Sarah Pidgeon Reflects on Portraying Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and ‘Love Story’ at Chanel’s Tribeca Artists Dinner

Sarah Pidgeon drew attention at Chanel’s Tribeca Artists Dinner in New York by wearing a sleek black leather minidress from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel 2026 Métiers d’art collection, styled with the brand’s square-toe pumps and layered white-gold Chanel jewelry. The look echoed the understated sophistication of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, whom Pidgeon portrays in the series Love Story, while her tousled blond hair further reinforced the connection to the late style icon.

Pidgeon said she had access to Bessette Kennedy’s wardrobe while filming, including many memorable pieces, though one Chanel dress she especially loved did not make it into the show: a floral midi dress from Chanel’s spring/summer 1996 collection. She described the look as summery, elegant, and effortless, but noted that the costume team never used it. Instead, she found another way to channel Bessette Kennedy’s spirit at the Chanel event.

The dinner, held at Tribeca Grill, brought together a high-profile crowd that included Ayo Edebiri, Sofia Coppola, Katie Holmes, Paloma Elsesser, Alex Consani, and Whoopi Goldberg. The evening highlighted Chanel’s 2026 Artist Awards Program, which pairs artists with festival winners through curated works selected by Zoe Lukov. This year’s participating artists include Bony Ramirez, Brendan Fernandes, Carrie Mae Weems, Hank Willis Thomas, Jason Bard Yarmosky, Joshua Woods, Kiki Smith, Soull and Dynasty Ogun, Tavares Strachan, and Tosh Basco.

The event was the 19th edition of Chanel’s annual Tribeca Artists Dinner and coincided with the Tribeca Festival’s 25th anniversary. It also took place on the same night as Game 3 of the NBA Finals, with some attendees showing support for the New York Knicks. Teyana Taylor and Molly Gordon were among those embracing the basketball spirit, with Gordon wearing a retro-style Knicks jacket and jeans.

For Pidgeon, the evening was especially meaningful because it returned her to Tribeca, the neighborhood where she spent months filming Love Story. She said the experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the area and for the world Bessette Kennedy once inhabited. Tribeca Grill is located near the former North Moore Street loft that Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. once called home, adding another layer of significance to the setting.

Pidgeon, who was born in 1996, reflected on the enduring appeal of the 1990s, describing it as a time associated with anonymity, exclusivity, and moments people had to be present for in real time. She said filming a New York-centered love story in different parts of the city, especially Tribeca, made the era and neighborhood feel more personal. Now, she said, she can move around Tribeca with ease, without relying on Google Maps.