'2000' Hits Hard in '2022'... 'Y2K Fashion' Makes a Hip Comeback [Song Seungyun's Pa.Al.Bot]

Popular from late 1990s to early 2000s
Cropped tops paired with low-rise pants
Recent rise in Y2K searches on e-commerce
Resonating mainly with Gen Z

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Oversized wide pants, cropped tops that fully expose the stomach, chunky platform shoes reminiscent of battleships...

These days, you can often see young people dressed like this on the streets. This style is known as the so-called ‘Y2K fashion,’ referring to the fashion trends from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Y2K combines ‘Y’ for ‘Year,’ the number ‘2,’ and ‘K’ for ‘Kilo’ (thousand), and is also the name of the computer bug incident that terrified the world in 1999.

Y2K fashion feels very familiar to those currently in their 30s and 40s. Some even recall the dark history of past fashion as if they have traveled back in time. However, this is closer to ‘newtro’ rather than retro. Those enthusiastic about Y2K fashion are also classified as Generation Z, the ‘kids these days.’ They reinterpret Y2K fashion from a new perspective rather than simply recalling past memories, finding it ‘hip.’

In fact, according to Kakao Style’s fashion commerce platform Zigzag, the transaction amount for Y2K fashion-related products surged more than 18 times compared to the same period last year as of January and February. Analysis of Zigzag customer search and purchase data also showed that Y2K-related searches increased more than 61 times (6043%) year-on-year.

The keyword that summarizes Y2K fashion is ‘flashiness.’ It is characterized by flashy styling and colors that can seem somewhat excessive, exaggerated fits, and bold exposure. When this turn-of-the-century sensibility is combined with unique cuts or futuristic items and other modern elements, a hip fashion style is completed.

The most popular combination in Y2K fashion is undoubtedly crop tops and low-rise pants. This style features a short top, once called a ‘baekkopti’ (belly button top), paired with bottoms worn low on the hips with a short rise. Until recently, high-waist pants worn above the waist were in vogue, but starting last year with luxury brands like Miu Miu, this style has made a comeback. It was a style popularized in the early 2000s by American pop stars such as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Jennifer Lopez. Nowadays, overseas celebrities like Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid, as well as domestic stars like BLACKPINK’s Jennie, IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, and Sunmi, frequently showcase this look, gaining significant attention mainly among Generation Z.

Velvet track setups, represented by Juicy Couture, are also an essential part of Y2K fashion. Wide pants continue to enjoy steady popularity among both men and women, and as summer approaches, platform shoes with thick soles are making a comeback. With Y2K fashion gaining global popularity, brands that once dominated the past are also being revived. Brands such as Marithe Francois Girbaud and Nautica, as well as denim brands like True Religion and STORM, which were popular in the early 2000s and about a decade ago, have been relaunched in Korea.