannah, who dated JFK Jr. and is portrayed in the show, called the portrayal of her "untrue"

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessettehas introduced a whole new group of fans to theiconic '90s couple.

John F. Kennedy Jr.(Paul Anthony Kelly) andCarolyn Bessette's (Sarah Pidgeon) relationship is front and center in theRyan MurphyFX limited series, which is inspired by the events of the political heir andformer Calvin Klein employee'spassionate, tumultuous romance.

Some things were transposed from reality to screen: The political heirreallywas responsible for the death ofDaryl Hannah's (Dree Hemingway) dog amid theirsplit, per PEOPLE editor-at-largeLiz McNeiland JFK's former assistant RoseMarie Terenzio's 2024 book,JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography.

But as the showrunner makes clear in the beginning of each episode, certain aspects of the show, including people and events, were "dramatized or fictionalized for storytelling purposes."

Below, here are seven detailsLove Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessettefabricated.

It's not confirmed that JFK Jr. and Bessette met at a fundraiser

While in the show, JFK Jr. and Bessette first cross paths after being introduced by Calvin Klein (Alessandro Nivola) at a 1992 fundraiser, there are varying accounts of how they initially met in real-life.

InElizabeth Beller's biography,Once Upon A Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the author wrote that JFK Jr. met Bessette while he was getting fitted for a suit at Calvin Klein.

"Calvin — along with his wife,Kelly Klein, and ... assistant MJ Bettenhausen — decided it should be [Carolyn], the most effervescent person on the sales floor, who would show John the selection of clothing," Beller wrote. "Unsurprisingly, John came out of the meeting smitten, with a few men's suits and Carolyn's phone number. He called within days."

However,Love Storyexecutive producer Brad Simpson toldUSA Todayin February 2026 that there are different versions of the series of events, but "the most common narrative [of] how they met was at this fundraiser ... so we decided that would be their first meeting."

Bessette didn't necessarily discover Kate Moss

In the first episode of the limited series, Bessette has a big role inKate Moss' modeling break, as sheadvocates for her as the best fitfor the Calvin Klein "Obsession" underwear campaign.

Though this did happen in real life, the scene suggests Bessette "discovered" the British supermodel, but she had actually already begun hermodeling careerat the time.

Moss first walked down the runway in 1992 at the Dolce & Gabbana show in Milan, though she did gain more recognition following the Calvin Klein campaign. (Meanwhile, she and Bessette lived in the same West Village apartment building around that time.)

Daryl Hannah said the portrayal of her is "untrue"

The first few episodes of the series chronicle JFK Jr.'s on-again, off-again romance with actress Hannah. However, she wrote in an essay forThe New York Timesthat the portrayal of her is "not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John."

"The actions and behaviors attributed to me are untrue," the actress wrote in the scathing essay, which went on to refute several scenes from the series.

"I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties," she wrote. "I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone's private memorial."

Hannah added, "I have never planted any story in the press. I never compared Jacqueline Onassis' death to a dog's. It's appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show. These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct — and they are false."

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JFK Jr. didn't propose to Bessette with his mother's ring

When JFK Jr. proposes to Bessette in episode 5, he uses his late mother's (Naomi Watts)ring. But in real life, JFK Jr. did not use one ofJackie Kennedy'sringsto propose.

Instead, he gave her a bespoke ring that was designed by his mom's longtime companion, diamond baronMaurice Tempelsman, and inspired by his late mother's "swimming ring."

According toCarole Radziwill's 2007 book,What Remains, JFK Jr. gave Jackie's ring to Bessette as a gift later, which was also echoed in McNeil and Terenzio's book.

"John gave Carolyn two rings. There was his mom's 'swimming ring' - that was Jackie's name for the ring she wore when she didn't wear her wedding ring-designed by Jean Schlumberger," Terenzio said in the book. "Bunny Mellon (Jackie's close friend) had it and had given it to John. Jackie's swimming ring was emeralds and sapphires. Carolyn's engagement ring from Maurice was in the same style with diamond and sapphires around a band."

Their N.Y.C. park fight wasn't about their engagement

Episode 5 dives into JFK Jr. and Bessette's infamous fight in New York City's Battery Park. While this dramatic and public incident did happen in real life, itsreasoning (and location!) were different.

According to McNeil and Terenzio's book, the couple got into a fight while walking their dog in Washington Square Park in February 1996. After the confrontation was captured by a nearby photographer and videographer, the incident was later published in theNew York Daily News.

While it's sparked byBessette resisting JFK Jr.'s proposal in the show, the real-life fight "stemmed from Carolyn's ongoing complaint that John let people walk all over him," JFK Jr.'s friend Steven M. Gillon wrote in his 2019 biographyAmerica's Reluctant Prince.

Terenzio also noted that in her and McNeil's book, saying that the fight was centered around "him being taken advantage of by his friends" after an incident at a friend's wedding.

