Y2K Fashion Is Back - Here's How To Style It In 2024

If you've never heard of the Y2K style, you're missing the fashion trend that has been making a sensation on social media for some time now. The very colorful and retro looks of the 2000s have made a comeback in a major way and can be found in almost everyone's wardrobe, especially celebrities. Among them, we can count Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber as those who have posed on Instagram with their most iconic Y2K looks. But the question is: What is this trend and how was it born?

Many of today's fashion trends emerge on TikTok, making the social media app a real goldmine for inspiration. And it was on TikTok that the Y2K trend gained popularity. Y2K style mixes touches of sexiness, doses of color (especially pink!), tons of eye-catching accessories, and touches of kitsch that were all big during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It's the perfect recipe for making a big statement. In fact, when Y2K comes to mind, it makes us immediately think of the people who defined pop culture during the aughts: Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, and the movies "Clueless" and "Mean Girls."

So now that we know where this trend began and what defines it, let's embrace the Y2K aesthetic with the different ways to achieve the style.

If you thought you wouldn't glow with the Y2K look, you were wrong. Rhinestones and glitter are an integral part of the trend and can be put in the hair, on the eyes, and can even be bonded to teeth. And of course, they should also be prominent in clothes and accessories.

Bedazzled shine is everywhere in Y2K fashion. To start working the trend into your life, looked for bedazzled pieces that will make a difference in your outfit, such as blue jeans with glowing letters on them and butterfly tops adorned with dozens of rhinestones.

Whether you add some subtle glimmer or go full-out attention seeker with gems prominently displayed all over, there is a way to work some shine into your look, no matter your personality. For her take on a bedazzled Y2K look, fashion designer Cynthia Abou Nassar Ghaith shared an outfit on Instagram with her 132,000 followers that consisted of a pair of black parachute pants, matching heels, and a black butterfly top adorned with silver rhinestones.

Tiny, tiny, tinier! The farther back in time we look, the smaller the T-shirts are. Crop tops were trendy a few years ago, but now even shorter tops are taking over, thanks to the Y2K influence. We are talking about baby-size T-shirts that are so tiny, they look like they have shrunk in the washing machine after being cleaned in a too-hot cycle. 

Christina Aguilera showed us how to rock the look in the early 2000s, and now today's top celebrities are teaching us how to style baby tees again. Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Dua Lipa fill their Instagram pages with photos of belly-baring outfits borrowed from the '00s. Some feature slogans to add a little spice to the 'fit — the most iconic example of this being the "Dump Him" graphic baby tee Britney Spears wore in 2002. Baby tees can be combined perfectly with a pair of low-rise (bedazzled) jeans for a totally Y2K-inspired look.

It's no longer about wearing basic frames and opaque black lenses that don't reveal the color of your eyes. Tinted retro glasses — with beautiful metal or plastic frames and lenses tinted in pink, purple, or yellow — are the perfect way to add color to your life and will turn any outfit into a complete Y2K look. "Thick acetate frames with fun and vibrantly tinted lenses are the year's must-have item," Beth Kanfer, fashion director at Nordstrom, told The Zoe Report. 

Combine them with a few Y2K-inspired hairstyles such as space buns, flipped ends, or high pigtails, and reproduce a look that is straight out of the late '90s and early '00s in just a few minutes. As for the perfect sunglasses shape, it's up to you if you prefer aviators, giant round frames, or cat-eye shades. Each of these is a timeless style that will work with your Y2K look.

Out: tote bags that are able to hold your entire life. In: cool, trendy, colorful mini bags that can only contain the bare minimum. If you want to style yourself as a Y2K trendy fashionista, you'll have no choice but to travel light and choose a handbag that's barely big enough for more than your smartphone.

Baguette bags — small rectangular-shaped purses with a short strap that can be worn on the shoulder or held in your hand — were the It bags during the 2000s. Even if you can't afford the popular Fendi brand, similar micro-bags are available that share the same features: small, flat, and narrow, and available in fun colors and textures (faux fur! faded denim!) that go with any outfit. Case in point? Dua Lipa showing off her matching pink mini bag and pink outfit on Instagram. Toss an ultra-shiny lip gloss into it, and off you go.

