Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

8 Movies For Peak Y2K Style Inspiration

8 Movies For Peak Y2K Style Inspiration

We’ve got your next Sunday brunch ‘fit covered

Y2K fashion has been all the rage in recent months, and understandably soขafter all, given the year we’ve all endured, who wouldn’t want to regress to the simpler days when Juicy Couture velour tracksuits and feather extensions were the pinnacle of fashionable dress? For those who are unaware, Y2K is the shorthand term for “the year 2000,” and refers to a widespread panic that took place in 1999 when people worried that computers would no longer be able to operate at the turn of the millennium, given that up to that point, computers only allowed for two digits rather for the year rather than four (ex. 99 instead of 1999).

Long story short, the Y2K scare ended up having been slightly overstated, and with a few preventative measures, everything turned out largely to be fine. The culture-defining fashion trends that arose in the years that followed, such as colorful hair clips, hoop earrings, mini skirts, and crop tops, eventually became dubbed Y2K fashion and were heavily influenced by Black culture and hip hop, which continue to play a significant role in influencing what is considered fashionable dress.

Today, these trends have risen to prominence once again, and it’s safe to say that if a return to any of the early 2000s styles depicted in these movies is what post-pandemic fashion has in store for us, we are far from disappointed. Here, check out the eight best movies for Y2K fashion inspiration.

Legally Blonde (2001)




Remember when Reese Witherspoon invented feminism? Elle Woods’ journey from California socialite with a good wardrobe to California socialite with a good wardrobe and a Harvard Law degree was not only a serve to her shallow ex-boyfriend, Warner, but a lesson in female empowerment. And also, good taste (in both men and clothes).

Coyote Ugly (2000)




Coyote Ugly tells the story of a cowboy-themed dive bar in Manhattan’s East Village that employs the business tactic of hiring beautiful employees (played by actresses by the likes of Tyra Banks and Piper Perabo) to maximize profits. From low-rise jeans and belly-button piercings to fringed halter-neck tops and middle parts, the looks served in Coyote Ugly were everything Y2K realness. Last year, Banks announced that a Coyote Ugly revival is in the works, so it's possible that the best is yet to come.

Bring it On (2000)




This cult classic stars Gabrielle Union-Wade and Kirsten Dunst as rival high school cheerleading team captains battling it out to become national champions. As competition between the two teams heats up, top-notch outfits that perfectly meld femininity and athleticism ensue, featuring baggy camo pants, sexy, half-buttoned cardigans, cropped hoodies, and more.

Jawbreaker (1999)




In a way, it can be said that Jawbreaker walked so Pretty Little Liars could run. The dark cult comedy follows a group of popular, exceptionally-dressed teenage socialites who scramble to cover up their accidental murdering of one of their best friends. They deal with their dilemma the way all problems were solved in '90s teenager movies—by plucking up a female dork with deeply-buried prom queen potential to make over in a process that involves a plethora of tube tops, color blocking, and kitten heels.

John Tucker Must Die (2006)




This zany rom-com featuring Ashanti, Penn Badgley, Brittany Snow, and others, depicts four scorned high school girls who come together to seek revenge against the guy who broke their hearts (you guessed it, John Tucker). Although the majority of their antics end up going awry, their outfits never miss, as they don belly-baring shirts, jean miniskirts, and studded belts (think Claire's circa 2008) in peak 2000s style.

13 Going on 30 (2004)




When 13-year-old Jenna Rink (Christa B. Allen) finds herself bogged down by the awkwardness and discomfort of teenagerdom, she makes a wish that she could be 30ขand gets her wish granted. As a 30-year-old (played by Jennifer Garner), she learns to appreciate the process of growing into herself, however tedious it may be at times. Luckily for viewers, both the 13-year-old and the 30-year-old Jenna have impeccable Y2K style, sporting outfits and accessories ranging from pink slip dresses with floral embroidering to chandelier earrings and chunky, open-toed heels.

The Hot Chick (2002)




Before her iconic portrayal of Regina George, Queen of the Plastics, Rachel McAdams played yet another beautiful-but-evil high school girl: Jessica Spencer. Rather than being forced to appreciate the importance of treating others with kindness by inadvertently consuming a bunch of Kälteen bars, gaining a ton of weight, and then getting hit by a bus, Spencer comes to realize the importance of being a good person when she swaps bodies with an older man named Clive and sees the world through his eyes. A hilarious movie chock-full of Y2K pieces like denim vests, boot-cut jeans, silver chain belts, and candy-striped crop tops, The Hot Chick should be in the rotation of any early 2000s movie-lover.

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)




Early aughts It girl Lindsay Lohan portrays Lola, an aspiring Broadway actress whose high career hopes are dashed when her family makes the abrupt decision to move from the Big Apple to the suburbs of New Jersey. There, she meets Carla Santini (Megan Fox), a popular girl at Lola's new school with whom serious cattiness erupts—but not without some early 2000s chicness in the form of metallic berrets, layered henleys, and fishnets.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×