When Will Nepo Babies Stop Borrowing Their Famous Parents’ Clothes?

Not too long ago, I interviewed 22-year-old Carys Zeta Douglas (as her last name would hint, she’s the daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas), and I naturally asked her how often she borrows from her mama’s closet. Coincidentally, she was standing right before me looking like a gorgeous spitting image of her famous mom, dressed in a vintage slip dress that Catherine wore exactly 20 years ago.

It made me realize that being a nepo baby isn’t just about snagging roles in blockbuster films or going on a side quest to pop stardom because of who you know. Being a nepo baby can also mean quietly swiping the goods from your parents’ closets.

Imagine showing up to your high school graduation in the wedding dress your mom wore to marry a tennis legend (too bad, Brooke Shields’ daughter Grier did that!), or playing dress-up at home in one of the most memorable Oscars dresses to be worn in Oscars history (that’s the reality for Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter, Apple). I couldn’t!

There have been plenty of other moments where children have recycled their parents’ outfits (read daughters stealing from their moms’ archives), from Zahara Jolie-Pitt rewearing Angelina Jolie’s 2014 Academy Awards look in 2021 to Valentina Pinault, now 18, slipping into Salma Hayek’s nearly 30-year-old Isaac Mizrahi gown for her Oscars moment in 2023.

The tradition goes even as far back as Kate Hudson, who now has three kids — including a son pursuing a career in music — once borrowing Goldie Hawn’s clothes back in the day (throwback to when Kate recreated Goldie Hawn’s 1971 Oscars look in 1997 — by the way, what’s up with everyone and their obsession with the Academy Awards?!).

Listen, I can admire the sentimental gesture that is passing down a Hollywood heirloom — and trust me, if I were an up-and-coming famous person born to famous people, I would take advantage of the plethora of expensive clothing at my disposal. But if we keep seeing the same looks over and over and over again, no matter who wears them or how iconic they are, I fear that this new generation of Hollywood might usher in an era of fashion that simply falls flat.

At the end of the day, this is just another form of outfit-repeating, and there’s going to be a real lack of ingenuity if we keep going at this rate. Breaking the nepo baby mold is all about having a personality, and wearing the same clothes your parents did won’t help you stand apart. Can’t we at least upcycle them to create something new?

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If I can think of any famous child who has really found their style is Jaden Smith. In September, he was named the first men’s creative director of Christian Louboutin, but instead of focusing on the assumed connections (errr, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) that may have gotten him there, his reputation for purely innovative style overshadowed any doubt I might’ve had. Miley Cyrus, too, is someone who still continues to have the guts to try new things and reinvent her style, even though her godmother just so happens to be Dolly Parton.

I think we’re living in a time that craves creativity and memorability more than ever, and people want to know that the future of celebrity fashion is bright. If you’re a nepo baby and just so happen to read this, please know that I want the best for you when I say it’s time for you to buy your own clothes and show off your personality outside your parents.