If you're looking for THE ensemble that will make you nail the Y2K trend, look no further than velour tracksuits. You know, the ones popularized by Paris Hilton in the '00s? In fact, the now-41-year-old businesswoman told Women's Wear Daily that "tracksuits have been iconic since the early 2000s and remain a staple in [her] wardrobe to this day." She was right to keep them in her closet because they are even more popular today than they were back then. 

Today, there are multiple ways to incorporate the trend into your wardrobe. You can go with a velour jacket embellished with rhinestones and style it with low-waist jeans or pair velour joggers with a baby tee (à la the Juicy Couture trend that was everywhere). Fun colors matter as well. Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé have all worn tracksuits in green, pink, and blue. Which color would you choose? 

Was crocheting one of your grandmother's favorite activities? Back in the day, you may not have wanted to wear the sweaters she made you, but believe it or not, the crochet look is no longer just for the 70-year-old and up crew. It's now the latest Y2K-inspired trend. 

A true example of circular fashion, crochet clothing was popular in the '70s, fell off before becoming trendy again in the 2000s, and is now making another comeback — and not just during music festivals all around the world. In fact, there are so many ways crochet can be incorporated into fashion pieces, whether it's in a bag, flared pants, or a cardigan à la Harry Styles. Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber are also fans of the look. Both stars have been seen rocking crochet bucket hats on Instagram. The best part? You can learn how to make these items yourself!

Y2K hair trends are just as popular as fashion trends, with little hair clips and barrettes making a sensation all over social media. Remember when we all wore them in our hair at school? (And often lost them, too.) Some were flat, while others took the shape of insects such as butterflies, which, are traditionally a symbol of resurrection and metamorphosis. 

The butterfly trend actually started in the early 2000s on T-shirts and quickly expanded to hair accessories. Butterfly hair clips in bold colors and shapes have reached the manes of celebrities like Doja Cat and Olivia Rodrigo. And Dua Lipa even made the butterfly her mascot for her collab with Puma. Whether adorned in a braid, added as a surprising finish to a sophisticated hairstyle, or simply scattered on your hair like influencer Shantal Martin showed off on Instagram, it is easy to give off a whimsical effect with these small hair clips.

To really commit yourself to the Y2K trend, you have to ditch the skinnies and high-waisted jeans. The era was all about flared silhouettes and low rises that show off the waist and hips. They should be worn with a baby tee and a thick, blinged-out belt to recapture the feel of the times past. The perfect example to channel? Britney Spears in her music video for the song "I'm a Slave 4 U." Actor and fashion muse Julia Fox, seen above, has brought this trend full circle again.

If you bet your best friend they wouldn't be in style again, you owe her one, because low-rise jeans are among the denim trends that will dominate this fall. "Love it or hate it, there's no denying that more people are trying out low-rise denim again," Kesha Linder, a merchandiser at online retailer ThredUP, told Refinery29.

Body jewelry originated in India and is still worn today by belly dancers and brides. The trend spread across the globe and was adopted by fashionistas in the 2000s and mostly worn with low-rise jeans and velour tracksuits.

Do you want to make your body sparkle? Chains are extremely simple to style and can add a little Y2K touch to your outfit. With just a few of them strategically draped over your body, it will be as if you went straight back to the aughts.

And while you may only associate them with beachwear today, body chains are a fashion accessory that can be worn everywhere because they are so versatile. You can go full-on bold with a glittery neck-and-belly-chain-combo, as Cara Delevingne did at the 2022 Met Gala. Or take the simple route with just a single chain or two, as shown on the model above.

Platforms were long forgotten, giving way to skinny stilettos, sensible pumps, and kitten-heeled mules. But if there is one artist who has been a long-time devotee of Y2K-inspired platform heels, it is Ariana Grande. And she is very on trend because the sky-high shoes are back on the map. Nowadays you can't walk down the street without seeing at least a pair of platform heels on a passerby's feet.

