I’m constantly amazed by the absolute chokehold that Y2K fashion has on today’s styles. It’s not that I don’t think it’s cute, I do! It’s just that, I lived it. And I lived it recently, so it’s strange to see some of the clothes I wore in middle school come back into the zeitgeist so quickly. But, I must admit, we did bold, bright, gaudy fashion well. And I think the current trends are doing them even better. Euphoria, anyone?
If Y2K fashion is your thing, or even if it’s not, this list is for you! You’ll find some pretty great accessories that range from absolutely punk, like this rocker necklace, to daintily understated, like this stacked necklace situation. If you’re into the gaudier aspects of Y2K fashion, take a look at this super gorgeous butterfly choker, or maybe these absolutely wild rings. I’ve got my eye on several of these items, mostly because I tossed the ones I owned years ago. I never thought they would make a comeback! Don’t judge me!
Make a Statement
Listen, there’s nothing quiet about Y2K fashion. It’s bold, it’s chunky, it’s in-your-face, and I absolutely love it for those reasons. This stacking bracelet gives you all the best of Y2K fashion without being ~too much~. Rock it with your favorite denim ’fit or your cute new bucket hat.
Didn’t We All Want One of These?
I demanded a fuzzy purse when I was younger. Alas, my mother believed I would get it gummy and dirty and matted very quickly. She was probably right. These are not for middle schoolers who like to run in mud. But for a fashion-forward adult? It’s just what you’re looking for!
Relive Your Emo Phase
All right, I know the phrase now is e-boy or whatever, but we did it first and we did it better back in the early aughts! This chain necklace is proof of that; I mean a heart held by skulls?! You just can’t reach a higher peak of angst. Pair this with your favorite holey jeans and fingerless gloves.
Spotted: S & B Wearing This Headband on the Steps of the Met
Okay, maybe not this headband, but Serena and Blair absolutely wore headbands just like these. In fact, Blair was kind of famous for her inability to rock a hairstyle without a headband. Fortunately, these are super cute and easy to wear so you can make your Y2K statement subtly.
You Can Never Have Enough Earrings
Technically, Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn’t early aughts until later years, but I credit Sarah Michelle Gellar with the lust we all have for too-many ear piercings. Pretty sure she had eight in one ear. But I loved it! This cute assortment is just what you need to over-adorn your ear in perfect Y2K style.
Dungeons and Dragons Makes a Comeback
The early aughts really helped to nurture this new resurgence of D&D that we saw, pre-Stranger Things, and quite a few of us really liked to live in that fantasy. World of Warcraft was a lifestyle, mom! This dragon/heart chain is everything and is a must-wear for your next campaign.
Y2K Gals Loved Impractical Bags
Fortunately, this bag isn’t impractical like its predecessors were. We used to buy bags that someone knit together themselves at a flea market or from our friends at school. This gorgeous girl has a liner and durable straps so you can rock the style, bordering on cottagecore, without worrying about losing all your tiny things through the tiny holes.
Is It Y2K If the 60s Did It First?
This picture is giving me Twiggy vibes! And for a good reason; the 60s and 70s are where the fuzzy-bucket-hat-trend began, but it saw its resurgence in the early aughts and sees another resurgence today. We love a bucket hat, and this fuzzy bucket hat just adds that little extra something to tip the outfit from drab to fab.
Cat Eye Fashion Is Back, Baby!
Cat eye sunglasses are, in my opinion, incredibly flattering. And when you pair cat eyes with the Y2K tiny glasses moment, you get these lovely ladies. These sunglasses will give you an elevated Neo (the Matrix. Nemo is the fish.) look that will look great with your favorite leather duster.
Bring Back Fishnets!
Ah, fishnets. They did so much for me in high school. I wore them with just about everything. Including jean shorts, and I’ve made sure those pictures will never see the light of day again, thank you! These tights are the perfect blend of fishnet and fashion so you can rock your Y2K look but still stay in style.
