The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (2024)

Fashion trends inspired by the early Aughts have repeatedly returned in recent years, proving that the 2000s just can’t be shaken. As Millennials and Gen Z satisfy their craving for nostalgia, styles not seen for decades have bubbled up on social media and, in many cases, the catwalk.

Google‘s latest data further proves that the 2000s craze hasn’t cratered — in fact, searches for Y2K-related trends reached record highs in 2023. Here, 10 2000s trends that dominated the search engine.

Ballet flats

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (3)

The emergence of balletcore naturally revived one of the Millennium’s favorite footwear trends. Brands like Sandy Liang and Miu Miu have released ballet flats in recent seasons, with mary jane styles spurring a dancer-off-duty craze. Google searches for “Are ballet flats back in style?” peaked in 2023, according to the tech company.

Puka shell necklaces

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (4)

Puka shell necklaces have made a triumphant return thanks to the popularity of the “island girl” aesthetic, which took off on TikTok and Instagram. This year, these beachy chokers were one of the top trending Y2K accessories via Google searches.

Low-rise

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (5)

Low-rise pants and skirts had a chokehold on the 2000s, with celebrities favoring belly-baring bottoms. The controversial trend has been revived two decades later as labels including Stella McCartney, Versace and Diesel sent low-rise designs down the runway for the spring season. In 2023, Google searches for “low-rise” reached record highs.

Uggs

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (6)

Uggs took the 2000s by storm, with stars pairing the comfy shearling slippers with everything from velour tracksuits to bedazzled microminis. Calf-length Ugg boots were the most popular style of the decade, but these days, shorter styles are in. Ugg minis and the brand’s Tazz slippers are current bestsellers, while Google searches for “Are Uggs back in style?” have peaked this year.

Leg warmers

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (7)

The balletcore fad has also spawned a resurgence in leg warmers. The knit stockings that first took off in the ’80s briefly came back in the 2000s before returning once again in the 2020s. According to Google, leg warmers were the site’s top trending Y2K accessory this year.

Trucker hats

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (8)

Trucker hats were the celebrity set’s go-to chapeau in the early 2000s, with Von Dutch and Ed Hardy thriving on mesh-backed caps featuring patches and edgy graphics. In 2023, Google searches for trucker hats reached an all-time high.

Nameplate necklaces

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (9)

Thanks in part to Carrie Bradshaw, nameplate necklaces had a major moment in the new Millennium. This year, they were among the top trending Y2K accessories on Google.

Bell-bottoms

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (10)

Bell-bottoms first became trendy in the 1970s, but they were brought back in the 2000s as the popularity of flares returned. Today, brands including Gucci and Veronica Beard have gotten in on the retro-inspired fad, while Google searches for “Are bell-bottoms back in style?” peaked in 2023.

Cargo pants

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (11)

Cargo pants became a style staple in the 2000s. As it turns out, baggy trousers featuring plenty of pockets were also a major runway trend during the spring 2023 season, with LaQuan Smith, Isabel Marant and Givenchy reviving the cargo craze. Searches for the pants were the highest they’ve ever been this year, per Google.

Denim skirts

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (12)

Denim skirts of all lengths were popular in the 2000s, with stars favoring mini, midi and maxi styles. In 2023, the ever-popular indigo textile appeared on the runways of Bottega Veneta, Blumarine and Givenchy, while Courrèges and Alberta Ferretti channeled the 2000s by debuting microminis on the catwalk. What’s more, Google searches for denim skirts were at an all-time high this year.

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google (2024)

FAQs

The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google? ›

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have played a crucial role in popularizing the Y2K fashion trend among the younger generations. Influencers and celebrities sporting Y2K outfits, combined with the sharing of 90s and early 2000s pop culture references, have fueled this trend's popularity.

How did Y2K fashion come back? ›

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have played a crucial role in popularizing the Y2K fashion trend among the younger generations. Influencers and celebrities sporting Y2K outfits, combined with the sharing of 90s and early 2000s pop culture references, have fueled this trend's popularity.

What is the Y2K fashion trend? ›

Cargo pants were a defining trend of Y2K fashion, embodying the era's laid-back and practical approach to style. These pants featured multiple pockets and a loose, relaxed fit, often paired with oversized tops, cropped tanks, and chunky sneakers for a youthful and playful look.

