Why I ♡ Y2K

Versión en Español aquí.

Why I ♡ Y2K by LuceBuona

I know, I know at this point even much younger generations believe to love this time in music, fashion, and entertainment thanks to tiktok remixes of music of the time...Not just because I lived it, but I still can't get enough of it...

-"Ain't nothing but a mistake" - "Tell me whyyy!" - " I never wanted you to say...I wanted that way"

...Sorry back to the topic.

The term #Y2K refers to the "year two thousand" and it is used to capture the suspicion that in the year 2000, there would be a worldwide problem, also known as the Y2K problem, millennium bug, Y2K bug, Y2K glitch, Y2K error, or simply Y2K referring to potential computer errors related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after the year 2000.

For the purposes of this article, and in a completely arbitrary way based on my preferences, the Y2K era described and referred to in this article goes from 1999 to 2006.

I am talking about all the fashion, styling, movie editing, and even marketing trends and moments derived from Matrix, the great times of MTV as a real source of music and entertainment, and also the times that happened to be one of my favorite eras of my life.

"You think you know but you have no idea..."

Entertainment, Aesthetics & Music from the 2000s

Entertainment

The image below with some of what I consider the most influential movies from that period of time, including some of my all-time favorites.

Most memorable 2000s movies

Snatch incorporated this amazing fast-speed narrative, that felt like taking a shot. I absolutely love it, its soundtrack was in my car for years.

While Matrix... well this movie basically changed all of the fighting scenes from that time on. Quickly those slow-mo scenes made it to series, videos, tv ads, and of course other movies. However, I should highlight that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon has a fair share of that influence on movies to come, with its greatly coreagraphed fighting scenes.

Matrix Soundtrack is wired in my brain as a driving and party soundtrack of my yeas in highschool.

My watchlist of the time

MTV gave us reality TV based on pranks (with Boiling Points, Punked, ) as well as drool-worthy American dream stories on MTV Dairy and MTV Cribs. Meanwhile, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie paved the way for Favor Flave, the House of Bunnies, the Hogans, the Ousbournes, and of course the Kardashians.

Scary Movie gave us the unforgettable "Wassuuup", while South Park was mocking everyone and everything.

Aesthetics

Hair

Hair trends of the early 2000s

For all the girls out there with frizzy, thick hair like mine, this was the year when the first main-stream #HairStraighteners made their way to Mexico, which in my case was a dream come true... finally, a more realistic possibility of having a straight mane that would endure more than a couple of hours, or at least a higher chance of purchasing a hot air curling/straightening brush And some of the luckiest girls in Mexico even managed to purchase a #CrimplingIron in the USA, allowing them to try the hairstyles rocked by Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

More affordable trends included parting your hair in zig zag and then securing it in buns or ponytails, using a ridiculous amount of glossy gel, or parting your hair in sections in a half updo and using butterfly-shaped clippers, Another option was twisting your hair and securing it with an oversized hair clamp, and allow the ends of the hair fall out of it almost simulating a fountain, which would literally work well with any hair type.

Makeup

Makeup trends

Though not all of the make-up trends of the time are of my liking, they were quite a breaking point.

With all of this Millenium momentum, the use of all sorts of gray scales to smokey eyes, silver, gold, and sparkle was expected. Just like the glossy lipsticks and the fruity-smelling lip gloss was a staple, giving that air of futuristic-minimalism that also influenced the thickness and shape of the eyebrows, making them almost disappear and causing even the young ones to look way much older.

In her video Oops I did it again, Britney had us all wishing and hoping to pull out the full-silver-eyelid makeup, which I could never get away with without using eyeliner

Clothing

Sportswear as an acceptable outfit outside the gym

Sportswear as an acceptable outfit to go out - you know beyond the gym-which includes the Adidas buttoned-down pants, the emblematic Juicy Couture tracksuit, assorted cropped tops, and more, was actually a thing.

Celebrities like Paris Hilton would even wear their tracksuits with heavy #bling items. Equally important, in the history of Y2K fashion, is the fact that Paris, Britney, Lindsay Lohan, and other well-known style references paired their velour Juicy Couture outfits to #UGGboots, giving them the "social acceptance" that a decade later would allow another ugly shoe to be popular... Yes, I am talking about you #Crocs !

Trendy skirts

The skirts from this time were my absolute favorite. Cargo skirts (in mini and maxi versions), school girl Minis, plaid skorts, and minis with tall boots. It all started with Baby, one more time video, which in Mexico also resonated deeply with the famous teenage drama brought to life by the good-looking kids of Rebelde. Meanwhile, it-girls and rock fans shared a common love for #cargoskirts and #cargopants, bringing to us ladies what we have been long deprived of in most of our garments...pockets!

Meanwhile, it-girls and rock fans shared a common love for #cargoskirts and #cargopants, bringing to us ladies what we have been long deprived of in most of our garments...pockets!

Another fashion staple of the time was big shoes - almost a leftover from the 1990s and the Spice Girls' fashion.

Plastic and rubber wedge sandals were a comfortable choice to pair with cargo pants, flared jeans, and skirts equally.

#SkaterShoes were the best match for the wide-leg buttoned-down Adidas pants, straight-fit jeans, parachute, and cargo pants. The hot brands from the time were Airwalk, DCshoes, Adidas ORIGINALS, Osiris D3 - worn by Fred Durst, and the ever-popular Vans.

For more dressed-up occasions, the fashionable ladies would were pointy-toe shoes high heel mules, or 1990s residual platform sandals, of any variable of the strappy sandals.

In menswear it seemed that the cool guys would wind up choosing between the boyband aesthetics of the moment, and the hiphop or rock idols. Wide leg jeans were a thing in both cases, as well as the oversized sweaters.

The hairstyles were indeed quite diferent in between those options.

The two ends of fashion for the "cool" dudes

In menswear it seemed that the cool guys would wind up choosing between the boyband aesthetics of the moment, and the hiphop or rock idols. Wide leg jeans were a thing in both cases, as well as the oversized sweaters.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories, the #buckethats were living large. Available in all sorts of colors and textures, for guys and ladies, and worn by Pop celebrities, rockers, and hip hopers indiscriminately. The Red New York Yankees cap became a fashion statement thanks to Fred Durst, just like the Von Dutch caps - which I never found appealing, to be honest - was promoted by Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton.

Hacky Sacks were quite popular, serving as a source of entertainment, and a way to start a conversation - yup that is what my Ex did!

All sorts of stickers and bejeweled accessories were sold for girls to personalize their flap cellphones or Nokias. And the first midi-ringtones were sold as well. Uff! What a nice way to stand out from the crowd! I rushed to purchase the midi version of Prodigy's Firestarter. The sound of it made me immediately think: "Ok what is the plan for this weekend?".

Music

The possibility of sharing music with friends was exchanging CDs and "burning" your own mixes. My love for #Y2K music could basically give me material for a good series of posts! However, at this time I will only limit myself to saying that MTV and Much Music were beacons of hope, where people could find amazing pop songs, party songs, alternative rock, metal, and hip hop. Such a nice variety of artists, styles, and even occasions! This basically explains why my friends -and even my family- and I would come up with "Soundtracks" for this or that trip, event, celebration, etc.

See it hear it yourself on my beloved Y2K Bday Party list on Spotify, and let me know what other songs you would add.

The 2000s was also a good time to experiment, and bands like Linkin' Park and Limp Bizkit, managed to incorporate rock and hip hop quite successfully.

Y2K Pinterest board

Do you like the Y2K trends? What is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section.