It’s Not a Phase, Mom!
The famous words so many of us uttered. I can tell you from the other side of it; it’s absolutely not a phase. I can still sing every line to “Check Yes, Juliet” like it was yesterday. And I would still rock this sick barbed wire choker. Pair it with the awesome tights I listed and you’ve got emo-chic.
Sunglasses for the Upper East Side Vibes
Rimless sunglasses were very later seasons of Sex in the City. Solidly Y2K, but also a more elevated look. These rimless sunglasses are squared off for a true baddie look that will have you wanting to tell everyone about your multiple divorces, your penthouse in the city, and your latest diamond earrings.
You Can Never Have Too Many Rings
I should know, I wore every ring I could get my hands on. I had fingers like Henry VIII on one of his, many, wedding days. These chunky babies would have had me sweating, and they may or may not be in my cart right now. You’ll love rocking these with some butterfly clips and mom jeans.
Every Day Sunnies
These sunnies are a little more approachable. They say “I’m high fashion, but I’m down to clown.” They say “I just got off a plane from Milan, but Miller High Life is my go-to beer.” They give effortless Y2K vibes that can pair with just about anything you already have in your closet.
These Clips Will Give You Butterflies
Wanna know a secret? I never stopped wearing butterfly clips. Seriously! I just got black or brown ones so they weren’t so obvious, but I absolutely loved them and still do. These are some of my favorite butterfly clips out there and the color combos are bountiful to appeal to all styles.
The Pattern We Were All Wearing
Black and white checkers was the pattern of the early aughts. It was like velour tracksuits or Juicy Couture. It was everywhere! I wish I had this bucket hat when I was younger, I would have looked so much cooler and I could have covered up some of the awful dye jobs I had to live with. Hindsight, you know.
Gator Skin Purse That’s Gator-Free
No gators were harmed in the making of this purse, but your brain might have been hurt in the making of this joke. Apologies. I couldn’t pass it up. I definitely had three of these purses in high school and I loved every one of them. It’s just the right size of way-too-small to hit the Y2K-fashion nail on the head.
You Can’t Rock Out with Your Hair in Your Face
I can’t tell you the number of times I whipped out one of these bad boys at a concert to get my sweaty hair out of my face. The checkered pattern is always a good Y2K look, and this claw clip is the elevated version of the 10 billion I once had littering my bathroom counter. It’ll serve you well.
Show a Softer Side
It wasn’t all punks and skater bois, ya know. We had a softer side, too. These bandana headbands are a great way to add some countryside softness to your look. It’s very Urban Outfitters, which we were all obsessed with. I’m still obsessed with it, frankly.
The Necklace Everyone’s Talking About
We can thank Kim K for this one. Black culture made it a style, and then Kim K snatched it made it famous. Stacked gold chains were very much a part of rap culture in the early aughts, and our fashion today has turned it into a cute accessory for anyone to rock.
Butterflies. Butterflies Everywhere.
You couldn’t spit without hitting a butterfly pattern or motif. They were everywhere. And, fortunately, they’ve stayed in the Y2K where they belong and only a few, very tasteful renditions, like this gorgeous choker, have made their way out. This is the ultimate party necklace with plenty of shine and fashion vibes.
1001 Ways to Wear a Clothespin
We really thought we were doing something, putting clothespins in our ears. Fortunately, the style has come back in a more sensible way with clips like these. These give you that edgy look without the painful look of hooping real clothespins through your poor ears. You’re sure to impress when you don these bad boys.
You Can’t Escape the Smiley Face
Truly, the smiley face was everywhere. I think it’s safe to say that we were inspired by the 70s during Y2K, and the smiley was no exception. Coupled with our second favorite thing, beanies, this is an absolute necessity if you’re trying to nail the look.
Silver Stacks, If Gold’s Not Your Thing
I’ll be honest, silver was much more of a thing than gold, not sure why, but it was the theme for most accessories. If you’re still pretty attached to that silver theme, you’ll love these chains. You get the style without compromising on the color of your metals.
