The Ultimate Guide to Y2K

PDF download Download Article
The origins of Y2K & how it relates to pop culture
PDF download Download Article

Y2K stands for “The year 2000.” When you see this slang term online, it might refer to the Y2K bug at the end of 1999, the fashion trends of the late 90s and early 2000s, or the popular Y2K aesthetic on TikTok. Just keep reading to learn all about the cultural significance of Y2K!

Things You Should Know

  • Y2K means the year 2000. It also refers to the Y2K Bug, or the fear that computers wouldn’t correctly change the date to 2000 and cause global malfunctions.
  • Y2K also refers to fashion trends of the late 90s and early 2000s, like low-rise jeans, graphic tees, trucker hats, and bold, colorful prints.
  • Gen Z is currently revitalizing and modernizing Y2K aesthetics, popularizing the fashion online on TikTok and Roblox.
Section 1 of 5:

What is Y2K?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Additionally, Y2K commonly refers to The Y2K Bug (or, the Millennium Bug), which involved uncertainty about computers making the date change from 1999 to 2000. Y2k also refers to fashion trends during the late 90s and early 2000s, like low-rise jeans, graphic tees, and velour tracksuits.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

The Y2K Bug

PDF download Download Article
  1. Most computers in the 1900s formatted the year as 2 digits, like 1999 coded as 99. Computer programmers and world leaders were worried that on January 1, 2000, computers wouldn’t read 00 as 2000 and instead shift back to 1900, 0000, or 1000. [1]
    • This was speculated to cause computer malfunctions and lead to global damage related to banking, transportation, and power plant operations.
    • Ultimately, there were no major problems on January 1, 2000. Most companies around the world successfully fixed the date coding bug. [2]
    • Many people feared that Y2K would be the end of the world, so towards the end of 1999 they stockpiled water and withdrew their money from banks.
Section 3 of 5:

Y2K Styles and Trends

PDF download Download Article
    • Bottoms: low-rise jeans, denim midi skirts, ultra mini skirts . Casual and relaxed was all the rage during the late 90s and early 2000s, with people rocking super low-waisted pants with a flared or baggy cut. [3]

    • Tops: graphic tees, layered shirts, mesh tops . Graphic t-shirts featuring bold designs and iconic logos, like Ed Hardy, define Y2K style. It was super common to layer your graphic tees over short and long shirts for a laid-back look. [4]

    • Prints: bold and colorful . Fun and playful was the dress code for Y2K. Bold and bright pinks, greens, purples, and blues mirrored the explosion of candy-colored technology at the time. [5]

    • Fabrics: denim, velour, metallics . Everything was denim in the late 90s and early 2000s. You also couldn’t escape Juicy Couture velour tracksuits or shiny, holographic fabrics.

    • Accessories: trucker hats, colored sunglasses, platform shoes . Von Dutch trucker hats and bucket hats ruled Y2K styles. To finish off a look, you donned some rosy-hued shades. [6]

    • Brands: Diesel, Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy, Von Dutch . These brands decked you out in denim, velour, and graphic tees. Baby Phat, True Religion, and Kangol were also popular. [7]

    • Fashion icons: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Destiny’s Child . Christina Aguilera, Jay Z, NSYNC, Avril Lavigne, P Diddy, and Blink 182 were also super stylish.

    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

Y2K Fashion on TikTok

PDF download Download Article
  1. Y2K fashion has made a comeback on TikTok thanks to Gen Z. The Y2K aesthetic modernizes some of the classic styles of 20 years ago while getting rid of more outdated accessories. [8]
    • TikTok influencers and celebs like Addison Rae, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber are rocking baggy, low-rise jeans, Ed Hardy tees, and trucker hats.
    • Fashion trends typically cycle every 20 years, with fashion brands like Blumarine, I.AM.GIA, and Supriya releasing Y2K collections.
    • If you’re building a Y2K outfit, look out for Y2K brands like Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy when you go thrifting or shop on apps like Depop.
Section 5 of 5:

Y2K on Roblox

PDF download Download Article
  1. While you’re looking for new outfits for your Roblox avatar, you might see outfits tagged as Y2K. This just means the outfits are based on the styles of the late 90s and early 2000s.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      An In Depth Guide on the Hello Kitty Girl: Meaning, Traits & Origin
      How to
      Be Cool
      How to
      Be Chill
      How to
      Get Emo Hair
      What is the Fairycore Aesthetic? A Guide to Outfits, Beauty & More
      26 Highly Overrated Things
      What Is Dark Cottagecore? Fashion, Home Decor & More
      How to
      Know the Difference Between Emo and Scene
      How to
      Achieve the Soft Boy Aesthetic: Outfits, Hairstyles, & More
      How to
      Be a Preppy Girl
      How to
      Be a Punk
      13 Tips For Appearing Smarter
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://time.com/5752129/y2k-bug-history/
      2. ↑ https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/y2k
      3. ↑ https://revivalist.com/what-is-y2k-fashion/
      4. ↑ https://www.thefashionisto.com/y2k-fashion-men/
      5. ↑ https://www.whowhatwear.com/y2k-fashion
      6. ↑ ​​ https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/article/like-it-or-not-gaudy-y2k-style-is-roaring-back
      7. ↑ https://thevou.com/fashion/y2k-clothing-brands/
      8. ↑ https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/article/like-it-or-not-gaudy-y2k-style-is-roaring-back

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,745 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement