Abercrombie & Fitch Reminds Us That Springtime JFK Is Eternally a Vibe

Abercrombie & Fitch has quietly been making moves to reestablish itself as a fashion bellwether for more than just the teen set, thanks in large part to designer Aaron Levine, previously responsible for breathing life into Club Monaco. And the brand's latest mini-collection is all about the most fashionable president those teenage customers are too young to remember: JFK.

Inspired by a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch chinos that belonged to John F. Kennedy, the brand has released a new capsule collection that draws heavily from the 35th president's wardrobe—including, of course, a modernized take on that original chino. And they're not kidding about those pants: "It is an iconic style, befitting of an American icon," Levine said in a statement. The collection is pure blue-blooded Americana, all sailing logos and horizontal stripes. Among the pieces: swim trunks, cozy-summer-night hoodies, tees, and those literally iconic chinos.

And while anything you'd categorize as prep has basically disappeared from the fashion cycle, that just means that it'll be back any moment now. And as warm weather finally creeps in, we're feeling pretty ready to put down the graphic tee and channel the president who basically invented warm-weather style. Because, beyond those pieces, JFK style is all about trusty staples: chunky sweaters, wayfarer shades, a winking grin, and a windbreaker—and three seemingly simple garments you can wear on a yacht, or just at the mall (perhaps on your way to an A&F). We should all be channeling JFK each spring—so, once you go out and grab the collection, here's some inspiration.

Trust the Long Sleeve-Short Pants Combo

JFK’s sailing style proved you don’t need to be in a t-shirt to be comfortable in warmer weather. A linen button-down looks extremely grown, but won't overheat. JFK often paired his with tan shorts that hit just above the knee, but you can wear them with whatever the hell you want: it’s 2018.

Just Wear a Polo Already

We've never been shy about recommending a polo, and JFK’s links-ready style is just another tick in the Yes You Should Be Wearing Them Why Aren’t You Wearing Them column. Just aim for a nice shade of light blue or off-white to avoid that tiki torch-bearing, economically insecure vibe.

The V-Neck Comeback Is On

Sure, it's been a minute since we wore a V-neck. But fashion is cyclical—so when designers like Ami's Alexandre Mattiusi started showing big vees on the runway in recent seasons, we knew the shape would be coming back. You know who else trusts deeply in the summer v-neck? You guessed it.

A&F's JFK collection is available now at Abercrombie stores and online.