Is Y2K fashion coming back in 2024? ›

Why is Y2K fashion making a comeback in 2024? The resurgence of Y2K fashion in 2024 is driven by a mix of nostalgia, sustainability, and the influence of social media.

What was the fashion trend in 2000? ›

Popular items of clothing included wide leg jeans, baseball jackets, Nike Air Jordans, tracksuits, sweatpants, bucket hats, stunna shades, fur-lined puffer jackets, and flat-brim trucker hats or baseball caps (often retaining the store label).

Who popularized Y2K? ›

Famous Hip-hop artists like Jay Z, P Diddy, Nelly, Snoop Dog, and 50 Cent started wearing tracksuits, baggy jeans, and bandanas, quickly turning Y2K into pop culture.

Why is Gen Z so obsessed with Y2K fashion? ›

For many Gen Zers, '90s and 2000s were their formative years, a time of social progress and prosperity. It might also represent an escapist desire for simpler times, especially when people put on nostalgia glasses looking at a distant but noticeable reality. On the other hand: “There's nothing new in fashion.

How to dress like a Y2K girl? ›

Velvet track pants, low rise denim skirts and bootcut jeans, bedazzled jackets and chunky heels are just some essentials for the recognisable trend. Autumn/Winter notes include fur trimmed afghan coats, denim midi skirts, thin scarves, berets, leather jackets, mesh blouses and 90s knitwear.

What is Y2K fashion dress code? ›

The Y2K look actually spans from the late 90s to the mid-2000s and was typified by scarf tops, boot cut jeans, velour tracksuits, pastels, metallics, cowl necks, pedal pushers (aka capri pants) and showy accessories, from furry bucket hats and trucker caps to bowling bags and butterfly clips.

What was the Y2K bug scare? ›

The Y2K bug was a computer flaw, or bug, that may have caused problems when dealing with dates beyond December 31, 1999.

What is a Y2K shirt? ›

Y2K fashion, also known as "millennial" or "Z-generation" fashion, has become an increasingly popular trend in recent years. The characteristic of this trend is a nostalgic and retro aesthetic, reminiscent of the early 2000s, when the internet was relatively new and smartphones were just beginning to become mainstream.

What's out for 2024? ›

Common ins for 2024 include early bedtimes, staying hydrated and red-light therapy, while impulsive shopping, mindless phone scrolling and vaping are popular outs.

What will the style be in 2030? ›

Another 2030 trend that we can already see emerging is sustainable fashion. Sustainability and an aversion to so-called 'fast fashion' have become more prevalent among consumers. Customers expect companies to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and transparency around how goods are produced.

What did kids wear in the year 2000? ›

Oh, the early 2000s. A time when tiny dogs, Juicy Couture track suits, and flip phones were all the rage. Torsos were emphasized by low-rise jeans and UGG boots were fashionable all year long (don't act like you didn't pair them with jean shorts, too).

Were ripped jeans popular in the 2000s? ›

Ripped jeans were popular in the late 1980s during the hard rock/heavy metal era and in the 1990s and 2000s during the grunge era. The punk culture also has been known to be fans of fabrics with various blemishes.

What to wear to a 2000s party girl? ›

The 2000s had its own unique flair: glitzy tracksuits, Bayonetta glasses, low-rise denim, and chunky necklaces atop layers of fabric. It was all about “dressing up but in a fun, casual, careless way,” says designer and stylist Catherine Bibeau.

Why are the 2000s popular again? ›

For many people, the first months of lockdown were characterized by a yearning for earlier times when life felt simpler and safer. This often manifested in renewed interest in old hobbies such as baking, reading or crafting. Others sought out nostalgic shows or music from childhood.

Is 2000s fashion making a comeback? ›

Fashion trends inspired by the early Aughts have repeatedly returned in recent years, proving that the 2000s just can't be shaken.

How long did Y2K trend last? ›

Technically, Y2K spans the years 1997 to 2005. But today, young people using these sites to source their inspired 'fits blend styles from the earlier '90s, early aughts, and the early 2010s. At this point, it might not matter whether we agree on when Y2K fashion begins and ends.

When did the Y2K aesthetic start? ›

Y2K originally referred to an aesthetic prevalent in popular culture from roughly 1997 to 2004. However, the term has massively expanded since then due to misappropriation and semantic shift, and this specific aesthetic is now retroactively known as Cyber Y2K.

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