5 Ways to Wear Y2K Fashion Without Looking Dated

Y2K fashion is back -- especially among Gen Z.Photo by(Atikh Bana/Unsplash)

There are many reasons why you love the Y2K fashion reemergence. Maybe you were too young to wear some of those trends, or maybe you want to recapture your youth. Incorporating some of these trends into your wardrobe can be difficult.

How can you wear these pieces without looking like you stepped off the red carpet at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards? Here are some ways you can wear the trends from the early aughts without looking dated.

Denim-Friendly Y2K Outfits

Let's face it, most of the Y2K trends are a bit outrageous. "Baby Girl" T-shirts and sequined tanks are back in style. Denim is the best way to tone these pieces down. It makes anything look modern and adds a style element, so you don't feel you're on set the set of an MTV Cribs episode.

Contrast Decades

A fun way to wear Y2K fashion trends is to contrast decades. For example, you could pair a crop top with a mod mini-skirt from the '60s. Or, you wear your motorcycle jacket from the early aughts with a new dress that you bought. It's a great way to elevate your outfit and create harmony between two strikingly different styles.

Keep it Natural

The key is to keep the rest of your look natural. Your hair and makeup should be easy and light. It might be tempting, but you should put down the Lancôme Juicy Tubes and L'Oréal Féria Colour Strands Highlighting Kit. Instead, you should wear minimal makeup with a low-effort hairstyle such as a choppy bob or blunt bangs.

Get Messy

Perfection is not something you should aspire to. Instead, it's okay to get a little messy with your look. Pop the collar on your polo and layer your outfit with an oversized blazer. The best form of style is your personal style. Only you could pull off these trends with your unique beauty and fashion sense.

Go for Dressy Casual

The last tip to wearing Y2K fashion is to mix dressy with casual -- but in a modernized way. This instantly makes your outfit look fresh because the early aughts were a very specific time period. You could easily point out trends from that era. For example, a simple white T-shirt looks great with bootcut jeans.