While kitten heels were the most followed trend of 2020, it is now platform heels that reign supreme on store shelves and in closets. Popularized during the Versace Fall-Winter 2022 Women's fashion show, and again during the Valentino show, platforms can be worn with all kinds of outfits: flare pants, ultra-short skirts, and even socks. It's time to soar to the clouds in these doll-like shoes, so add a few extra inches with platforms in bold and daring colors this fall.

When you want to adopt the Y2K style from head to toe, start by accessorizing your hair. We've already learned that butterfly clips were an integral part of the 2000s style, and claw clips are included in the same boat. Called "the lazy girl's go-to accessory" by hair experts at Mane Addicts, claw clips are still incredibly stylish. 

Today, you can find them in the shape of a flower or a butterfly, they can be completely transparent, have polka dots, or be fluorescent — the options are endless. And to make things easy, there are claw clip hacks for how best to wear them. Whether your hair is long, thick, and curly, or medium-length and fine, there's a claw clip out there for you. They are a great way to embrace the Y2K trend without overdoing it and the perfect touch to add to your hairstyle.

Some materials are directly associated with certain eras. For example, tulle will always remind us of ballerinas in the 1700s. As for mesh, it is directly associated with the 2000s. The material — frequently used in sportswear due to its excellent breathability — is very light and comfortable to wear and made a statement at the beginning of the millennium, before re-emerging into our lives today.

The material is very simple to style. Today you can find mesh outfits printed with different types of designs, as a one-piece bodysuit or as long-sleeved tops, and in varying levels of transparency. Kourtney Kardashian is a big fan and does not hesitate to wear mesh outfits on the street. There really is no limit to this look, as you can go with more see-through mesh that shows lots of skin, or opt for less transparency — still sexy with some added mystery. Anything is possible!

If the 2000s had a color palette, it would be neons, brights, and metallics. To embrace the trend, what better way than to incorporate these colors into your style? As the character Karen Smith declared in the movie "Mean Girls:" "On Wednesdays, we wear pink."  

Look for clothing featuring vibrant colors such as green, pink, or blue. Or try metallic holographic pieces that are also a nod to the Y2K era. "This trend is very nostalgic," graphic specialist Kate McInnes told Envato Blog.

And don't be afraid to mix and match and combine uncommon colors together. Whether it's your sunglasses that are holographic or your complete outfit that is screaming "Barbie," there is always a way to make trendy fashion pieces work for you and for your life. From your earrings to your socks, let your imagination run wild as you layer colors and patterns into your outfits.

The 2000s was a time when people viewed entering into a new millennium as being synonymous with renewal. Women saw the era as a time to have fun and express their personality and sexuality with a completely offbeat style of dress. This is exactly why front lace-up tops were quite popular two decades ago.

While midriff-baring crop tops were trending everywhere in the early 2020s, for 2023-2024, the tops that are making a comeback are lace-ups. The trendy, slightly rebellious cool girl look from the 2000s has dared to re-emerge for a whole new generation to enjoy.

While your personal comfort level will dictate what you sport with a lace-up top, the Y2K way is to wear it without anything underneath at all. Rock the top with a low-waisted skirt and loafers with socks for a school girl-inspired look, or with high-waisted jeans, accompanied by a loose jacket, to give off a more casual vibe.

Remember that particular top we all had when we were younger that was so stretchy it could be put on in a fraction of a second? Its material was reminiscent of popcorn, with small 3D-like spikes that added both futuristic and retro dimensions to an outfit. 

Well, guess what? The unisex "popcorn shirt" is back in fashion and has been spotted on the likes of Dua Lipa and Machine Gun Kelly. In a T-shirt, a vest, or a sweater, the look is so popular, and there is tons of inspiration on social media on how to style it today.

Before you scour shops looking for this Y2K piece, take a dig through some of your old bins of clothing. You may end up face-to-face with a popcorn top. One thing is certain — because its material is so stretchy, it will likely still fit you like a glove. That's a timeless piece for you.

One Y2K trend we genuinely thought we'd never see again is the blessed dresses and skirts over pants trend. It's not that we hate this look; it's just a style we assumed society had evolved past. But, as we're swiftly learning, even the most kitschy of trends tends to come back around again. This trend, popularized by many a Disney Channel star in its heyday, is now being given a modern revival, and we're honestly not mad about it. 

