Y2K fashion is skyrocketing back to popularity, and Gen Z is at the forefront of it all. Ditching the high-rise jeans of yesterday, and pairing low-rise jeans with crop tops or Juicy Couture jackets. We are bringing back the bright and colorful fashion of just two decades ago.
When you think of Y2K fashion, you might think of velour tracksuits, colors like pink and purple, and a variety of accessories like butterfly clips, chokers, and bucket hats. Gen Z brought back these items while adding a few of their own, creating our own unique and vibrant style, a blend we now could call “modern Y2K,” remixing the past and present.
Juniors Sarah Arias and Savanna Robinson both indulge in this exciting trend. “I love exploring new styles and Y2K has been so fun to do and I incorporate it into my everyday outfits, with a belt or waist beads,” said Robinson. Her outfit features an off-the-shoulder black shirt with sparkling stars from SHEIN, dark blue baggy jeans from Forever 21, and a brown hoodie from her grandma.
Arias, on the other hand, defines Y2K more traditionally. “Y2K is more like a very vibrant type of style that a lot of people born in the 2000s like, and still do, me included,” she said.
Arias created this simple Y2K outfit with pants from Ross, a grey hoodie, and a blue and white striped tank top from SHEIN. Her outfit captures the early 2000s comfort and colors while keeping it cute and casual.
2000s fashion doesn’t just revolve around eye-popping bright colors. Junior Abigail Carsner brought out the “grunge” side of the era with her outfit. Most of her inspiration comes from “nu-metal,” referring to artists and fans of various metal subgenres. “I got a lot of my inspiration from industrial metal, which was really popular in the late 90’s,” Carsner said. Carsner wore accessories ranging from Hot Topic to Amazon, baggy black pants from her father, paired with a black belt from her brother, Dominic. Her edgy style proves Y2K doesn’t need to be all glitz and glam.
One of the Wingspan’s own writers, Valery Alcala Serafin, also experiments with the Y2K fashion trend with her own personal and unique style. Her outfit leans more toward early 2000s throwback than modern. The outfit features a striped red and white pattern babydoll top, as for the jeans thrifted capri pants from Goodwill, but the most “modern” part of her outfit is her black and white Adidas shoes, considering most capri pants were worn with sandals or kitten heels.
Thrift shopping plays a big part in bringing Y2K fashion to life. Many of these styles include items that are thrifted pieces, pieces that are old and worn out, so buying them secondhand is like pulling it from the actual source itself, giving our outfits a sense of authenticity.
“I’ve always loved dressing up since I was little, and when I found out about 2000s style, I fell in love with the different colors,” said Alcala. “I could never find a clothing piece that made me feel like me until I bought my first low-rise jeans and styled it with a vintage shirt from my grandma.”
Senior Tenay Brown brought a different approach to this photoshoot, as this was her first and hopefully not last time she wore Y2K outfits. “I definitely put some effort into this outfit but it was my first time trying this style and I think I ate,” said Brown. As someone who isn’t into this typical style, Brown still recognizes it as “a trendy style for the new generation, something casual yet stylish,” adding the fact that she “barely knows anything about this fashion.”
Brown’s outfit consists of a long-sleeved tan shirt with a brown heart in the middle from Forever 21, baggy blue jeans with white pearls from Fashion Nova, a plain black belt and flower chain from Amazon, all while throwing Nike Dunks on for a modern twist. Brown’s style is typically more “street” than Y2K, a style associated with urban areas and individualism, so this was her way of stepping out of her comfort zone. “I usually get my style from New York,” said Brown, who aspires to be a fashion designer herself.
Senior Mariya Morales brought the leopard print into the studio. Wearing a leopard print baby doll top from Forever 21, cargos from Garage, and a gold belt from Ross, Morales gives us a sense of 2000s nostalgia. Once again, for shoes, brown Nike dunks, which seem to be a trend with these outfits, and brown sunglasses to top it off.
Sophomore Kai Hughes enters the studio with confidence like no other, rocking their pink velour zip-up from SHEIN, a mini skirt, and belt, both from Goodwill. They change the zip up to an old vintage babydoll top thrifted from Goodwill as well, giving the perfect modern but 2000s look. Nothing can go wrong with an old-fashioned baby pink velour tracksuit paired with black Uggs.
Junior A’mya James brought out the “it” girl in the photoshoot, serving as a Y2k baddie. To create this outfit, James wore an Apple Bottom denim jumpsuit from Depop, brown furry boots, a gold belt from Amazon, and a True Religion shoulder bag from Marshalls. “I usually base my outfits on the music I’m listening to that day. The Y2k aesthetic is so diverse, you can do so much with it,” she described it as her form of nostalgia and freedom, “an era where big hoops and long nails are no longer so often labeled as ghetto, but celebrated as fashionable,” said James.
Freshman Joselyne Gonzalez has recently gotten into Y2k fashion this year, so for this photoshoot, she put together a simple but cute outfit consisting of boot cut jeans with a blinged out design on the back pocket from Marshalls, a grey hoodie also from Marshalls, a black cropped shirt from SHEIN, and brown Nike Dunks.
Senior Genesis Rocha Obando chose the symbol of comfort and style, wearing an outfit with a baby blue tracksuit from Marshall’s, a plain white shirt underneath, and the popular black Nike Dunks. “Dressing Y2K is like dressing like you’re the star of a 2000s movie, with a style that feels like you’re from another planet,” said Obando.
Gen Z’s fascination with Y2K fashion comes from its colorful and playful vibe, offering a fun way to express our individual style. By mixing thrifted pieces with modern touches, Gen Z creates unique looks that reflect both the past and present. This love for reviving the past shows how Y2K remains exciting and influential, setting the stage for future fashion trends.
Mr. Schmalbach • May 23, 2025 at 12:33 pm
I remember these trends when I first started teaching in 2000. I’m waiting for the guys to start wearing 4XL fresh white tees, which was a big thing at the time!