8 Comments

Brilliant piece! I noticed their popularity had started to decline earlier this year. Many speculated that the controversy around her dating life was a distraction from her divorce (which turned out to be two epic fails). I guess we'll wait and see what the next 2-3 years will or won't bring for them.

Expand full comment

Loved this one....and always appreciate Ana’s take on things🔥

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! And same!

Expand full comment

Great piece. I remember thinking the Kardashians were over after Trump got elected -- that people just wouldn’t have as much tolerance for gross displays of wealth or reality-TV stars--and I was wrong! This family has a way of hanging on. But so do all empires, I suppose--until they don’t. Curious to see how their final season unfolds!

Expand full comment

It's interesting you say that, because both the Kardashians and the Trumps seem to be on a parallel downward trend at the moment. For the first time in years, it truly feels like even his base is ready to jump off the Trump train. Ditto the K's. Fitting that Kim and Ivanka were spotted having dinner together in Beverly Hills several weeks ago.

Expand full comment

Excellent point! Maybe this really is it.

Expand full comment

for what it's worth, the wearing of Marilyn's dress, the way they've been positioning themselves as vintage fashion/discreet label wearers over the last couple of years (while still tagging the labels to their millions of followers), the tie-ups and front row appearances with fashion brands that had a more avant garde image (well until the Balenciaga mess)..... it's still consumption, but they're trying to refine and elevate their image. It wasn't that long ago they were mocked for having a tacky and unimaginative aesthetic and having only been let past the fashion gatekeepers because Kanye West exercised his considerable influence on their behalf c. 2013-14.

I can only hope you're right - that the attempted rebrand fails and they all stop getting so much attention from the media and public, but when even Vogue and every formerly cool magazine abases itself at the altar of who has the highest instagram followers, there's not much hope.

Expand full comment

I always love your analysis!

Expand full comment
Error