Prada has revived its black-and-white Dalmatian-print loafers, a style worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in 1995, 31 years after she wore a pair on a night out in New York. The new calf-hair leather shoes cost £1,170 on Prada's UK website and feature in its 2026 holiday campaign, unveiled on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
The revival follows an October 1995 appearance at Manhattan's Bowery Bar, where Bessette-Kennedy was photographed wearing the unusual shoes alongside her then-boyfriend, John F. Kennedy Jr. The former Calvin Klein fashion executive, who married Kennedy in September 1996, became known for pared-back outfits that occasionally featured unexpected accessories.
The 1995 Photograph Behind the Comeback
Prada featured its Dalmatian print in its autumn/winter 1995 collection, when models including Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta and Nadja Auermann wore the pattern on the runway. Bessette-Kennedy's spotted loafers were a less conventional choice than the black shoes, neutral coats and Levi's jeans that came to define her public image. The Bowery Bar photograph offers a glimpse of how she worked playful pieces into an otherwise restrained wardrobe.
Prada officially reissued the very rare dalmatian-print collection: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was caught by paparazzi wearing the famous F/W 1995 ponyhair loafers once leaving the Bowery Bar at 1 AM in October 1995 with JFK Jr pic.twitter.com/gBc8Tx4P5s
— Hifashion (@HifashionPages) October 29, 2026
Finding original Prada footwear from the period has become a challenge for vintage collectors. One specialist vintage shop lists a 1995 Dalmatian-print pair in a UK size 4.5 as sold, without revealing the price. Julia Rabinowitsch, who assembled 15 pairs in styles worn by Bessette-Kennedy for a 2024 vintage sale, researched old photographs to identify the designs before tracking down examples. 'It was so meticulous because her styles were pretty much the rarest of the rare to look for,' she said of her wider search.
Bessette-Kennedy regularly carried Prada's structured 1995 Spazzolato handbag, which the brand subsequently revived as part of its Re-Edition line. Her wardrobe also included Prada boots and sandals, alongside Manolo Blahnik heels for dressier occasions. The newly returned spotted loafers extend that archival connection, although Prada sells them under their product name rather than presenting them as an officially named Bessette-Kennedy tribute.
What Do Prada's Dalmatian Loafers Cost in 2026?
Prada lists the new model as its 'Printed calf hair leather loafers' in white and black, priced at £1,170 in the UK. They have square toes, contrasting spots, an enamelled triangle logo and block heels measuring 40mm. The uppers feature calf hair, while the soles combine leather and rubber, according to the brand's product specifications. Prada lists free UK delivery in two to three business days and accepts returns within 14 days of delivery.
The release goes beyond a single pair of shoes. Prada is also selling spotted calf-hair slingback pumps for £1,040 and a matching bucket hat for £1,260, bringing the print to footwear and accessories across the new range. The modern loafers echo the vintage design rather than being marketed as an exact reproduction of Bessette-Kennedy's original pair.
Sadie Sink Brings the Print to Prada's Holiday Campaign
The comeback features in Prada's 2026 holiday campaign, 'Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand', starring Stranger Things actresses Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke alongside Chen Haoyu, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Luther Ford. In one scene, Sink encounters three hand-drawn mice carrying a spotted loafer. Photographer Glen Luchford and animation director John Pomeroy worked on the campaign under creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons.
Prada used hand-drawn animation for its “Drawing Prada” campaign, directed by animation legend John Pomeroy and starring Chen Haoyu, Maya Hawke, Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Luther Ford. pic.twitter.com/fpgxLDwVxD
— ToonHive (@ToonHive) October 29, 2026
Pomeroy, whose credits include The Land Before Time and Pocahontas, explained the choice of traditional animation in Prada's behind-the-scenes film. He said the technique shows 'there's value in the human touch', with hand-drawn creatures appearing alongside live-action performers. For the loafers, the campaign puts a 1995 pattern in front of a new audience without altering its most recognisable feature: those black spots on white calf hair.
