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.
