London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 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

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×