Spring has sprung and the 2000s renaissance is back in style! Picture this: we’re going back in time where fashion was all about having fun. Remember those velour Juicy Couture tracksuits? Giant belt buckles? Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s Von Dutch era? Or better yet, Mariah Carey’s sparkly Emannuel Ungaro Butterfly top? Don’t you wish you could go back in time? Those were the good old days… It’s not all lost, though, because the early 2000’s style is coming back with a vengeance — just in time for Spring!
The pop culture and tech-loving fashion era from the late 90’s and early 2000’s is back two decades later! The fashion aesthetic, now dubbed as Y2K, has been resurrected, all thanks to our Gen-Z heroes — a generation too young in 2000 to embrace what some may say was a gaudy time in fashion.
It’s post-COVID — or wait, is it? Regardless, consumers are soaking up their nostalgic feelings. The people have spoken and we’re all craving the familiar, the pre-algorithm days, where trends weren’t pushed down our throats at every single opportunity. Where fashion brands had fun, creativity shone and everyone got a piece of the cake. After all, what makes the Y2K era so intriguing is its accessibility. Its comeback, today, proves the cyclical nature of fashion. As if we needed more proof!
All the right spots
Hoarders, rejoice! It’s your time to shine. That piece of clothing you’ve held onto for so long? It’s time to bring it back. If you refreshed your closet over the years, raid your parents’ closets, but don’t use me as an excuse. Thrifters, you’re also in for a treat. Those baby tops or wide-legged pants that have shelved for so long, we know you’ve got some squirreled away. For many of us millennials, the Y2K comeback hits all the right spots — it perfectly captures the energy of our childhood and early teenage years. Whether it’s Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Missy Elliot or Mean Girls, there’s a lot to unpack, a lot to be inspired from, and a lot of core memories to be unlocked.
Over the past few years, designers across the board have focused on minimalism, while others have recently embraced a logo-centric fantasy (side note: we wish they hadn’t bothered with the latter). Their aim was to grab the attention of the growing consumer culture. But if you’re just as obsessed with fashion as we are, you’ve probably clocked that many have gone back to basics). By Y2K basic, we don’t mean less is more, quite frankly, some may say it’s the opposite, quite gaudy, simple, yet over the top — I would say its tacky-chic. Simple garments, simple silhouettes, muted colors, or ones meant to blind you. Oh, and accessorize like there’s no tomorrow.
Eternal cycle
While we cannot travel back in time, fashion can. Miu Miu’s SS22 collection cemented the return of the low rise. Dubai-based label, Morpho is also cashing in on the micro skirt and graphic tee ensemble, while Blumarine is embracing the beloved butterfly motif in all its glory, something similar to the design worn by Mariah Carey for the VH1 Divas Live concert in 2000. Von Dutch, Ed Hardy and Juicy Couture — 2000’s fan favorites are also back, it’s like they never left.
All jokes aside, what makes the Y2K fashion trend so exciting is the fact that people are able to let go, have fun and just be themselves. It’s accessible, inexpensive and is definitely not meant to be extravagant. Your local thrift shop or your old pieces will get the job done. One doesn’t need to invest a lot to make the most out of it. After all, the cyclical nature of fashion proves just that — what once was, will return, and what is current, will eventually fade away. It’s a cycle that will forever repeat itself.
