The return of ’90s fashion is hardly new territory for the Vogue Shopping desk. But if 2026 has proved anything, it’s that our collective obsession with the decade isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. This year, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy fever swept the headlines for months, coinciding with the release of Ryan Murphy’s hit drama Love Story, which (albeit after a few costume department consultations) sparked a return to the late fashion icon’s off-duty photographs, in search of styling inspiration.
Vogue’s Favorite Minimalist Coats:
“The online deluge of CBK content isn’t just generating likes; it’s been driving sales, too—a quick browse of the websites of Massimo Dutti or Reformation will give you some idea of just how swiftly brands have moved to capitalize on consumer fascination with this uncomplicated, clean aesthetic,” wrote Vogue’s Emma Spedding in her recent story on minimalism’s continued grip on our autumn wardrobes. She outlined the single-breasted longline coat as a key piece in achieving the sought-after CBK look–alongside a pencil skirt, turtleneck vest and simple leather bag.
Such coats were a cornerstone of the ’90s collections of Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, and Helmut Lang, characterised by (but not bound to) clean lines, understated single-breasted buttoning, discreet masculine lapels and a long, lean silhouette. Usually rendered in a palette of black, charcoal grey, beige, camel, and chocolate brown.
CBK was frequently photographed on the streets of New York in versions crafted from both wool and lighter-weight gabardine, styled off-duty with straight-leg jeans, oval sunglasses and an Alice band by day, or draped over a simple LBD (probably Calvin Klein) with pointed black slingbacks (probably Prada) into the night. Kate Moss, too, favored the style in her early Soho days, often opting for a cashmere camel iteration.
