The Paw Print

By Madeleine Spanbauer, Editor-in-Chief

Trend cycles have become quicker and quicker as social media continues to feed us the newest and best thing that will surely go out of style within several months. But, in spite of trend cycles’ quickening pace, the longstanding pattern that fashion comes back around every 20 years has yet again been proven correct by the rise in year-2000, or Y2K, era fashion over the past several years.

But what was the spark for this new-old fashion revolution? Some might argue that the COVID-19 pandemic made people nostalgic for earlier decades. The time spent indoors gave people plenty of time to experiment with older trends, and the rise of TikTok during that time helped people to share their styles and find creative inspiration worldwide.

Social media and COVID-19 could be only part of the origin of Y2K’s resurgence. As this style of fashion has grown, there has also been a spike in Gen Z teens and adults shifting to forms of media consumption from earlier decades. For example, many teens now prefer wired earbuds to the more convenient, yet more expensive, bluetooth headphones. Additionally, vinyl and CD collecting has become a common hobby among older teens, as having physical versions of their favorite media is now appreciated rather than looked down upon on as a relic of the past.

All of these forms of fabricated nostalgia have aided in the rise of Y2K fashion in the 2020s as teens and young adults try to experience a time they weren’t quite old enough to appreciate in its prime.

Characterized by its signature low-rise jeans, bucket hats, graphic tees and mini skirts, Y2K fashion represented a defining moment in pop culture. Technology was on the rise, millennials were experiencing early adulthood for the first time, and Britney Spears was dominating the charts.

The time represented one where the technology was growing, and as it did, so did fashion. People found themselves gravitating away from the grungy jeans and flannels of the 90s into pastel baby pinks and blues to welcome in the new decade (and not the end of the world, as once believed thanks to Y2K panic).

Y2K’s revival could also, in part, be due to many celebrity endorsements and influences. Figures such as Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa have been seen sporting Y2K looks, especially around 2022 with outfits such as Dua Lipa’s baby pink tennis outfit or Bella Hadid’s plaid skirt and signature mini sunglasses.

But why has Y2K become so popular with Gen Z teens and young adults? It could be nostalgia for an era that they didn’t get to experience themselves, as many movies and other pieces of media romanticize a time before advanced technology. It could also be a rebellion against the beige and white minimalist aesthetic that has permeated home decor and an attempt to push more bold and playful self-expression.

Additionally, thrifting has become on of the more popular forms of shopping with Gen Z, and the affordability and accessibility of Y2K styles throughout thrift and vintage stores sometimes can’t be beat.

But what is different this time around? Has this era of fashion become more sustainable 20 years after it ended? Unfortunately, many fast fashion brands are taking advantage of the trend, making low-quality pieces of clothing with a life cycle sure to match the short-lived nature of the trend cycles. 

Even though fast fashion has existed since the 1990s, social media in the 21st century, specifically in the 2020s, has made this type of consumerism all the more popular, with brands like Shein and Fashion Nova listing hundreds of new products every single day.

Another criticism of early 2000s fashion is the era’s unattainable body image ideals, as well as the unrealistic image of women that it presented to the public. The unhealthy goals set during this time period by media and celebrities are important to leave in the past, instead focusing on the body positivity movement in order not to regress to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Since we’ve seen Y2K follow the classic 20 year fashion cycle so far, it would be unsurprising to see it crop up again in the 2040s. Hopefully, people can bring the best parts of the era into the future and leave the less-productive parts in the past.