When will Nepo babies stop borrowing their famous parents’ clothes?

A while back, when I interviewed 22-year-old Carys Zeta Douglas (as her last name suggests, she’s the daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas), I naturally asked her how often she borrows from her mom’s closet. Coincidentally, she was standing in front of me looking just like her famous mother’s gorgeous figure, wearing a vintage slip dress that Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, had worn exactly 20 years earlier.

I realized that being a Nepobaby wasn’t just about landing a role in a blockbuster movie or going on a side quest to pop stardom thanks to an acquaintance. Being a Nepobaby can also mean quietly stealing items from your parents’ closets.

Imagine attending your high school graduation wearing the prom dress your mother wore when she married a legendary tennis player (unfortunately, Brooke Shields’ daughter Greer did it!), or playing dress-up at home wearing one of the most memorable Oscar dresses in Oscar history (that’s the reality for Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter, Apple). i couldn’t!

In addition, from 2021, when Zahara Jolie-Pitt reprized her Angelina Jolie costume at the 2014 Academy Awards, to Valentina Pineau, now 18, who will be wearing her costume at the 2023 Oscars. , there were plenty of moments where kids recycled their parents’ costumes (read: what a daughter stole from her mother’s archives), like Salma Hayek slipping into an Isaac Mizrahi dress she’s been wearing for nearly 30 years.

This tradition goes back to Kate Hudson, who has three children, including a son who is currently pursuing a music career, who once borrowed Goldie Hawn’s clothes (back in 1997, when Kate recreated Goldie Hawn’s 1971 Oscars look. By the way, what’s up with the Academy Awards obsession, everyone?!).

Listen, I can admire the sentimental gestures passed down in Hollywood heirlooms — and believe me, if I were an up-and-coming celebrity born into celebrity, I’d take advantage of the abundance of expensive clothes at my disposal. But if we keep seeing the same fashion over and over again, no matter who’s wearing it or how iconic it is, I’m worried that this new generation of Hollywood will usher in an era of fashion that simply fails.

At the end of the day, this is just a repeat costume, and it would really lack originality as it is. To break the Nepo baby mold, it is important to have individuality, and wearing the same clothes as your parents will not make your individuality stand out. Can we at least upcycle them and create something new?

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If there’s one famous kid who really found his style, it’s Jaden Smith. In September, he was named Christian Louboutin’s first men’s creative director, but rather than focusing on the possible connections that might have gotten him there (ahem, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith), his reputation for pure innovative style overshadowed any doubts I might have had. Miley Cyrus is another person who continues to have the courage to try new things and reinvent her style, even though her godmother happens to be Dolly Parton.

I think we live in a time where creativity and being memorable are more coveted than ever. And people want to know that the future of celebrity fashion is bright. If you’re a Nepobaby and happen to be reading this, please know that I want the best for you when you say it’s time to buy your own clothes and show off your personality outside of your parents.