No, People Aren’t Suddenly Dressing Like Carolyn Bessette. The “Old Money Aesthetic” Just Got A New/Old Muse
Evil does not die. It is reborn.
The chronically online face new and unexpected burdens every single day. The popularity of FX’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, starring Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pigeon respectively, seems to have sparked a preppy minimalist fashion trend reminiscent of the couple’s 90s vibe–but weren’t people already doing this, and with a much darker connotation?
I remember it like it was 2-3 years ago. Warnings about the “clean girl” “old money,” and “quiet luxury” aesthetic were all over TikTok and Substack around the time that Donald Trump was reelected in 2024. The trends encourage minimal makeup, neutrals, quality fabrics, and avoiding “flashy” logos or patterns. Very rich, skinny, conformist, and white. It’s conservatism repackaged as timeless and understated. The dearth of color and austere nature of these styles are red flags that signify the rise of fascism.
Jordan Anderson laid it out succinctly in NSS Magazine:
In a time when economic inequality is rising, the appeal of understated wealth is growing, making the quiet luxury trend not just a fashion choice, but an implicit commentary on the need for restraint and moderation. Moreover, social media has amplified these shifts. The role of influencers in popularizing these trends cannot be underestimated. Through carefully curated content, influencers make these conservative aesthetics seem not only desirable but aspirational.
As writer Heidi N. Moore observed on X, née Twitter, this type of influencer has been eating CBK inspo up. “The basics have not been this excited for a personality transplant since Carrie Bradshaw,” she said. There are articles and guides galore on every major news site about what headband Carolyn Bessette wore and what pants she’s posthumously brought back, and what her best looks were.
But is this really new? Is this not a repackaging of a repackaging? To me, it feels like same trend that has been on the rise, since Succession or maybe earlier, with a new (old) face and SEO buzzword.
This ‘Love Story’ couple might have hated this IRL
In the very first scene of Love Story, a nervous Carolyn second-guess herself at a nail salon. She opts for “something safe,” like a neutral or nude (blush pink), instead of her initial bright red. It’s very clear that she’s unhappy. But the clean aesthetic girlies must have eaten that up.
To be completely fair, New York Magazine called the late Bessette “the face of quiet luxury” way back in 2024. Love Story has just amped it up and provided a faux explanation for the rise of beige. The problem with this and/or blatant irony is that while Bessette may have worn khaki and the Kennedy family is old money (depending on who you ask), she is not your clean girl and JFK Jr.’s luxury was anything but quiet.
That family at the time were liberal democrats. George Magazine, John’s editorial enterprise, was a technically bipartisan publication but quite progressive by today’s standards. They ate bagels and partied. Get them out of your weird movement! The same goes for Princess Diana, by the way! Don’t wear the bike shorts if you aren’t ready to put in the humanitarian hours.
Are progressives reclaiming polo shirts, or are conservatives missing the point? It’s likely not that cut and dry; nothing ever is. I understand that New England is confusing. It reminds me of a viral post from an uber conservative account a few months ago. It read “Small town America will always reject the woke ideology of the far-left Democrat Party” alongside a photo of Provincetown, Massachusetts, one of the most left-leaning towns in America. It’s even gayer than Fire Island. As always, it’s very frustrating to reckon with the fact that there are people out there who dress like 80s movie villains and vote blue.
We can interrogate the why and the colonialist underpinnings of that later. I just think we should be a little bit careful as we monitor this trend. It’s not just because of a television show that influencers and clothing companies are pushing school uniform chic. It’s not as romantic as even Love Story wants you to think. Fashion is political, and as all aspects of society lean towards the right we have to push back where we can. Don’t use aesthetic trends to make yourself small and give up your individuality that easily!
(featured image: FX)
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