Fashion

Y2K fashion is back in trend and it’s here to stay thanks to TikTok

Turning back the clock

11.04.2023

By Buro Malaysia

Images from 20th Century Studios and Paramount Pictures
Y2K fashion is back in trend and it’s here to stay thanks to TikTok

What is Y2K fashion? To put it in a way where everyone can understand it best, just think: Legally Blonde, Sex and the City, Mean Girls, Donnie Darko or even Fight Club—and what the characters were all wearing. Nostalgia aside, the fashion in those movies is what Y2K style looks like. It’s often described as slightly futuristic with an underlying retro tone—the chunky shoes, pleated skirts, baby tees and funky shades are just a handful of pieces you’ll find in the Millennium fashion starter pack. It’s also defined by hairstyles and makeup like the iconic butterfly clips, face-framing fringe and layered hair, space buns and bandanas.

While it may be called ‘Year 2000’ fashion, the aesthetic actually dates back between the late ’90s and 2004. Hence, movies such as Clueless and Notting Hill also make the list of style inspirations. So why is it making a return now, almost 20 years later? Although not solely responsible, TikTok has played a very pivotal role in this regard. Being a fashion era ruled by women in pop culture, it has become incredibly popular online, especially amongst Gen Zs. The exact reason isn’t clear, but we can safely assume that its aesthetic’s allure matched with nostalgia and feminine pride became the combo that reinvigorated this much-loved style.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the ‘what’, ‘where’, and ‘when’, let’s now break down the ‘how’—how to dip your toes into Y2K fashion. Let’s start easy with the 10 essentials you’ll need to achieve the 2000s look with a modern take, along with a comparison of the original. It’s a trip down memory lane!

 

 

Baby tees

Then:

 

Now:

 

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A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

 

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Low-rise jeans

Then:

 

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A post shared by bubblegum bitch (@2000sbarbiedoll)

 

Now:

 

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A post shared by (@juliafox)

 

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Mini skirts

Then:

 

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A post shared by Stylist France (@stylistfrance)

 

Now:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kendall (@kendalljenner)

 

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Fur

Then:

 

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A post shared by 2000spirit (@2000spirit)

 

Now:

 

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A post shared by Ice Spice (@icespice)

 

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Juicy Couture tracksuits

Then:

 

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A post shared by (@2000spoiled)

 

Now:

 

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A post shared by Reniece Ede (@reniece_18)

 

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Slip-on dresses

Then:

 

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A post shared by magicreatorsland (@y2000sk)

 

Now:

 

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A post shared by DEVON CARLSON (@devonleecarlson)

 

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