This is a brilliant piece and really made me think about the things you raise here. Just staggeringly good writing thank you for all the effort it must’ve taken.💖💫✨👏👏👏👏👏💯
Zara, you articulated this so well and nailed it. It really was the sum of her parts - not just the clothes she wore but also the intention behind it and how she carried herself in them. CBK seemed to hit the perfect balance of polished and real.
As someone of her vintage and whose soul died a little when she married the most eligible bachelor of his time (as if we mere mortals had a chance) she came off as being quite normal despite being blonde thin and rich. When you look at pictures of her, her clothes could have come from anywhere. It was her beauty you noticed. She wore her clothes, they didn’t wear her. Her hair wasn’t perfect, she didn’t wear a lot of makeup. She was fresh and simple, and casual.
In Once Upon A Time (the book the Ryan Murphy series will be based on), JFK Jnr’s friends did look down on her for being so normal comparatively - not Ivy enough. I was in primary school when they married; has the tragedy and time passing of time made her seem more patrician now?
Good god Zara, blow my mind why don’t you?! One place where “allure” and “authenticity” strikes for me are in the many Alaia mesh flat replicas; they always look off. They look like the Ryan Murphy CBK vs real CBK. Don’t hear this as me saying I’ve never bought a dupe, but you completely nailed the difference. There’s something inherent in the real thing, which is why buying an influencers outfit piece for piece doesn’t translate.
I am not American nor belong to the anglosphere, so I am always astonished by the reactions around celebrities style dead or alive. It always feels like the fashion media wants people to buy into these celebrities'style. I believe the reason why there is a lack of 'personal style' is because society wants us to mimick the most stylish/cool/intelligent/rich.
As a French-Cameroonian woman, I tend to shy away from all that discourse because I don't belong to the demographic, and also because I quite sincerely don't understand the frenzy.
I'd also add that I don't see the luxury and the exclusivety with people being all about the same 5-6 luxury brands...yes style is all about the wearer, but when people always wear the same brands it isn't style anymore.
This is a brilliant piece and really made me think about the things you raise here. Just staggeringly good writing thank you for all the effort it must’ve taken.💖💫✨👏👏👏👏👏💯
Thank you for reading! I would like to put "staggeringly good writing" on my Linkedin.
You totally hit the nail on the head when it comes to the fact that nobody can replicate her essence…it’s just not possible
1000%. Even naysayers would have to look at her style and see that it really is something, even moreso because the pieces are so simple.
Zara, you articulated this so well and nailed it. It really was the sum of her parts - not just the clothes she wore but also the intention behind it and how she carried herself in them. CBK seemed to hit the perfect balance of polished and real.
Thank you Maria — it’s like the soul, the spirit behind it all — not just the incorrect clothing items. I think that’s 100% correct, the realness.
As someone of her vintage and whose soul died a little when she married the most eligible bachelor of his time (as if we mere mortals had a chance) she came off as being quite normal despite being blonde thin and rich. When you look at pictures of her, her clothes could have come from anywhere. It was her beauty you noticed. She wore her clothes, they didn’t wear her. Her hair wasn’t perfect, she didn’t wear a lot of makeup. She was fresh and simple, and casual.
Also, if I could pin this comment, I would.
Ooh that is interesting!
In Once Upon A Time (the book the Ryan Murphy series will be based on), JFK Jnr’s friends did look down on her for being so normal comparatively - not Ivy enough. I was in primary school when they married; has the tragedy and time passing of time made her seem more patrician now?
This was so good on so many levels Zara
Thank you for reading Tina!
One of the best pieces I've read on those Ryan Murphy/CBK images. Thank you for your balanced (and deeper) take!
Wow thank you Angharad!!
Good god Zara, blow my mind why don’t you?! One place where “allure” and “authenticity” strikes for me are in the many Alaia mesh flat replicas; they always look off. They look like the Ryan Murphy CBK vs real CBK. Don’t hear this as me saying I’ve never bought a dupe, but you completely nailed the difference. There’s something inherent in the real thing, which is why buying an influencers outfit piece for piece doesn’t translate.
That (dupes!) is an excellent example which I should have included - next time please read my mind and feed me other ideas for my Substack.
I enjoyed reading this, truly 👍🧡🥂
Thank you for reading Lene!
I am not American nor belong to the anglosphere, so I am always astonished by the reactions around celebrities style dead or alive. It always feels like the fashion media wants people to buy into these celebrities'style. I believe the reason why there is a lack of 'personal style' is because society wants us to mimick the most stylish/cool/intelligent/rich.
As a French-Cameroonian woman, I tend to shy away from all that discourse because I don't belong to the demographic, and also because I quite sincerely don't understand the frenzy.
I'd also add that I don't see the luxury and the exclusivety with people being all about the same 5-6 luxury brands...yes style is all about the wearer, but when people always wear the same brands it isn't style anymore.