A Simple Guide to Mastering the Y2K Fashion Aesthetic

The year was 2000, and much like 2022, the world experienced a glitch in the matrix. Some of us welcomed the new millennium with optimism, others thought it could have been the end of the world, but we all tried calming our fears by diving deeper into technology — sound familiar? It makes a lot of sense why the Y2K fashion trend is having a renaissance, and while we won't be styling our dresses over jeans [1] anytime soon, we're loving the pink, sparkly outfits all over our Instagram feeds. If you're curious about what the Y2K aesthetic is all about and how to style it like a pro, we have all the details ahead.

Y2K outfits feature heavily in some of our favourite films, television series, and music videos of the late '90s and early '00s. Films like Clueless and Mean Girls [2], shows like The Simple Life, and music videos like "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child and "Lucky" by Britney Spears [3] introduced us to the Y2K aesthetic. Key features of the trend are crop tops, cardigans, and camisoles, paired with minibags, bandanas, tennis skirts, and scrunchies, in either pink, purple, light blue, or logomania [4] and butterfly prints. [5]

Across all the mentioned pop culture references is a lifestyle that boasts fabulosity and excess. That's because the year 2000 was also when fast fashion as we know it was born. The high street and online shopping took off at the turn of the millennium, which resulted in many of us having way too much stuff. The Y2K comeback in 2020 is not only about the final era of vintage nostalgia, but it's about using sites like Depop [6], eBay, and Vestiaire Collective [7] to repurpose the mounds of clothes from the early aughts into fresh, sustainable outfits. The Y2K aesthetic is actually a smart and stylish way to fix the industry's fast fashion problem and could be a turning point in how we construct our visual identities.

Ahead, we break down the 10 key features of the Y2K aesthetic — from colour palettes, to clothing, accessories, resources, and beauty looks — and how to rock this trend with confidence.

Colour Palette

The Y2K palette is all about colourful outfits — particularly in pastel shades, pinks, purples, greens, and blues with a special place for animal prints, butterfly prints, and logomania pieces.

Daisy Street Plus 90s Fitted Cardigan

Daisy Street Plus 90's Fitted Cardigan [8] (£13, originally £18)

Monki Cares Button Up Cardigan

Monki Cares Button Up Cardigan [9] (£35)

Tops

Camisoles, crop tops, halter tops, and fitted cardigans are key to Y2K outfits.

Sequin Butterfly Top

Sequin Butterfly Top [10] (£12)

Jaded London Popcorn Orange Marble Top

Jaded London Popcorn Orange Marble Top [11] (£45)

Bottoms

Y2K bottoms include cute miniskirts, tennis skirts, low-rise jeans, and loose-fitted trousers styled like Aaliyah [12].

I.Am.Gia Neavah Skirt

I.Am.Gia Neavah Skirt [13] (£53)

Weekday Ace High Wide Jeans

Weekday Ace High Wide Jeans [14] (£40)

Hair Accessories

Y2K loves a nostalgic hair accessory. Try bandanas, bucket hats, scrunchies, and butterfly clips to achieve the look.

Handmade 'FRUIT LOOP' Chunky Beaded Necklace

Handmade 'FRUIT LOOP' Chunky Beaded Necklace [15] (£8)

Lazy Oaf Black Heart Fur Bucket Hat

Lazy Oaf Black Heart Fur Bucket Hat [16] (£38)

Jewellery

Gradient sunglasses, hoop earrings, and chunky layered jewellery are our favourite details of the Y2K aesthetic.

Jaded London Blue & Yellow Square Lens Glasses

Jaded London Blue & Yellow Square Lens Glasses [17] (£15)

Christianah Jones Shady 1.0

Christianah Jones Shady 1.0 [18] (£59)

Shoes

When it comes to Y2K, favourite footwear shapes are either slinky, strappy sandals, chunky vintage trainers, or midthigh boots.

Fila Disrupter 2 Trainers

Fila Disrupter 2 Trainers [19] (£80)

&other Stories Heeled Leather Square Toe Sandal

&other Stories Heeled Leather Square Toe Sandal [20] (£85)

Bags

Handbag enthusiasts can indulge in the Y2K love of teeny-tiny minibags, including '90s baguette styles.

Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessorie Clutch Bag

Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessorie Clutch Bag [21] (£785)

&other Stories Croc Embossed Leather Shoulder Bag

Croc Embossed Leather Shoulder Bag [22] (£85)

Details

With Y2K, it's all about the details to achieve an authentic look. There are a few key details about the aesthetic that can take your styling to the next level like fluffy trimmed pieces, diamanté and rhinestones, monograms, butterflies, Hello Kitty, Playboy, Von Dutch, and Juicy Couture, and if you can rock a flip phone, even better.

Etsy Mixed Colours x6 90s Butterfly Hair Clips

Etsy Mixed Colours x6 90s Butterfly Hair Clips [23] (£7)

Beauty

A Y2K outfit isn't complete without a banging beauty look. Try the previously mentioned colour palette (powdery pinks, purples, greens, blues) on your eyelids, sparkly eyeshadow, lips, and nails. French manicures are a favourite of the Y2K beauty look, as well as face-framing money pieces, braids, half-up ponytails, temporary tattoos, and superglossy lips.

Resources

For more inspiration on Y2K outfits, we recommend searching #Y2K outfits on Tumblr instead of Instagram, and checking sites like Depop, eBay, and Vestiaire Collective before buying something new.

POPSUGAR UK