Lean into the Layers
Layers on layers on layers. If you weren’t layering, you weren’t cool. We layered short sleeve tees over long sleeves, we layered skirts over shorts, and we layered necklaces that didn’t quite go together over one another. This set really captures that layered look without going over-the-top so you can rock this whenever, wherever.
The Ultimate Watch
If you didn’t have a calculator watch, you wanted a calculator watch. They were very much the “thing” and everyone wanted one. Nay — needed one. I was fortunate enough to win one in a claw game, but you don’t have to do all that work, just grab one here and make all your friends jealous.
Necklaces That Are Totes for BFFs
There were some folks out there that were too cool for the standard BFF necklaces, y’all were missing out. They preferred these cute initial necklaces instead. Honestly, I prefer these cute initial necklaces now and have two — one with each of my younger siblings initials. They stack. They give high fashion. You’ll love them!
Be a Pooka Shell Person without the Pooka Shells
Pooka shells were oft worn, but should never be repeated. They just weren’t the look, but they were inescapable in the early aughts. These cute chokers give the devil-may-care beach vibes that Heath Ledger and his ilk made famous without resorting to cheesy shell usage.
These Gloves Are Cool Again — Thanks Billie Eilish
Gloves like these were my go-to for cold nights when I still wanted to walk around as scantily clad as possible. I wore them at parties. I wore them to school. I loved them. Now, thanks to Billie Eilish, they’re cool again. Style them with an oversized tee and some baggy jeans or with a cute little black dress.
Crocs Never Left
We just forgot them. Ridiculed them, really. But they didn’t deserve it! I loved my bright yellow pair of Crocs until mean kids made fun of me. Now they’re back and I have the last laugh in my uber-comfy bright lavender pair because I’m the one walking on a cloud now and you can too, in just about any color.
The Trend Britney Spears Made Famous
I’m pretty sure it was Britney. But maybe Christina did it first. Or, perhaps it was Pink. Whoever it was, belly chains had their brief, moment in the sun. But when we realized it interrupted our tan lines, we tossed them out! Now they’re back and badder than ever. Bring your Euphoria dreams to life with this cutie.
You’re Lying If You Say You Didn’t Love These
We all loved these! They were ugly, but they were so cute at the same time. That sort of encompasses Y2K fashion if we’re being honest. These jelly studs were just funky and fun enough that emo and preppy kids alike could rock them without fear of ridicule.
Embrace the Mean Girls Vibes
If you’ve seen Mean Girls you know that pink velour tracksuits were a thing during the early aughts. They were easy to wear, they didn’t wrinkle, and we thought they were hot. Let’s bring them back. This pink baddie is an excellent way to embrace the softer side of your inner Regina George.
You’ve Got to Keep It Funky Fresh
Okay, so “funky fresh” is from the 80s. Who cares?! It’s still true. We loved wearing some funky, exciting earrings like you’ll find in this awesome set of wild ear adornments. It kept things interesting and, dare I say, fresh. Try these on and keep yourself looking fashion forward.
Wrap-Around Comes Back Around
Wrap-around sunglasses are, in my opinion, hideous, but I’m outnumbered here and people love them. It definitely gives a fun, futuristic vibe that I can get behind, I’ll give them that. If you’re into the fun, futuristic, Mr. Roboto look, try these out with a cute, stackable necklace.
Faux Fur 4Ever
The early aughts saw a huge surge of PETA movements and some pretty big anti-fur movements. But we still loved the look. Fortunately, faux fur exists and we all grabbed onto that. This faux fur purse is a cute, too-tiny bag that will fit right in with your Y2K vibes.
I Think I Hear “Hey There, Delilah” Playing
Oh, the thin tie. It was worn by all the boy bands at one point or another, if only on their heads. These ties are a quintessential Y2K accessory for the masc folks out there. Don this and instantly feel the need to break into the first few cords of “Almost” or “Miss Murder”.