Blast to the Past: The Return of 2000s Fashion

Picture this: the year is 2002. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s spicy romance is splashed all over the headlines. You flip on the TV and decide to watch an episode of Sex and the City...or perhaps Friends. The stylish girls sport low rise jeans, claw clips, streaky highlights, and baby tees. 

Recently, the 2000s aesthetic has been making a comeback. Social media is filled with photos of modern women posing in funky short skirts, cropped cardigans, trucker hats, and, you guessed it, low-rise jeans. After these trends were deemed tacky for a number of years, we are met with their imminent revival. 

In the world of fast fashion, trends are ever-evolving. Fads fall out of style faster than they were popularized. It can be an incredibly expensive feat to attempt to keep up with the waves of the moment. This concept is rather frustrating, as I wonder what the point of purchasing expensive clothing is if they’ll be old news by next friday. This accelerated evolution is what I believe to be one of the most important factors contributing to the return of 2000s fashion. 

With second hand websites like Depop and Poshmark, affordable vintage clothes are just a tap away. Sellers are trustworthy and reviewed, and shipping is fast. These websites are easily navigated, and allow us all to keep up with current fashion trends without breaking the bank. Thus, 2000s originals are flooding the market.

Not only is 2000s fashion more affordable, but it also celebrates a sense of nostalgia. The world was a whole lot simpler 20 years ago. There was no Covid-19, the iphone was still an abstract concept, and Paris Hilton was the queen of fashion. We all would love to return to this era of life, and wearing 2000s clothes provides us with a vessel with which we can do so. Obviously we cannot transport to the past, but we sure can celebrate it. Baby tees, low-rise jeans, and fur-trimmed bags remind us of what once was. 

While I can’t necessarily say that I’ve hopped on board with re-popularizing these styles, I can understand why society has decided to. It reminds us of a romanticized world we would love to return to. So, grab your scrunchies and dig for those low-rise jeans. The 2000s are back in a big way, and I don’t think these styles plan on disappearing anytime soon. Depop and Poshmark aren’t the only ones promoting these trends - take a look at some of your favorite websites. Princess Polly, Shein, and Edikted are a few of the many trendy websites supporting the return of this aesthetic. But, in my opinion, if you’re going to do the 2000s, do it right. Shop for second-hand, authentic apparel that will truly transport you back to this era. And if these trends aren’t fit for your body or your style, no pressure. I won’t be sporting low-rise jeans, and you don’t have to either! 

Written by: Alexandra Cooperman