Berman didn't push for JFK Jr. to put his wedding photos inGeorge

As JFK Jr. prepares for his wedding amid workplace tensions over revenue streams atGeorge, his co-founder, Michael J. Berman, encourages him to publish his wedding photos in the magazine.

Terenzio tells PEOPLE that Berman "would never suggest" something like that in real life.

JFK Jr. and Bessette didn't sleep on the beach the night before their wedding

Love Story's wedding episode highlights the couple's 1996 nuptials in Georgia, but it adds some fictionalized elements to the big day — including them sleeping on the beach the night before.

However, a source tells PEOPLE that they slept at Cumberland Island's Greyfield Inn in separate bedrooms because he "didn't want to see her the night before the wedding" and was "being traditional."

Meanwhile, the bride's hairstylistGeorge Kyriakos toldMcNeil and Terenziothat JFK Jr. had spent that night sleeping on the couch in his and his then-wife Jackie's room.

"It was the whole don't-sleep-with-the-bride-the-night-before-the-wedding thing," he told the co-authors.

The couple spent time apart on the day of the wedding before heading down the aisle, with JFK Jr. enjoying the beach with friends and family — far different from him going skinny-dipping with Bessette on the morning of the big day like he does in the show.

For more on the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, pick up PEOPLE's special edition, available now on newsstands andhere.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

March 07, 2026

7 Details That “Love Story ”Got Wrong About John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's Romance (Exclusive)

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette revisits the real-life couple's relationship before their tragi...

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China could see widespread use of brain-computer tech in 3-5 years, expert says

By Laurie Chen

BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - China could see brain-computer interface (BCI) technology move into practical public use within three to five years as products mature, a leading BCI expert said, as ‌Beijing races to catch up with U.S. startups including Elon Musk's Neuralink.

Beijing elevated BCIs to a ‌core future strategic industry in its new five-year plan released this week, placing it alongside sectors such as quantum, embodied AI, 6G and ​nuclear fusion.

"New policies will not change things overnight. I think after another three to five years, we will gradually see some (BCI) products moving towards actual practical service for the public," said Yao Dezhong, Director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, in an interview on Saturday on the sidelines of China's annual parliament meetings in Beijing.

A national ‌BCI development strategy released last year aims ⁠for major technical breakthroughs by 2027 and for China to cultivate two or three world-class firms by 2030.

China is the second country to launch invasive BCI human trials. ⁠More than 10 trials are active, matching the U.S., while scientists plan to enrol more than 50 patients nationwide this year.

Recent high-profile trials have enabled paralysed patients and amputees to regain partial mobility and operate robotic hands or intelligent wheelchairs.

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The ​government has ​already integrated some BCI treatments into national medical insurance ​in a few pilot provinces, and the domestic ‌market is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan ($809 million) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting.

"China has many advantages in BCIs, such as its huge population, enormous patient demand, cost-effective industrial chain and abundant pool of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) talent," said Yao, who also leads a key neuroinformatics research centre under China's science and technology ministry.

Policies such as insurance integration and national standards aim to close the "huge" gap between scientific research, industry and ‌clinical applications, he said.

"The path from experimental to clinical trials ​is quite long, and this remains a problem," he told Reuters, ​adding that many Chinese hospitals have established BCI ​research labs to speed up the process.

While U.S. startups like Neuralink focus on invasive ‌chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are ​developing invasive, semi-invasive and non-invasive ​BCIs with wider potential clinical use.

Semi-invasive BCIs, placed on the brain's surface, may lose some signal quality but reduce risks such as tissue damage and other post-surgery complications. Neuralink's surgical robot can insert ​hundreds of electrodes into the brain in ‌minutes.

"This is a technical advantage, which I think is remarkable," said Yao, of Neuralink.

"(But) China ​is actually making very fast progress in this area now. In fact, Musk's direction is basically ​achievable domestically."

(Reporting by Laurie Chen. Editing by Mark Potter)

byDonna Devi

in

March 07, 2026

China could see widespread use of brain-computer tech in 3-5 years, expert says

By Laurie Chen BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - China could see brain-computer interface (BCI) technology move i...

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Christina Aguilera Steps Out in Bold Strapless Bodysuit Amid Tour Buzz

Christina Aguilerarocked a silver, translucentstrapless bodysuitamid tour performances. The 45-year-old singer shared a carousel of photos showcasing her best high-fashion outfits. However, her strapless bodysuit made entirely out of plastic certainly has the internet in a chokehold.

Christina Aguilera stuns in silver outfit

Christina Aguileraenthralls fans in a silver strapless bodysuit made entirely out of plastic. The 45-year-old shared a gorgeous rollout of photos, soundtracked to Lucille Croft's "Post Human." Aguilera shared the photos with the caption, "loading…" Unsurprisingly, the post garnered 119K likes, 8,788 shares, 5,632 comments, and 2,468 retweets.

