If there is one fashion trend that is almost a guarantee, it is that elegance and simplicity will always be in. Last year we had the “clean” girl, the year of slicked back hair, dewy skin and “no makeup makeup.” This year, the idea of the “chic” girl is coming back in a similar fashion: simple and minimalistic.
Not to say fashion and culture have not deviated from this idea, because they most certainly have: the late-2010 full-glam look with Instagram-style makeup, the early-2010 Tumblr era of chokers and DIY, the more outwardly glamor of the 1920s and far earlier than that.
Though this idea of being “chic” is as timeless as styles go, every time a new piece of media — most predominantly TV shows or movies — comes out depicting the style, the internet raves about it and people are desperate to replicate every piece of the look. This concept has existed before most were born; it’s just taken many names in the process.
The new hit TV show, “Love Story,” depicting the lives of Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Jr., is the latest example of this rediscovery as the internet, especially Generation Z, grows obsessed with Carolyn Bessette’s classy fashion sense. Part of the interest can indeed be attributed to the fact that she, by marriage, was a Kennedy and that family has always captured society and the media’s attention. However, the media attention Carolyn received only highlighted and partially encouraged her already existing sense of style.
Carolyn’s style was rumored to have “revolutionized” fashion in the 1990s with her quiet luxury, encouraging a minimalist aesthetic in the fashion industry. She was known for neutral tones, tailored pieces and a lack of visible branding that cultivated her “model off duty” look and elegance that she is remembered for today.
It seems evident that Carolyn Bessette was, without a doubt, an icon. But was she as revolutionary as everyone believed? Throughout social media and on our school campus, there have been statements like “Is $200 too much for a classic white t-shirt? It’s so Carolyn Bessette.” The New York City store where Carolyn was rumored to have purchased hair clips is now bustling with people since the new TV show was released. And it’s not just Carolyn, the depiction and reminder of JFK Jr.’s style in the film has men rushing to put their hats backwards again when going out to the bar and posting videos where they “get dressed to look like JFK Jr..”
The media’s strong influence on society, particularly in fashion, is no revelation, but the extent of it is always a shock. It is almost as though every 20 years society recoins the term elegant, chic or simple into a new fashion trend, usually inspired by an element of the media. This time it’s Carolyn. However, diving into her look might have people questioning how effortless this look really is. Even though it is a simple black long-sleeve shirt and jeans, the clothes look like they were tailored perfectly to her and all her accessories, despite lacking flashy labels, still scream wealth. Also, she is tall, skinny and blond: all attributes that make her clothes fit her a certain way, encouraging society to paint her as an icon when she might have otherwise been seen as a normal civilian. Being skinny has been a fashion ideal in America for over a century, from the slender flapper look in the 1920’s to the early Y2K with the introduction of low-rise jeans. Yet people are still calling this revolutionary, rather than a trend or pattern that can fade and resurface but is always present in some part of society.
All of these factors contribute to the effortless, elegant, simple and minimalistic look everyone is currently hooked on. Sarah Pidgeon, playing Carolyn Bessette, is gracing TV screens across the country with her walk through New York City and, in doing so, rekindling society’s fixation with the idea of chic. The question still stands: What makes society so hooked on being chic that we have reinvented it countless times over the last century without even realizing it? It is likely that the classic look is easier to recreate and emulate; it could be truly timeless. Regardless of whether the trend society is enthralled by is the “chic” girl or something entirely different, awareness of these recurring patterns can help many avoid falling victim to the intense consumerism surrounding these trends and instead shift their focus to curating a closet that outlasts them.
