Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Paris Hilton are some of the Y2K celebrity icons who made fashion history. They were famous for their miniskirts, snakeskin boots, butterfly crop-tops, and superstar golden hair tied in scrunchies. They made bold and spicy fashion statements fusing streetwear and glamour. They took the ‘90s and early 2000s by storm with their Bratz-like ensembles and diva-like looks.
Now Gen Z is rediscovering their nostalgia for this fashion across Instagram and Tik-Tok and is mimicking the styles of the noughties with vintage items bought from Depop and Asos Marketplace.
But the trendy generations aren’t the only ones who are having a Y2K do-over in 2022. Today’s celebrities are also embracing the Spice Girls fashion style and are gaining more coverage than ever before. But who did it best?
Dua Lipa: the butterfly effect
English singer and songwriter Dua Lipa is a Y2K fairy who emanates both innocence and sex appeal, delicacy and boldness, and elegance and easygoingness, all through her awe-inspiring nostalgic outfits.
If you scroll through her Instagram feed, you will see a fiesta of state-of-the-art ‘90s and noughties garments. Her look is a tasteful tribute to the fashion of that time mixed with a modern touch. On 6 March, the star posted a photo in which she’s wearing a crafty denim crop top, featuring four butterflies matched with Matrix-esque yellow shades, gold jewellery, and a colourful bead bracelet.
The butterfly is a Y2K fashion emblem and a staple of Dua Lipa’s wardrobe. From denim-on-denim butterfly-shaped crop top and butterfly-embodied jeans matched with a butterfly belt to a bubble-gum pink butterfly sheer ensemble and a pink micro bag and women’s sandals.
Other iconic outfits from her vintage attire include a mini dress in a blue-purple pattern, a black flared jumpsuit matched with a blue shoulder bag and a furry leopard hat, and a sheer metallic dress with a plunging halter neck.
Hailey Bieber: pretty in pink
Hailey Bieber, an American model and wife of Justin Bieber, is rocking the Y2K trend, and her Tik-Tok video from 2 March is a testament to that. The beauty icon, who usually shares her moisturising routine with her followers, awed her fans with an elevated noughties look.
Her all-pink outfit featured a pink velvet swimsuit and low-rise bottoms, matched with frosty pink eye make-up and butterfly hair clips – in pink, of course. Jewellery-wise, Hailey Bieber wore layered necklaces, including pearl and personalised beaded ones, as well as gold hoop earrings and two belly chains.
Hailey Bieber’s Y2K looks are very versatile, as she likes to play around with styling. From full-blown Bratz Doll in a satin pink dress and chunky boots to baggy low-rise jeans and a butterfly top, her style is impeccably nostalgic.
Bella Hadid: tracksuit lover during the day, glam queen at night
The “Gen-Z queen of Y2K”, as Vogue magazine has named the 25-year-old supermodel Bella Hadid, is the emblem of sportswear Y2K fashion. On her recent work trip to London, she wore a noughties tracksuit top with “London” imprinted across the chest and a matching navy tracksuit bottom. To complete her nostalgic look, Bella Hadid wore retro black sunglasses, black leather gloves, and lug-sole boots. Nevertheless, her Burberry Lola bag was a fashionable echo from the present.
Another Y2K sentiment that Bella Hadid endorsed through her sportswear fashion is the white scrunchie that complemented her black-and-white tracksuit, featuring a Nike sports bra.
Low-rise sporty tracksuit pants are another favourite of the supermodel, and she likes to match them with a graphic tank top. When she’s in the spotlight, Bella Hadid radiates elegance. Her sparkling silver dress with a plunging halter neck and a matching micro bag, for example, is a true homage to Paris Hilton’s 2000s red carpet look. Denim on denim, pleated skirts, hair clips, and a pink velour tracksuit also make up Hadid’s Y2K-inspired wardrobe.
The Y2K fashion comeback is being welcomed by both social-media fans and celebrities. We see many high-street and designer retailers launching Y2K-inspired collections. This is perhaps one of the most eclectic fashion trends that perfectly matches the vibe of the times we live in.
