Beginning with the revival of the 80s and 90s style, the current vintage ‘it’ look has evolved – and landed in the twenty-first century. The new era of Year 2000 (Y2K)-infused looks is making waves in fashion. The 2000s are back and better than ever.
By Roxanna Sanchez/ @_roxannasanchez
The days where teens cringed and shuddered at the sight of outfits from their parents’ youth are gone. Now, they eagerly seek ways to recreate those hazy nostalgic Polaroids and acid wash mom jeans.
Wearing vintage clothes never fully went out of style, but over the last few years — with the help of social media — teens and young adults have taken a liking to all things retro.
Shows like Stranger Things and Glow have caused a surge of people to drive to local thrift stores and recreate some bodacious 80s outfits. Later followed the rebirth of the 90s grunge scene with fishnet stockings and chains – the likes of which you may find on your Instagram feed.
But like *NSYNC said, it’s “bye, bye, bye” to that trend and hello to Y2K. Here are the top five trends making a comeback from the 2000s:
Velour Galore
Thought you saw the last of those iconic Juicy Couture velour tracksuits? Well, they’re back. With it are miniskirts, crop tops and everything bright and stretchy in between. No need to compromise comfort for fashion.
Photo curtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.
Futuristic Fashion
The next trend returning to people’s wardrobes is futuristic clothing that looks like it came straight from the Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” music video. On the cusp of a utopic tech savvy world, the 2000s gave way to a style similar to that of Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. In this case, anything reflective or holographic goes.
Photo courtesy of mtv.com.
Prints and Patterns
Never shying away from experimenting with colors, the reintroduction of 2000s clothing has seen a surge in nostalgic — if not childlike — patterns featuring butterflies, plaid, cheetah, cherries, clouds and camouflage. The era was an endless hodgepodge of textures, patterns, colors, etc.
Photo courtesy of dollskill.com.
Maximize What You Accessorize
In true Y2K fashion, no outfit is complete without an array of wacky or glamorous accessories like hoop earrings, color-tinted glasses, bucket hats, chunky grommet belts and body chains. The more the merrier.
Photo courtesy of skinsugar.store.
Crop Tops and Cami Dresses
In an era of exploration and experimentation, no one held back from showing their fair share of skin. Think of any celeb from that era and you can conjure up images of bare midriffs and backs. Most notable were crop tops, camisoles and slip-style dresses. Many of which are now layered on top of long sleeve or mesh shirts.
Photo courtesy of forever21.com.
With the world of fashion constantly changing and pushing boundaries, people still find themselves seeking styles and trends of the past. What is it that makes vintage clothing so appealing? Whatever it is, there is an undeniable sense of suspense in the air. Society is in a state of conflict between fearing the future and seeking comfort in the past. Vintage fashion is a form of escapism – and who can deny that the early 2000s gave the world the likes of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Mean Girls, The Cheetah Girls and Bratz dolls?
With the dawn of a new century came iconic figures that praised all things big and bold. To wear Y2K clothing is to wear the embodiment of a material girl culture. Unlike 90s outfits that represent a dynamic, angsty time for teenagers, to return to the 2000s is to return to daring times when technology was the new frontier and the future seemed as bright as ever.
