Gen Z wishes it were the year 2000—they're emulating the fashion, undoing millennial-era 'woke' rules and uncorking something dark in themselves

By mid-2025, walking down the streets of New York, London, or Seoul feels a lot like stepping onto the set of a late‑’90s music video. Baggy jeans , butterfly clips , cropped halter tops , and flip phones have made a full-fledged return. But the resurgence goes deeper than nostalgia—it reflects a generational pivot. Gen Z, weary of the hyper‑polished aesthetics and moral rigidity that defined the 2010s , is embracing the free‑spirited, slightly chaotic energy of the year 2000.

From runways to thrift shops, “Y2K 2.0” dominates . Brands once left behind— Juicy Couture , Baby Phat , Von Dutch —are making strategic comebacks. The look is unapologetically maximalist, featuring rhinestones, glossy lips, spiky hair, and metallic purses. According to a 2023 survey from GlobalWeb