5 Y2K trends to try for back to school outfits

During the pandemic, Gen Z began to look back to the past, to a more carefree time in which kids were not forced to binge watch Netflix, pant waists were super low, butterflies did not fly on flowers but on super cute tops, and pop stars sported gems on their faces and hair. Thus, the early 2000s and everything we wore in that decade have returned like fashion ghosts to haunt new designer collections and our closets. Abandoning all qualms and style diktats our outfits have been filled with exposed thongs, popcorn textures and colorful rings. Just take a trip to Instagram and TikTok to see yet another core or Y2K trend popping up. After almost two seasons, there is still plenty of material to rediscover.

G-club has chosen 5 micro trends from the early 2000s to try in the coming months. Ready to go shopping? 

Platfom boots

Platform boots are a rock star must-have. Over the decades they have all worn them, declining according to the fashions of the moment: from the sky-high ones by Kiss to David Bowie's glam rock model in the seventies to the red ones by Buffalo London that Geri Halliwell sported along with the iconic Union Jack dress in the 1990s. The latest catwalks, however, are inspired not by music icons but by Bratz. The most rebellious dolls ever are thus confirmed as the style icons of Gen Z, imitated even when it comes to shoes by Charli D'Amelio, Olivia Rodrigo and Kourtney Kardashian. The perfect pairing is with a minidress or skirt, like Chiara Ferragni and Hailey Bieber. The former chose black boots by Saint Laurent, enlivened by a pair of cherry red tights; while Hailey opted for a hot pink outfit by Versace and optical white platform boots by Naked Wolfe.

Mesh top

Tattoo prints, graphic patterns, animalier and holy image reproductions are the detail that makes mesh tops special. Sure, the fabric is not the most comfortable or breathable, but when you wear it you feel ready for a rave or a vaguely boho mood party. Maybe that's why 20 years ago they were so popular, and those who couldn't afford Gaultier or Dolce & Gabbana's iconic pieces could fall back on Miss Sixty. Today one can look in one of the many vintage stores or go for Ottolinger's creations as Belgian singer Angèle did. Dua Lipa, on the other hand, chose Jean Paul Gaultier Cartouche Crop Top, while Kylie Jenner prefers to sport vintage garments by the French designer, better from the 1990s or early 2000s collections.

Pleated skirt

It may be the effect of Miu Miu's very popular set, but the pleated skirt is destined to be the star of the coming seasons. It may have a more sexy and girly mood as Blumarine suggests or more preppy as at Dior, but its secret remains its extreme versatility. You can wear it from morning to night, to school, to the office or to dinner with friends, pair it with a vest like Bella Hadid does; like Emma Chamberlain with loafers and white socks; with a simple white shirt like Dua Lipa or follow Zoë Kravitz and wear it with a T-shirt. References to draw inspiration from are school girls from the Y2K series like Serena van der Woodsen and Rory Gilmore. Not sure which pleated mini to buy? Try the mix'n match offerings from Chopova Lowena, a London-based brand beloved by celebrities.

Baby Tee

Do you remember Britney Spears with her "Dump Him" T-shirt, Paris Hilton with her Ed Hardy ones paired with Von Dutch caps or Regina George from Mean Girls and her short, tight T-shirt with the phrase "A Little Bit Dramatic"? Well, abetted by Gen Z's passion for the early 2000s, baby tees are back. All the it-girls are wearing them: from Lily Rose Depp to Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber to JLo, Kim Kardashian to Chloe Cherry. Easily paired with cargo pants, jeans, or miniskirts, they can pop up (perhaps with a poster sign) under maxi cardigans or give a fun twist to power suits. The brands to look out for? Heaven by Marc Jacobs, Ashley Williams, Martine Rose e Mowalola.

Crimped hair

The first to sport the crimped hair, invented by hairstlist Gari Cusenza, was Barbra Streisand on the cover of her Butterfly album. The year was 1974. Since then that zig-zag effect has never left our beauty choices, becoming a real obsession in the 1980s. The last star to repurpose it and bring it back into trend was Christina Aguilera in the Lady Marmelade video. For a time in the early 2000s, fans of the singer spent long hours in the bathroom, armed with a wavy straightener in an attempt to look as cool as pop stars. The results were not always good, but the wild look continued to fascinate many of us, so much so that it may be popular again. In recent months fluffy crimped hair has been shown by Kim Kardashian, the Hadid sisters and Donatella Versace in the Medusa brand's SS22 campaign, Madonna, and even Kate Hudson.