There’s nothing profound about asserting the cyclical nature of fashion trends. What is new will soon be old and what is old will soon be new again: the industry has worked in this infinite, reliable flow for the better part of a century.
With that being said, in the mid-2020s, the pull of nostalgia appears stronger than ever. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and X-Tina are omnipresent in the news cycle again (the latter *just* performed on stage with one of Gen Z’s reigning pop princesses, Sabrina Carpenter); seemingly every. single. new. film. is a reboot or a sequel from around the turn of the century (just look here, here, here and here); flip phones are undeniably ‘it’; and teens on TikTok lament they weren’t around to experience the reign of Indie Sleaze IRL.
Whether you’re a Gen Z keen to get in on the fads or a Millennial wondering what you should bring out from the back of your closet, scroll on for the Y2K trends that are back—and, we’d argue, better than ever.
Y2k trends to know...

01
Micro-Minis
Paris Hilton famously said a skirt should be the size of a belt. Gen Z heard this and RAN with it.
After the famous micro-mini revolution following Miu Miu’s spring 2022 show—which saw hemlines hiked up and skirts hacked to eye-popping lengths—Charli XCX swooped in and made clear the rule should apply to shorts, too.
From festivals to red carpets, micro-mini shorts—a pillar of brat style—are perhaps the final boss of the Y2K micro-mini comeback… and we’re here for it!

02
Flip Phones
Not only were flip phones a necessity in the 2000s, they were a fashion item. Whether yours was colourful, branded or decorated with gems and stickers—your phone said a lot about you. Not to mention there is nothing *quite* like shutting a flip phone after a particularly eye-roll-inducing phone call.
However, you *do* still need all the bells and whistles of a smart phone (duh). Luckily, Motorola has got you covered with the motorola razr 50 ultra. In addition to featuring that ultra-satisfying snap, the iconic flip phone boasts the industry’s largest external display at 4.0″, that’s not only large and useful (you can do more, from music to selfies without having to flip the phone open) but also fast, smooth, and aesthetically stunning. When you do want to use the larger 6.9” internal display, you can do this with confidence knowing its hinge design is built to last, fold over fold.
The phone comes complete with an enviable camera system powered by moto ai, which means it is easy to get great results. Plus, the phone is flexible so you can interact, capture, and create in new ways and at multiple angles. Hold it naturally like a camcorder (sooo 2000s) and record super-smooth videos on the go using the 50MP camera system with moto ai powered stabilisation. Oh, *and* it’s now available it hot pink.
You know you can trust the brand, too. Paris (who, in case you haven’t gleaned from her several mentions thus far, was the measuring stick of cool in the era) repped the Motorola RAZR V3 flip phone as her go-to, when it first launched 20 years ago—and attended the recent launch of the razr 50 ultra. Talk about full circle…


03
Low-Rise Anything
Once the poster child of early 2000s fashion, low-rise jeans have—like it or not—made a major comeback.
Characterised by their hip-hugging fit that sits *well* below the waistline, low-riding styles were once the ultimate symbol of a carefree, party-ready attitude.
Fast forward to today, and the Y2K staple is being reinterpreted for a new generation. Influencers and celebrities alike are embracing the look, pairing low-rise pants with everything from crop tops to oversized blazers for a modern twist. Just with the micro-minis, the popularity of low-rise isn’t *just* regarding jeans; even red-carpet-ready skirts (a la Charli XCX), cargo pants and shorts have been given the treatment.
While the trend is polarising as ever, it undeniably adds a playful, nostalgic edge to contemporary wardrobes.

04
Slogan Tees
A slogan tee was *the* casual statement way back when. Today, we’ve seen tiny t-shirts emblazoned with the words “flop era” and “dump him” go viral, Hailey Bieber set the internet ablaze when she wore a tongue-in-cheek “nepo baby” tee, and Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo regularly wear text-covered tops on stage.
Need we say more? These little numbers (literally) speak for themselves.

05
UGG Boots
From 2001-2010, UGG boots were a staple for any budding fashionista. They spent the following decade banished to the realm of “fashion sin.”
Then, the trend cycle did its thing (perhaps, with a nudge from the comfort-first approach that followed the global pandemic), and UGGs were suddenly in vogue again. In recent years, the chunky slipper-boots have been spotted on the feet of everyone from the Hadid Sisters to J. Lo to North West, and even made their presence felt at fashion week.