The "Reflection" crooner wore dark glasses and translucent heels to complete the overall stylish, high-fashion look. She wore a choker made out of some plastic, adding an extra oomph factor to her look. Not only that, Aguilera covered her hair in plastic like a unique hair scarf.

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The 45-year-old singer opted for glam makeup with metallic eyeshadow and plump burgundy-brown lip gloss. Her alluring poses and scintillating photoshoot in the plastic-wrapped strapless bodysuit have won over the internet.

One fan commented, "Whatever is loading, I am already streaming it, gorgeous," followed by a heart-eyes emoji. A second fan wrote, "OMG OMG OMG OMG IT's HAPPENINGGGGGG," accompanied by multiple emojis.

Originally reported by Anwaya Mane onMandatory

The postChristina Aguilera Steps Out in Bold Strapless Bodysuit Amid Tour Buzzappeared first onReality Tea.

byDonna Devi

in

March 07, 2026

Christina Aguilera Steps Out in Bold Strapless Bodysuit Amid Tour Buzz

Christina Aguilerarocked a silver, translucentstrapless bodysuitamid tour performances. The 45-year-old singer shared a carousel of photos...

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“Did You Also Do This As A Kid?”: 26 Things That Everyone Thought Were Unique To Them

Kids make up all sorts of weird things. Sometimes they're trying to imitate the adults in their circles, while other times, it's just their imagination and sense of discovery taking over. It always leads to hilarious and somewhat relatable results. But what if all those quirky things that you thought were unique to you weren't so rare after all?

In this poll, we prepared 26 things that many kids have done before, without realizing just how popular they might actually be. Jump into the nostalgia, vote on how many of these things sound familiar to you, and compare your results!

When you're done on this one, don't forget to check out the other polls that we have to offer byclicking here.

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to theBored Panda Quizzesand explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

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byDonna Devi

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March 06, 2026

“Did You Also Do This As A Kid?”: 26 Things That Everyone Thought Were Unique To Them

Kids make up all sorts of weird things. Sometimes they're trying to imitate the adults in their circles, while other...

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Lady Gaga Explains When She and Fiancé Michael Polansky Plan to Tie the Knot

Lady Gaga said she will be marrying fiancé Michael Polansky "soon"

NEED TO KNOW

• Gaga spoke about her wedding planning when she called into Bruno Mars' iHeart Radio livestream "Romantic Radio" in honor of his new album The Romantic

• Mars recommended his song "Risk It All" for the couple, and gave Polansky a shoutout during the livestream as well

Lady Gagais giving an update on the timing of her upcoming wedding with fiancé Michael Polansky.

Gaga, 39, revealed that it will be "soon" when she called intoBruno Mars'iHeart Radio livestream "Romantic Radio"on Friday, March 6.

"Hi, Bruno. Me and my fiancé have been traveling all year, but we're getting married soon," Gaga said in the voice message that played during the show. "We were hoping that maybe you could choose a special song for us."

"I know that voice," Mars, 40, said with a smile. "That is my dear friend Lady Gaga."

"If you're looking for a song to dedicate to your husband, I would say, off this new album of mine, I would go with 'Risk It All', track one," Mars recommended, before adding, "So I want to dedicate this one to Lady Gaga and her fiancé. Michael, this is for you too."

Mars then played the opening song from his new albumThe Romantic.

The low-profile pair were firstphotographedkissing at a 2020 New Year's Eve party in Las Vegas, and they went public with their relationship shortly after the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami. The couple later got engaged in 2024.

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Polansky, who is an entrepreneur and Harvard University graduate, spent COVID-19 quarantine with Gaga at her Malibu home. After the pair bonded, the tech entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist quickly became a major part of Gaga's life. "My dogs and the man that I love are my whole life," she toldThe Hollywood Reporterin November 2021.

Gagaconfirmed her and Polansky's engagementin July 2024. She introduced the tech entrepreneur as her "fiancé," while talking to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at the Paris Olympics.

Polansky went on to collaborate with Gaga on her 2025 albumMAYHEM, where he served as a co-producer and co-wrote several songs.

In an interview withZane Lowe for Apple Musicin March 2025, Gaga opened up about how Polansky specifically inspired her song "Blade of Grass" on the album.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"As a songwriter you need life to inspire your writing and if everything is promotion, then I'll write about promotion and I won't write about that special moment I shared with you where Michael asked me how I would want him to propose to me one day," Gaga, explained at the time.

"We were in our backyard and I said, 'Just take a blade of grass and wrap it around my finger,'" she continued. "And then I wrote 'Blade of Grass' because I remembered the way his face looked and I remembered the grass in the backyard and I remember thinking he should use that really long grass that's in the center of the backyard."

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

March 06, 2026

Lady Gaga Explains When She and Fiancé Michael Polansky Plan to Tie the Knot

Lady Gaga said she will be marrying fiancé Michael Polansky "soon" NEED TO KNOW Gaga spoke about h...

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