You wouldn't believe the amount of daily emails I’ve been receiving from PRs about all the ways whatever product they’re promoting connects to John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The dupe possibilities are endless, whether you’re mirroring her hairbands and sunglasses or his zany hats and backpacks; her Prada skirt, Calvin Klein turtleneck, and lipstick shade; his bold-shouldered blazers or even nightstand lamps.

Amid Love Story's run on FX, every magazine, comms team, and content creator out there has taken to advising on how one should dress, groom, or interior decorate like the late couple. By no means is it new for people to try and channel the cool of CBK and John-John; rumor has it that the entire business vision and premise of The Row, for instance, was to sell items that emulated the steely blonde's distinctly ‘90s minimalist sensibilities. 

To be able to influence the ur-influencers, AKA Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, two of the most revered (and similarly folkloric) people in modern fashion history? That indicates a mythic-tier impact only very few can claim. In the words of Wendy Williams, “[Carolyn's] an icon, she's a legend, and she is the moment” — and in 2026, nearly three decades post-mortem, that holds truer than ever.

I'll be the first to admit, too, that not a day goes by that I don't think about that woman and her irritatingly inimitable taste. And yet, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and myself can wear all the dark-sweater-plus-jeans combos we want: But a simply simple outfit does not a Carolyn-level command of simplicity make. 

Of course, anything's flattering when you’re saddled with the luck of being as slender and striking as she was, or as handsome and quasi-regal as her spouse, as some might hiss. What’s more interesting to discuss than pretty privilege, though, is how both of the pair's ever-adored but recently magnified wardrobes compare to what the industry intends for us to be coveting right now. 

Because while netizens (and the rich) salivate over Bessette-Kennedy's streamlined staples or her husband's sneaker game and tailored classics, designers are migrating to extreme ends of the silhouette spectrum, proposing ultra-oversized shapes with one hand and skin-tight bodycons with another. Louise Trotter's second Bottega Veneta offering, for example, saw an army of sculpturally large suits, leather-trimmed trenches, and fiberglass fluff, whereas Demna's Gucci debut was crowded with nostalgia-baity biker jackets and low-slung cut-out pants so snug they almost appeared spray-painted on.

The performative, decorative, or even protective appeal of clothing that's either shrink-wrapped or blown-out is manyfold, to say the least, and goes beyond mere aesthetics. But, stripped of that depth, as far as what meets the eye, certain trendsetters seemed keen on enforcing decisions between sexy and architectural, macho and feminine: Are you Marni's messy eclectic or Tom Ford's corporate vamp? 

So, for shoppers to be flocking to Love Story inspiration via garments that are neither meant to contour nor conceal their figure — clothes that whisper rather than scream, serve rather than control — is pretty telling: Smack dab in the vanishing middle of this tug-of-war-type tension sits a consumer appetite for composed, grounded, ultimately conservative apparel that feels indifference to spectacle. CBK's was the essence of quiet luxury et. al long before we had that now-dreaded name for it.

This isn’t to say the collections aren’t compelling. In fact, next to Simone Bellotti's (quite Carolyn-coded) Jil Sander or Peter Mulier's final (and form-fitted) Alaïa, the artsily exaggerated LOEWE or slouchy prep at Polo, these runways were among the strongest showings of Milan and Paris Women's so far. Instead, my point is that a lasting fascination with good clothes is evergreen  — and the Kennedys just so happen to be the latest favorite mascots of that sentiment.

And that should be the real sartorial legacy of CBK and JFK Jr. Is it fun to go hunting by a newly trendy playbook of -isms and rules decreeing “only navy, black, or creme,” or “no hardware, no jewelry, nothing ornate” in an attempt to get closer to the moodboard fodder? Naturally! But, frankly, the purchase of one single Yohji Yamamoto tank probably won't get you any nearer to what you really admire about those infamous pap shots.

At the end of the day, there was an unmistakable authenticity at the core of how this affluent, beautiful couple got dressed. Regardless of the specific piece, style, brand or price tag, their style spoke to a specific je-ne-sais-quoi that crystallizes when fashion isn’t used as a costume or disguise or armor, nice as that can be on occasion. When we look at those old photos, we’re looking at two people who minted a pragmatically personal uniform, and clearly exercised their muscled sense of self every day. Do that, and you'll actually be channeling them correctly.

Written by Max Migowski, Highsnobiety Shopping Editor

Coming across this LOEWE winter puffer on the cusp of spring is almost a bummer. But maybe that means it'll be on sale soon?

Until then, these seasonal goodies from retailer HAVEN's in-house line will do just fine: with the zip hoodie, a GORE-TEX-coated leather jacket, and a coat made with Loro Piana fabric, you've got yourself a full force, three-layered getup for the ages. 

Bottega Veneta launched their Orbit sneaker in pink, and it will look so *chef's kiss* in summer with some white socks and jorts. While you're over there, sign up to be notified about the restock of this relatively(!) affordable woven-collar bomber. 

These gray and black Lululemon sweats are very “work hard play hard,” and thus symptomatic of the exact phenomenon we addressed two newsletters ago about  loungewear turning business-y. This running tee's cool, too.

We've been about long-sleeved henleys when it was cold, and we'll be about COS’ short-sleeved ones once it's warmer.

Bet you’ve never seen boat shoes like these A Kind Of Guise ones before!

We have a feeling Nike's pristine white Air Max 95 could be a shoe of the summer for mortals…

…whereas Salomon and Rier's sneaker boot collaboration will be that for the specially anointed.

As is the rest of the world, we too are probing our way through LED masks. Nanoleaf's provides an array of skin soothing, wrinkle preventing functions, medium expensive. Worth trying!

This knitted baseball cap by Maison Mihara Yasuhiro might be too cute. Think you could pull it off? I'm sure John-John could…

By Max Migowski

with Herbert Hofmann, Delia Cai & Youri Chapelle