The Y2K aesthetic is back, both in fashion and in design. Here are some example outfits and clothing pieces for inspiration.
Recommended also: Women’s Techwear Clothing – Inspiration & Clothing
What is Y2K Aesthetic?
Y2K stands for “the year 2000” and is an aesthetic that was popular around the late ’90s and early 2000s. It is recognizable by its futuristic and retro edgy style and is considered techno–utopian (positive view of technology-advancements). The color palette consists of blue, pink, purple, yellow, and black.
To give you an idea the aesthetics can be recognised by:
- shiny leather coats
- chunky sneakers
- wide-leg jeans
- colourful palettes
- translucent materials
- baby tees
- small baguette handbags
- mesh tops
- thin sunglasses
In my observation, the style can take two different directions. One is the darker style of The Matrix with leather jackets, mesh shirts, thin sunglasses and new tech gadgets. The other style is that one of the Mean Girls with colourful plaided mini-skirts, cute baguette bags, and bandanas. Anyway, down below are some visual examples!
Aesthetic Outfits
Here are some of the common pieced of Y2K aesthetic fashion outfits:
Glossy leather
Coasts, pants, skirts, and handbags made of glossy leather.

Plaided mini-skirts
Plaided mini-skirts in different colors.

Shiny & translucent material
Translucent raincoats, bags, and even shoes.

Mesh fabric – A classic retro edgy style

Tiny and colourful sunglasses
In every retro futuristic movie there’s always someone wearing thin sunglasses that make them look fast. Why do they need to look fast though?

Baby tees – Often with prints on
Baby tees are short t-shirts, most commonly ending above the belly button and worn with wide-legged jeans and skirts.

What do you think of this style? Is it something you would wear?