If you want to capitalize on wearing dresses and skirts over pants again, all you need is a dress (or skirt) and a pair of jeans. Then, wear both of them. It genuinely is that simple! We recommend utilizing dresses with looser skirts, as the imprint of your jeans won't show through. Feel free to wear skinny, bootcut, or flair jeans, depending on the vibe you're going for. Dark jeans provide a more understated choice, while lighter jeans can stand out if you want to be noticed while you're out and about.

We'll admit, we aren't the biggest fan of capri pants, but they do offer a compromise between pants and shorts that helps us understand why they're suddenly back on the scene. Slim fit capris (like the ones in the above photo) are especially in. They admittedly make for a smart transitional piece and look great with an oversized sweatshirt in chilly weather, or a tank top when it's warming up outside. 

To adopt this style, look for pants that fit snug along the thigh and cut off just past your knees. If you want to go really old school with your 'fit, opt for jean or cargo capris. Otherwise, capri leggings or trousers offer a more updated version of the trend. We think this style pairs well with sneakers and sandals, but avoid wearing booties or socks that come up too high on your calves, as this could lead to an awkward gap of skin showing between your shoe and the hem of your capris.

If you still have some of those logo-embossed bags you used to show off in high school, we're happy to report that it's finally time to dig them out of the back of your closet. That's right — logomania is officially back on the scene, and honestly, why shouldn't designers smatter their logos across all of their creations? Feel free to be loud and proud about which design houses you support by displaying logos on everything you wear, but if the idea of a logo-fied outfit isn't quite up your alley, you can just stick to carrying around a logo handbag. 

If you do decide to accessorize with a logo bag, we think you should make that your standout piece. Keep the rest of your outfit relatively simple and dress in neutral colors that don't boast words or graphics. This way, whether you carry your logo handbag or wear it over your shoulder, your bag is sure to take center stage — right where it belongs. 

Remember having an entire drawer dedicated to your collection of kerchiefs? It may have seemed excessive, but you wore them all the time (and in every way imaginable), so it was well justified. We hope you haven't totally gotten rid of your kerchief collection, because as fate would have it, we're once again seeing them styled on the streets in numerous ways. 

The beauty of an accessory piece like a kerchief is that there are no rules on how to utilize it, so you can feel free to wear it in whatever way suits your fancy. Practice styling your hair with a bandana on bad hair days or tie a stylish kerchief around your neck. Use one to secure a ponytail or weave it through your belt loops to tighten a pair of jeans. The world truly is your oyster here, and the return of kerchiefs offers an opportunity to get creative as you accessorize. 

Speaking of accessories that are coming back in style, who could ever forget the iconic loose necktie we wore with seemingly everything back in the day? Neckties weren't functional in the aughts — rather, it was common to see them worn loosely around your neck, whether or not your top sported a collar. We think we're happy to announce that this trend, popularized by pop star Avril Lavigne, is back in full swing, and you're likely to start seeing loose neckties worn more for fashion than function.

Similar to the kerchief trend, how you wear your necktie is up to you. You could pick one that matches another element of your outfit, or make it stand apart if you want your accessory to shine on its own. We think this piece looks great paired with grungy vintage band T-shirts or oversized button-downs, but honestly, there really aren't any rules when it comes to wearing the loose necktie trend. 

Ah, the tube top. Though we've lamented the comeback of low-rise jeans, it's popular pairing piece — the tube top – is a trend we're happy to see back on the scene. One plus of tube tops is that they help you avoid dreaded tan lines. On the other hand, it's not always practical to wear a bra with them, which could pose an obstacle if you reach for strappy bras on the daily. 

If you decide to participate in bringing back the tube top trend, you can make it feel a bit more modern by pairing it with some high-waisted jeans, rather than a low-waisted pair. Since you won't have much going on above your chest, tube tops also provide a great opportunity to let a fashion necklace or a large pair of earrings to take center stage. Opt for a patterned tube top if you'll be wearing it alone, but keep some muted options on hand in case you need to pair it with a jacket.