CBK: 90's Fashion & Today's Micro-Trends- Should We Be Worried?

'90s Fashion and How Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Led the Way.

Wanting a quiet life all along, CBK would have never anticipated how viral she and her style would become.

In the universe of 1990s fashion, she quietly mastered the art of understated elegance—a Calvin Klein publicist whose personal style shaped an entire decade of fashion. At the time when glamour often meant excess, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy proved that restraint could be the most powerful aesthetic of all- the “less is more” approach.

Chic. Classic. Elegant. Evergreen. Evergreen. Timeless.

These adjectives perfectly describe her style and approach to fashion. Think crisp white shirts, perfectly tailored coats, straight -leg denim, black sunglasses, solid neutral colour palettes.  She embodied ‘90s minimalism with clean silhouettes and effortless grooming that echoed the Calvin Klein aesthetic she helped promote professionally.

What made her style so compelling was its quiet confidence. CBK mixed high fashion with everyday staples- making her wardrobe choices very real and accessible to many. Through her style, she achieves timelessness- her choices did not chase trends but rather transcended them.

Her style remains a masterclass in quiet luxury before the phrase even existed.

The Return of CBK- Thanks to Ryan Murphy.

The series Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette on Hulu and Disney+

Executive-producer Ryan Murphy’s new series, Love Story, has been responsible for the revival of CBK’s style. The show has sparked a widespread nostalgia for ‘90s fashion. On Instagram and TikTok, users are recreating what many now call the “Kennedy aesthetic”- sleek coats, oval sunglasses, monochrome outfits and minimal makeup.

The irony of it all is that nothing about her style was ever designed to be a trend- and yet, in the algorithm-driven fashion ecosystem of today, even timelessness can become a trend cycle.

Micro-Trends: Should We Be Worried About Them?

"Turning a blind eye to overconsumption." Graphic by Chelsea Copeland. The Butler Collegian.

The internet has changed how trends behave. Instead of lasting for years, fashion trends now appear and disappear within weeks. These are known as micro-trends. Niche cultural trends that quickly gain momentum and mass attention but have extremely short lifespans (TrendBible via Global Fashion Agenda, 2024).

Social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok accelerate this cycle. Micro-trends often emerge from viral content and fade just as quickly, driven by the constant demand for novelty and digital engagement. This gives further insight into reducing attention spans constant need for dopamine rushes through new trends and content styles.

The CBK resurgence illustrates this phenomenon perfectly. What was one simply personal style has been repackaged online as an “aesthetic”: “Kennedy core”, “old-money style”, or “CBK aesthetic”.

While these digital revivals through trends are fun and inspiring, they also reveal something deeper and concerning. In a culture where algorithms reward novelty, style is often reduced to quick visual references rather than long-term personal expression.

Has personal style gone from self-expression to fleeting digital trends?

Ironically, this is exactly what Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s wardrobe resisted. Her fashion philosophy- whether intentional or instinctive- was about consistency and authenticity. If anything, CBK’s renewed popularity may actually be a quiet rebellion against the chaos of trend culture.

Perhaps that is the real lesson her style leaves us with: the most powerful fashion statement is not chasing what’s next- but knowing what lasts.

I would love to know your thoughts below.