The "Y2K" retro trend is back! Learn more about the key points of the millennial style, matching skills, and how to dress fashionably?

Millennial fashion was all about fun, hedonism and unrealistic glamour.

Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were all icons of 2000s style. Now, Y2K style is back in fashion!

What is the magic of Y2K style? From TikTok to Instagram, this term has been widely circulated on all social media for a while. Especially since the release of the Netflix documentary "White Hot: the Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch", which shows the company's racist and arrogant business philosophy, we are gradually recalling the era that created this style. The world of the 90s is dominated by hedonism, various entertainments and luxurious parties, full of false glamour.

Brands like Von Dutch and Ed Hardy sparked the first wave of streetwear crazes in 2000, like Supreme and Palace in 2020. Justin Timberlake wore a Von Dutch baseball cap to the 2003 Grammy Awards afterparty, making the American brand (co-founded by Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier) a trend. Since then, Ashton Kutcher, Gwen Stefani, Lindsay Lohan and others have also worn the hats.

The most popular items of Y2K were Juicy Couture's velvet tracksuits and Baby Phat's sunglasses. The former was brought back by Vetements in 2016, while the latter was given a major makeover by Balenciaga (which used the aviator-style shades as a runway accessory for its Spring/Summer 2023 collection).

As the temperature rises, tops are getting shorter, as evidenced by the cropped tops that have been trending in recent years (for both boys and girls!) and the street looks that can be seen all over Paris Fashion Week. The matching low-rise pants, underwear as outerwear and other clothing are also sweeping the fashion circle again. Miu Miu pioneered the khaki mini skirts and woolen jumpsuits, which were reminiscent of the tight clothing of Russian music duo T.A.T.u., which broke out in the early 2000s. Many young fashion icons have also followed the trend and reinterpreted the unique style of the 90s, including 22-year-old rapper Lil Nas X, who wore a fuchsia metallic crop top on stage with a ribbed belt and pleated skirt.

What is Y2K style?

The word "Y2K" is made up of the English year "Year" and "2000", which means the fashion style of the year 2000. It represents a time full of glamour, intoxication, indulgence and superficiality. The secret behind it lies in the social dynamics of pop culture in the early 2000s. Y2K style has become a symbol of the era. In the United States, it is called "McBling" (referring to the gorgeous style and craze that prevailed at the time). It represents the period from 2000 to 2008, with colorful, loud and vulgar clothing as the trend, paired with logo baseball caps and velvet sportswear.

With the stock market crash in 2008, the era of frenetic spending came to an end. Fashion turned toned down, and the back-to-basics “normcore” style became mainstream.

How to wear Y2K style?

From cropped tops to jogging suits to low-rise pants, these pieces perfectly capture the trend, and the style is still very much in fashion today:

Low-rise jeans

Few people love low-rise pants as much as singer Lenny Kravitz, who paired low-rise leather jeans with feather scarves and tuxedo waistcoats.

Lenny Kravitz MEGA

Crew Neck Cropped Top

Model and actor Evan Mock is the mischievous child of Hollywood’s young stars, which is one reason why designers love him. His style is somewhere between skater style and couture, and no one can walk the streets of Paris in a Vivienne Westwood knitted cropped top like him!

Evan Mock Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

Jogging Suit

Actor Pete Davidson wears a pink jogging suit from Machine Gun Kelly’s namesake brand, accessorized with his must-have baseball cap.

Pete Davidson Gotham

Oversized styles

Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber, who announced their pregnancy, often go out in super oversized casual outfits, paired with loose overalls or jeans, which is completely in line with the Y2K style.

Justin and Hailey Bieber Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin

Printed shirts

Shirts with “meaningless” prints are always eye-catching, reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts from the 80s, and a typical representative of the Y2K trend.

Street style with a flame shirt. Getty Images

How to incorporate Y2K style into your daily life?

You don’t have to buy a whole new outfit to bring Y2K style to your daily life. Essential items like a cool printed shirt, eye-catching sunglasses or a crossbody bag can set the tone for this style.

Balenciaga
Short-sleeved T-shirt, oversized style, washed print, unique features.

Hugo
Millennial style short-sleeved shirt in suede with flame pattern. 100% cotton, oversized fit.

Christian Louboutin
The Benech Reporter crossbody bag is a convenient way to carry your essentials, and features the signature Louboutin rivets for detail.

Ottolinger's sculptural sunglasses feature a plastic frame with a gradient green, pink and yellow metallic rectangle.

How does 90s grunge differ from millennial style?

In the early 90s, fashion shifted from the extravagance of the 80s to the style represented by icons like Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. The “Grunge” grease-stained rock style of torn jeans, plaid shirts and worn Converse Chucks was a stark contrast to the bubblegum pop world of the 80s.