With fashion trends going viral left, right and centre, Y2K style has officially been named as the most prominent fashion trend of the year so far.
Nick Drewe, Trend Expert at Wethrift weighs in on the popularity of the viral fashion trend that has made the biggest comeback.
“As part of the Micro-Trends Culture: Mapped report, the trends team at Wethrift have crunched the numbers across Google Trends, monthly search data, TikTok and Instagram hashtags, and Pinterest data to determine the most popular fashion trends of 2023.
“Coming out on top with a total score of 34.6 out of a possible 40, was the iconic retro stylings of the Y2K fashion trend.
“For those that don’t know, ‘Y2K’ refers to fashion from the early 2000s, with these retro looks making a huge comeback over the last year, and gaining plenty of popularity across online platforms.
“Back in the mid-90s and early 2000s, the look was styled to be a little bit more experimental than the put-together and Instagram-ready photos we are all used to seeing today. Celebs like Hailey Bieber and Kendal Jenner are often sporting the bold and daring looks, while pairing them with thin, arching eyebrows and lip gloss. In 2023, some key styles that Gen-Z are welcoming back include double denim and velour tracksuits.
“One of the main reasons the fashion statement has seen such a resurgence over the past year, is the popular video streaming platform TikTok. The hashtag #Y2Kfashion has a staggering 2 billion views on the app, and has seen many users sporting everything from pleated skirts, to butterfly hair clips and tie-up tops.
“At the time of the study, year on year Google searches for Y2K fashion had increased 56.76%, according to Google trends, reflecting how much the trend grew in popularity during 2023.
“The rising popularity of Y2K fashion is also reflected across the photo sharing platform, Pinterest. Searches for ‘Y2K outfits’ have increased by 106% over the last 12 months, according to Pinterest Trends data.
