03-30-2026Price:

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CULTURE

Ryan Murphy's Hulu show fuels a 90s fashion retail surge

Monday, March 30, 2026 · from 1 podcast
The Daily
  • Hulu’s Kennedy drama broke streaming records despite critics panning it.
  • The show triggered a sales boom for 90s-era Calvin Klein and Prada.
  • Ryan Murphy repackaged American tragedy as a campy, binge-ready spectacle.

The public's appetite for glossy tragedy remains sharp. Hulu's *Love Story*, a Ryan Murphy drama about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, has become the platform's most-streamed limited series ever - despite critics calling it a forgettable elegy.

The show’s real impact is happening off-screen. Alexandra Jacobs noted on The Daily that the "Bessette aesthetic" has flooded modern wardrobes. Vintage Calvin Klein and Prada pieces are surging on resale sites; tortoiseshell headbands are selling out. The series frames the 90s as a final moment of accessible glamour, centered in Manhattan offices and street style.

Murphy’s formula is no accident. He applies the same "ripped from the headlines" playbook used for *American Crime Story* to romance, stripping nuance for high-gloss drama designed for the TikTok era, where aesthetic trumps historical accuracy.

Critics mocked the show's cartoonish portrayals and cringe-worthy scenes, but viewers have embraced it. The audience isn't seeking prestige; they're seeking spectacle wrapped in the right coat.

Alexandra Jacobs, The Daily:

- I have found that the aesthetic of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has snuck into all of our wardrobes.

- There's certainly something escapist about watching depictions of rich people.

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What each podcast actually said

The Daily
The Daily

Our Enduring Fascination With the Kennedys • Mar 29

  • Hulu's 'Love Story' Kennedy drama, despite harsh reviews, is the platform's most-streamed limited series ever.
  • The show has fueled a retail surge for 90s-era fashion, especially vintage Calvin Klein and Prada, per Alexandra Jacobs.
  • Ryan Murphy's production plays as campy, bingeable spectacle, stripping nuance for high-gloss 'ripped from the headlines' drama.
  • Alexandra Jacobs says the series feeds a public appetite for the 'American Royalty' myth, framing Carolyn Bessette as a tragic princess.
  • The show thrives on 90s nostalgia centered on Manhattan office glamour and emerging street style.
  • Critics panned the series, describing scenes like a dying Jackie dancing as pure cringe.
  • Alexandra Jacobs notes the show's success is as much about the cultural discourse it generates as the content itself.
  • Jacobs argues the show works because it's an escapist fantasy about watching the lives of rich people.
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