Come in close as I say this: You do not need more stuff in your closet because of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. You do not need that exact red lipstick. You do not need the cashmere turtleneck. You do not need tons of new stuff to ride the Carolyn hype train. I’m here in the name of de-influencing you.
It is is enough to just sit and appreciate fashion history and not have to run out to replicate it.
Every brand out there who’s even somewhat associated with Carolyn is looking at their numbers right now and waiting to cash in. My own traffic to this blog went from 0 to 60 mph over night. I can only imagine how much brands like Face Stockholm and MAC are racking in from Carolyn’s re-found popularity. Just be aware that they want your money and they will try to get it.
I say this as a clothes horse myself, a purveyor of vintage clothing, and long-time CBK admirer. Truth be told, however, I am not one for minimalism. And that’s OK! I can still love Carolyn, appreciate her style and, at the end of the day, say, “That’s not for me.” I like color, I like loose fitting clothing, I don’t live in New York City and, truth be told, I don’t even really like wearing black all that much. I know, I know. Sacrilege! In short, her style does not match my life so if I were to try to replicate it, it would be totally dysfunctional and impractical. If anything, I relate to what I’d call her “pre-marriage athleisure” style more than the minimalist looks she became known for in her lifetime and after.
I have to admit that I do feel a bit hypocritical writing this, especially as someone who runs a vintage clothing business. And as someone who puts shameless affiliate links in posts. That being said, my intention is to never push products on people but rather highlight ones that can still be purchased today. Are they the best products? I suppose that’s a long argument but ultimately the answer is probably no.
Skincare and makeup have evolved since we lost our dear CBK, and I think she, too, probably would have moved on from most of them. Let’s just admit that MAC isn’t what it used to be and neither is Kiehl’s. The products Carolyn used are the same products in name only. Different scents, effectiveness, textures and quality has changed in 30 years.
De-Influencing: No, these aren’t the same products today
At the heart of this blog, I like to see myself as an archivist of things other people haven’t written in depth about, at least online. What sneakers did she wear? Where was that headband from? Was that really MAC Russian Red or was it Russian Roulette? For me, I enjoy the rabbit holes, but I don’t want to own the stuff. I’m admirer of the stuff but I don’t want it. I like my money, and last I checked, MAC lipsticks are up to $25.
In the year of our lord 2026, I think it’s enough for everyone to decide to be admirer and not an owner of these items.
Personally, I won’t pretend to know or guess what Carolyn would think of this all. I certainly won’t pretend to speak for her. I will say that her her style was objectively very timeless, but she was also a mover and a shaker in the fashion industry, which ultimately made its money on people buying more stuff. That being said, one of the biggest upsides of Carolyn’s style is that it’s pretty basic in both the cut and colors. It’s easy to mix and match and repeat. So, I suppose I’ll end this post about de-influencing to say that if you must buy something, make sure you actually want it and try to wear to wear it multiple ways. Or just, you know, don’t buy it at all. Maybe I am not so good at de-influencing after all.
