Y2K Aesthetic | Why It’s Back & How To Get The Look In 2022
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Image | Fendi (Baguette Bag) / ASOS (Hat), Jacquemus (Bag) / Dolls Kill (Trousers) / Illustration by TSD
If you’re a ’90s baby like me then your teen wardrobe might have looked like a Brat doll threw up in it! So the current fashion landscape might feel very nostalgic to you too.
Although I don’t see myself swapping my Fitbit for a Tamagotchi or donning a pair of bubblegum pink velour tracksuits or skin-tight pedal-pushers anytime soon, there are many iconic fashion items from that era that are making a resurgence.
The revival of Y2K fashion has been largely led by Gen Z who have been broadcasting their own spin on this aesthetic all over digital platforms.
From Tiktok - where #y2kfashion has garnered 443.7m views, to Instagram which has 993k posts on this trend, it’s safe to say this edgy fashion style from 20+ years ago is currently dominating digital fashion culture.
Brands like Jaded LDN and Dolls Kill already hone the signature Y2K aesthetic while other brands like Pretty Little Thing, Urban Outfitters and Princess Polly have strategically launched ‘Y2K’ collections.
What Is Y2K & The Aesthetic?
Y2K, which stands for “The Year 2000” was a commonly used term that refers to a potential computer error that was expected to cause chaos for worldwide industries and infrastructures as the year changed from 1999 to 2000.
But, the aesthetic is inspired by the futuristic materials and shiny adornments, bright (in ya face) colour and low rise jeans, plus much more, that many celebrities wore at the time…think Matrix and Britney Spears! Quintessential pop culture icons from the mid-90s and early 2000s.
The style can be described as vividly unrestrained and unapologetically kitsch with a retro edge.
Destiny's Child arrives at the opening of Giorgio Armani Exhibition in the Guggenheim. New York 10/18/00 (Photo: Keith D Bedford / Getty Images)
Why Is It Back?
Gen Z grew up in the most exciting part of the technological era (so far) where digital arts, culture, social media and fashion are readily available at the push of a button.
However, the fast-paced mode of digital interaction and engagement means that trends tend to only have a short window of time to truly stand a chance at becoming an official “revival”.
At the height of the Y2K aesthetic back in the early noughties, celebrity culture shifted due to gossip magazines and the paparazzi focusing on capturing celebrities doing ‘normal’ things - this was a time when regular people started to feel a relatable connection with them.
The turn of the millennium also brought many tech advancements along with it and numerous pop culture successes. Everyone had a Blockbuster card and fell in love with reality tv shows like MTV Cribs and The Simple Life, plus it was the golden age of Nickelodeon. All-round it felt like an exciting time.
So, in spite of multiple terrorist attacks, natural disasters and a global recession that plagued 1999 - 2009, it still had many positive or significant highlights which might be why it’s thought that the main reason for the revival of this fashion trend is ‘nostalgia’. Well, ‘nostalgia’ and ‘escapism’.
According to Healthline, Gen Z has been hit the hardest by the global pandemic. It has been “a significant source of stress for them, interfering with their social lives, their education and careers, and their mental well-being”.
In the midst of another global crisis that has caused so much uncertainty, it’s possible that this trend reminds them of a time when people could still power through the chaos.
Similar to dopamine dressing, Y2K fashion seems to have the mood-boosting effect we’ve all so desperately needed!
So, if you want to achieve the Y2K aesthetic, here’s what you’ll need!
LOW RISE JEANS
Image | Getty Images / Steve Granitz
Image | Blue Low Rise Flared Jeans from River Island
Wearing low-rise jeans meant that celebrities could (and would) show off their washboard tummy.
The great thing about a good pair of Y2K-inspired jeans (in fact, any jeans for that matter) is that they are multi-seasonal, so you can mix and match your outfit with them come rain or sun.
CROP TOPS
Image | Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards / Photo by Dan Loh
Image | Sabine Diamante Top from Superdown
There’s no point in having low-rise jeans without a crop top that exposes your mid-rift, in fact, some were so high they were virtually wearing bras!
You may have also noticed the teeny tiny shirt version too.
ULTRA MINI SKIRTS
Image | Christine Aguilera at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
Image | Low-rise Distressed Denim Mini Skirt from Hollister
The mini-skirt was worn by some of the biggest names of the Y2K era: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera to name a few.
Last year, the leg-baring mini re-emerged onto the runways of Chanel, Versace, Missoni, and Miu Miu.
FUR TRIM JACKETS
Image | Picture of Britney Spears wearing a fur-trimmed jacket and the infamous t-shirt captioned ‘dump him’
Image | Faux Fur Trim Corduroy Trench Coat from Urban Outfitters
A fur-collared or fur-trimmed jacket or coat (especially those with shaggy fronts) is a classic Y2K winter staple.
These boho hippie coats are reminiscent of Afghan coats, but they are also giving a 70’s retro vibe which could be said of many Y2K essentials.
VELOUR TRACKSUIT
Image | Paris Hilton at the Melbourne Airport in 2008 / Kristian Dowling / Getty Images
Image | Juicy Couture Blue Low-Rise Velour Flare Track Pants from Urban Outfitters
Velour tracksuits by brands like Juicy Couture and Baby Phat were huge in the early 2000s.
Celebrities that made this ensemble famous were Paris Hilton, JLo and Britney Spears. Style the set with a matching crop top or baby tee with chunky sandals to get the full Y2K aesthetic.
BUTTERFLY HAIR CLIPS
Image | Getty Images
Image | Set of Mini Butterfly Hair Clips from Stradivarius
During the late 90s and early 2000s, butterfly clips were one of the biggest hair accessories, from Lizzie Macguire onscreen to Jennifer Aniston on the red carpet.
Today, influencers and celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa are making this hair accessory trend fresh again. Wear in your hair this summer to complete your Y2K look.
BAGUETTE BAG
Image | Ron Galella Ltd. / Getty Images
Image | FENDI Baguette embossed striped leather shoulder bag from Net-A-Porter
UGG BOOTS…YEP!
Image | Jessica Simpson on the set of The Dukes of Hazzard in Baton Rouge on December 7, 2004
Image | UGG Bailey Button II Boots Chestnut Suede from OFFICE
As of 2021, UGG boots have made a fierce comeback appearing up and down Instagram feeds with the #uggboots hashtag pulling up 340k posts.
But the resurgence of the UGG boots has really kicked off this year with iconic singer Cher being the new face of the brand… yes it’s a bit random! UGGs were the ultimate go-to for comfortable and casual shoewear in the 2000s so grab a pair for your laid-back Y2K look…if you must!
BUCKET HATS
Image | Picture of singer Aaliyah
Image | Fluffy Bucket Hat in Lime Green from ASOS,
From the 1980s into the 2000s, bucket hats were all the rage...remember the singer Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity video or the brand Kangol?
These statement hats were very popular headwear for the prime pop-culture era, but since then, many celebrities like Pharrell and Rihanna have been spotted wearing bucket hats on many occasions too, so you could say that bucket hats never really left the fashion scene. In addition to the commonly seen fluffy ones, crochet bucket hats were also a big hit!
SHINY MATERIALS
Image | Left-eye Lopez
Club Exx Acid House Reflective Cargo Pants from Dolls Kill
If shiny garments make you think of Missy Elliott’s music videos from the early 2000s or Neo’s bad-ass ensemble from the Matrix, you’d be on the right track.
The tech boom in the early 2000s made the pop-culture world obsessed with futuristic fashion, and you don’t have to search far to find this Y2K staple to shimmer this year, but Dolls Kill and ASOS are good places to start.
