Decoding Y2K Fashion Trends: Here's What Actually Looks Good 20 Years Later

I’m old enough to remember Y2K fashion the first time around. I can still vividly recall the cowl-neck black top I wore with my knee-length stonewash denim skirt and a choker for New Year’s Eve 1999. I loved that outfit at the time, and 14-year-old me was very happy about it, but I know there isn’t much from it I’d wear today. However, thanks to Tik Tok and the fact that the 2000s were 20 years ago, there is a current revival going on of everything related to Y2K fashion. While I’m not keen to re-create much from my wardrobe from that era, there are plenty of other trends that still look good today.

I delved into the archives to dig up some of the best celeb outfits from that time to showcase just what I mean. While it might seem very particular, I’m looking at outfits from around the 1999/2000 mark, as this is the best way to find the most Y2K looks. What I discovered wasn’t that there aren’t any trends to wear today. In fact, it was the opposite. I also found it interesting that fashion around the turn of the millennium wasn’t very extravagant. Pre-Lady Gaga (she released her first single in 2008), everything seems pretty low key in regard to red carpet looks. This was also the time when Dawson’s Creek was big and when The O.C. was far from hitting our screens. Late-’90s fashion still had its influence, but there was a newer, more polished look coming in, too. Keep scrolling to see the Y2K trends that still look good today.